For Streaming Media The Hits Just Keep On Coming

Michael Hedges January 31, 2022 Follow on Twitter

Streaming platforms upended broadcasting, most all would agree. Radio, in particular, has been hard hit. Too many factors interceded; shaky economics, digital transition, greedy owners. Radio fans began drifting away several years ago. Now it’s a rout. All the streamers needed to do was play the hits, keep the prices low and wait.

Iconic musician Neil Young made clear to all that he would not share the same space - streaming platform Spotify - with a certain right-wing talk-show host. “They can have (Joe) Rogan or Young. Not Both,” said in a now deleted but oft repeated social media post, quoted by Rolling Stone (January 24). “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.”

The subject of Mr. Young’s ire was Spotify hosting podcasts of Joe Rogan - Joe Rogan Experience. Typically, these include heated rants about coronavirus vaccines, related health mandates and public health officials. Mr. Rogan also rants about climate change. All this resonates with his right-wing fans, including followers of former US president Donald Trump.

In the end, Mr. Young reached out to his publisher - Warner Music Group - who made the formal demand of Spotify, which had no choice but comply. No more “Rockin’ The Free World” on Spotify. “We regret Neil’s decision,” said a Spotify spokesperson to Hollywood Reporter (January 26), “but hope to welcome him back soon.”

But it wasn’t the end. Mr. Young gave a shout-out to Amazon. Apple Music announced (January 27) a special week of music on the new “home of Neil Young.” He “felt better,” he wrote in a subsequent letter posted to the Neil Young Archives website (January 28). “I support free speech. I have never been in favor of censorship. Private companies have the right to choose what they profit from, just as I can choose not to have my music support a platform that disseminates harmful information. I am happy and proud to stand in solidarity with the front line health care workers who risk their lives every day to help others.”

Taking notice was World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who like other public health officials has been the target of relentless insults by right-wing conspiracy fans. He thanked Mr. Young "for standing up against misinformation and inaccuracies around #COVID19 vaccination,” noted Politico eu (January 27). "We all have a role to play to end this pandemic and infodemic.” Pointed out Politico eu writer Paul Dallison: “Young's most famous backing band is Crazy Horse. Rogan has taken the drug ivermectin, a horse dewormer.”

Through the week, stock traders cast a bit gloomy on the Spotify share price. “Spotify stock is a seemingly volatile one,” wrote Forbes (January 28). Losing Neil Young is “causing investors to question whether or not the backlash will burden business and, ultimately, increasing investor curiosity about alternative streaming services.”The company’s market capitalization had lost about US$2.1 billion, said Variety (January 29), noting the share price “was already on the slide” as investors took stock (sic) of a cool-down in the digital media subscription business generally. Day-traders looking for bargains, as they do, boosted the share price slightly on Friday.

Spotify took more hits over the weekend. Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, with 3.7 million average monthly streams on Spotify, pulled her catalogue, saying “I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue,” noted Financial Times (January 29). Like Mr. Young, Ms Mitchell’s catalogue is managed by Warner Music. Within hours Apple Music was showing “We Love Joni, Too “ as it spotlighted her music available on the service.

Next was guitar legend Nils Lofgren, who performs with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse and, more recently, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. “We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere, to stand with us all, and cut ties with Spotify,” he said, quoted by Rolling Stone (January 29). “Pick up your sword and start swinging. Neil always has.” This led to speculation that The Boss could be next or maybe Willie Nelson or maybe the Rolling Stones.

Spotify arrived a bit more than a dozen years ago from Swedish IT specialist Daniel Ek and marketing entrepreneur Martin Lorentzon. It offers lots of music to users and subscribers, of which there are millions. Music rights were acquired from licensing organizations, formerly known as record companies. Artists are paid per stream after rights holders get their cut. The company has been wildly successful.

With all sorts of music available, including playlist curations resembling the output of radio broadcasters, without the DJs, Spotify became the streaming music brand icon. Radio broadcasters, justifiably, were in a panic. Spotify sold advertising in its freemium service. More recently, Spotify branched out into spoken-word content, everything from podcasts to live talk shows. Eighteen months ago it retained the services of US talkshow host Joe Rogan for an estimated US$100 million.

Offering space to controversial talkshow hosts is always a gamble. Mr. Rogan’s podcast is just the latest from right-wing purveyors of conspiracy theories. In the US - and elsewhere - there are thousands. US radio broadcasters bid against each other for rights to carry the late right-wing talkshow host Rush Limbaugh. Ratings for that and similar shows were - and continue to be - huge. Alas, as time passed advertisers soured on conspiracy theories, fearful of negative association, and broadcast license holders worried. Digital media is not that sensitive.

See also...

• Hot Topics - Streaming Media

• Hot Topics - Podcasts and Podcasting

• Hot Topics - Digital Transitions

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