Graham Nash backs Neil Young and asks for solo music to be removed from Spotify

01 February 2022, 17:34 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Graham Nash)

Neil Young's Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bandmate Graham Nash has requested for his solo recordings to be removed from Spotify, following Young's recent exit from the streaming platform.

Last week Neil Young shared a now-deleted letter on his Neil Young Archives site addressed to his management and record label, requesting that his music should be removed from Spotify "immediately" due to COVID misinformation being spread via The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He wrote, "They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both."

Joni Mitchell also decided to "stand" with Neil Young last Friday (28 January) along with Crazy Horse's Nils Lofgren, and after Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the streaming service is working to add "content advisory" warnings to "any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19", Young's Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bandmate Graham Nash has followed suit.

According to Stereogum, Nash wrote in a statement, "Having heard the Covid disinformation spread by Joe Rogan on Spotify, I completely agree with and support my friend, Neil Young and I am requesting that my solo recordings be removed from the service."

"There is a difference between being open to varying viewpoints on a matter and knowingly spreading false information which some 270 medical professionals have derided as not only false but dangerous," Nash added. "Likewise, there is a difference between misinformation, in which one is unaware that what is being said is false, versus disinformation which is knowingly false and intended to mislead and sway public opinion. The opinions publicized by Rogan are so dishonest and unsupported by solid facts that Spotify becomes an enabler in a way that costs people their lives."

On Instagram, Nash wrote, "It should also be acknowledged that many younger musicians, and many musicians of all ages, rely on platforms like this to gain exposure to a wider audience and share their music with the world. Not everyone is able to take steps like this which is all the more reason that platforms like Spotify must be more responsible and accountable for the content they are obligated to moderate for the good of the public at large."

Yesterday (31 January) India.Arie also announced her departure from Spotify due to the platform siding with Joe Rogan, and revealed that it's also due to "his language around race."