Like Facebook and Twitter, Spotify is learning the limits of deflecting responsibility for what is said on its platform.
In an effort to expand scrutiny beyond musicians and listeners, folk-rock singer Neil Young urged Spotify employees late Monday to quit “before it eats up your soul.” Last week, Young pulled his music from Spotify after a group of doctors called out Rogan for his interview of a man who has spread COVID-19 misinformation.
As it does with music streaming, Spotify dominates podcasting. It has 44% of all podcast user market share – Apple, Amazon and Google are each less than half its size, according to Midia Research. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is banned from Apple, Spotify, YouTube and Facebook – but not Google Podcasts.
Spotify “had to make a decision that other social media companies are well acquainted with,” said Jared Schroeder, a First Amendment scholar and associate professor at Southern Methodist University. “They were drawn into the war. I don’t know if there’s any going back for them.”
Rumble offered Joe $100,000,000 to leave spotify.