'Necessary evil': Some artists say they can't quit Spotify

Spotify are (Necessary) Evil now? Man, the hyperbole surrounding this issue has really gotten out of hand

Available on Spotify, along with other quality music from freedom loving artists.

Quite the opposite. Freedom is being so rich and well known that you don’t need to peddle your music on Spotify.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Facebook meme of the week, now embody freedom? Ridiculously off the mark.

Lot's of reasons to dislike Spotify for the struggling musicians they exploit. However, that's not something wealthy old guys like Neil Young worry about. Instead, he's moving over to the even bigger mega-corporations of Apple and Amazon and their even more exploitive global reach. It's pretty clear what he supports.

To attempt to justify Spotify - the spawn of Daniel Ek and the purview of investment firms and Big Tech is absurdist. Ek is a cranky libertarian opposed to the state aka paying taxes - but finds the use of its mechanisms to wield and enhance his own power just swell.

Indeed, music is alive and well - lotsa talent across myriad genres. It doesn't require Spotify.

Millionaire pop artists are rampant and in itself a means to control of the market.

Making a 'living' as a musician, a practicing artist, still has avenues and means of expression and public performance. Indeed, those with talent often struggle and it is unfortunate - however Spotify and its ilk does not provide a viable alternative.

As for Joe Rogan. He's a slubberdegullion.

In five minutes and twenty seconds, a middle-aged Neil Young nullifies anything Joe Rogan or Daniel Ek have accomplished in their entire lives. He's an artist. They are fools.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s8diq

commanteerToday  03:21 pm JST

I like them and Young and don't feel the need to politicize music as some ignorants do.

You realize you just called Young ignorant, don't you? He politicizes music all the time.

He makes political 'statements' but throughout his life his 'music' reflected a variety of values ranging from traditional rural lifestyles to liberal social views. Politicizing music is when one takes a staunch, consistent one-sided view connected to their political affiliation. But I guess for some 'Keep on Rocking in the Free World' is considered....liberal. You clearly don't know much Neil Young.

This whole debacle is absolute bonkers!

Hail Joe Rogan and Spotify for standing up to the fear mongering band wagon crowd!

Knock knock...

Who's there?

Neil...

Neil who?

Exactly.

Don't want to get involved in the dull Joe Rogan debate. Like WWE, it is what it is.

From a purely music point of view the underground is as exciting as ever and it's nowhere near Spotify.

The recent boom in the cassette tape counter-culture, the enthusiastic community on Bandcamp, the hundreds of internet radio stations around the world catering to every genre possible are all existing away from a content site that pays next to nothing to its creators.

Obviously, if you make 'pop' music and you need exposure in a hugely over-saturated market, or you have sold your soul to the devil and signed to a major label who now own your masters you probably don't have much choice.

But I struggle to understand why any artist with an ounce of integrity would want to contribute to a company that only benefits major record labels and the CEO's ability to reinvest in military AI.

Good riddance. Go join a group where you all think the same. Ya know, kind of like a cult.

I like them and Young and don't feel the need to politicize music as some ignorants do.

You realize you just called Young ignorant, don't you? He politicizes music all the time.

But I guess for some 'Keep on Rocking in the Free World' is considered....liberal. You clearly don't know much Neil Young.

I guess you're right. I don't waste much time on wealthy 80 year old fascists.

Watch Russell Brand (YouTube) for an excellent take and analysis of this debacle. It goes much deeper than this.

Tora

Watch Russell Brand (YouTube) for an excellent take and analysis of this debacle. It goes much deeper than this.

I used to respect Russell, but his takes (which aren't his, they are articles he finds) are tinged in paranoia that the MSM and corporations are power structures controlling the narrative for money and power. When you look at the world with those glass you come up with the conclusions that he does. Everything becomes a conspiracy.

It doesn't go deeper at all. Spotify pay for Joe Rogan, and hence they are responsible for his content. Mostly Joe's podcasts are fine. But when he had Peter Malone on, he let him speak vaccine misinformation with no pushback. If a MSM organisation did that there would be a big fuss and all sorts of liability.

Spotify are now finding out that they have more responsibilities than they initially thought.

Also, Neil didn't want Spotify to cancel Rogan, he wanted to highlight the problem, and that he has. Big time. He never liked the audio quality of Spotify, so that was a bonus win.

Sure...people have the freedom to watch Rogan and his 'expert' guests. He brings in a nobody named Jordan Peterson to provide his 'expert' analysis on global warming except.......he's a clinical psychologist. LOL!

Further proof that those who think that Neil Young pulling his music from Spotify is somehow anti-american and against freedom. Does a private individual not have the right to control their own product? If you disagree then you're closer to communist than a capitalist. Yeah Free-Dumb!

Lynyrd Skynyrd have been irrelevant since Ronnie died in 1977. I like them and Young and don't feel the need to politicize music as some ignorants do.