Neil Young has issued another statement about Spotify, this time encouraging its employees to quit their jobs and other artists—not just musicians—to remove their work from the platform. “Join me as I move my money away from the damage causers or you will unintentionally be one of them,” he wrote. See the rest in full below. Pitchfork has contacted representatives for Spotify for comment.
In Young’s latest missive, he also encouraged his audience to divest from major American banks, naming Citi, Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America. Spotify removed Young’s work from the platform at his request in late January, with Young citing the misinformation of Joe Rogan’s podcast as his primary motivation. In the wake of Young’s departure, Joni Mitchell said that she, too, wanted her music removed from the platform. Other artists, including Young’s former band mates David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills, expressed their support, but did not have the same ownership control that would allow them to likewise remove their work.
Despite his criticism of Spotify and big banks, Young has continued to point his fans to Amazon, which has earned heavy criticism for its inhumane working conditions and fervent union-busting.
Read Pitchfork’s features “Will Neil Young and Joni Mitchell’s Departure Spark a Bigger Spotify Exodus?” and “The Missed Opportunity of the Spotify Boycott.”
Neil Young:
In our communication age, misinformation is the problem. Ditch the misinformers. Find a good clean place to support with your monthly checks. You have the real power. Use it.
To the baby boomers, I say 70 percent of the country’s financial assets are in your hands compared with just about 5 percent for millennials. You and I need to lead.
In our age of Climate Chaos, I say ditch the companies contributing to the mass fossil fuel destruction of Earth.
For their continued funding of the fossil fuel damage even as the global temperature keeps climbing, I say take your money from the accounts of these American banks today:
Chase
Citi
Bank of America
Wells FargoJoin me as I move my money away from the damage causers or you will unintentionally be one of them. You have the power to change the world. We can do it together. Your grandchildren will thank you in history.
To the musicians and creators in the world, I say this:
You must be able to find a better place than SPOTIFY to be the home of your art.To the workers at SPOTIFY, I say Daniel Ek is your big problem – not Joe Rogan. Ek pulls the strings. Get out of that place before it eats up your soul. The only goals stated by EK are about numbers – not art, not creativity.
Notice that EK never mentions the Medical Professionals who started this conversation. Look, one last time – at the statements EK has made.Then be free and take the good path.
