They’re using some tools to prevent misinformation spreading, and one of those tools is “restricting content’s discoverability” - which should mean that if a podcast like, I don’t know, the Schmoe Schmogen Experience blathers on about how dangerous the SCHMOVID vaccines are, when the best science says something different, Spotify would restrict and limit how that episode could be discovered, making it harder for people to find. (All emphases are mine I’ve put a fuller version of the podcast transcript at the end of this article.)Īnd today, some news: Spotify told us that they are improving things. Since then, aside from a few rebroadcasted eps, Science Vs episodes have focused squarely on Spotify-based misinformation: tackling Rogan’s vaccine takes, Rogan’s thoughts on trans kids, and how other platforms battle it.īut on Friday, a new episode dropped that indicated things were changing. Science Vs editor and I just sent this email to the CEO of Spotify. So on January 31, host/executive producer Wendy Zukerman and editor Blythe Terrell announced a protest: They would make no new episodes of the show “until Spotify implements stronger methods to prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform” - with the exception of episodes “intended to counteract misinformation being spread on Spotify.” Given its pledge to “blow up your firmly held opinions and replace them with science” and “to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between,” Joe Rogan’s whole vibe around the pandemic seemed to be a mismatch. Science Vs began on Australian public broadcasting in 2015, moved to Gimlet Media the following year, and was acquired with the rest of Gimlet by Spotify in 2019. A podcast protestįirst, a little backstory. And it appears that Spotify has made sufficient tentative progress on limiting the spread of misinformation to mollify at least one group’s concerns. Even the White House got involved.īut one key source of resistance was internal - both from employees in general and from one of Spotify’s other podcasts, Science Vs. Not both.” Others with Spotify deals - Roxane Gay, Ava DuVernay, Brené Brown - ended or paused them. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19.After Spotify’s Joe Rogan Experience released a widely derided episode that made covid vaccines sound as safe as Russian roulette - with a guest who argued the vacinated were victims of “ mass formation psychosis,” a thing that does not exist - there was pushback from many corners.Ī group of doctors and scientists said Spotify enabled Rogan “to damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals.” Rocker Neil Young famously took his music off the service, saying, “They can have Rogan or Young. 31 episode from “The Joe Rogan Experience” in which Rogan featured Dr. Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts called on Spotify “to immediately establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform.” Their criticism focused on a Dec. On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. “We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify,” wrote Lofgren in a statement. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”Įarlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, the Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Young’s Spotify revolt. “We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. “Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform,” an Archewell spokesperson said in a statement. I’m very happy with that,” he said.īritain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.
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