Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the controversy round comic and podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday, saying that the corporate is "attempting to steadiness artistic expression with the protection of our customers."
"In fact, this can be a very difficult challenge," Ek stated within the firm's post-earnings name on Wednesday. "However I am actually happy with the steps that we took following the considerations raised by the medical and scientific communities."
As for Spotify's enterprise, the corporate reported that it ended 2021 with 180 million paid subscribers. Nevertheless, Spotify noticed its inventory drop greater than 20% after hours on Wednesday following its fourth quarter earnings, which offered weak steerage for its progress.
Spotify finds itself in a center of a firestorm after artists reminiscent of Neil Younger and Joni Mitchell requested the streaming music firm to pull their music from the platform final week. This was due to Joe Rogan, who has made frequent false and inaccurate claims about COVID-19 and vaccines on his highly regarded Spotify podcast, "The Joe Rogan Expertise."
Following the backlash, Spotify stated it's including a content material advisory to any podcast episode that features dialogue about Covid-19. The advisory will direct listeners to a COVID-19 hub that may embody hyperlinks to trusted sources, the corporate stated.
On Wednesday, Ek stated that the corporate doesn't "change our insurance policies based mostly on one creator nor do we alter it based mostly on any media cycle or calls from anybody else."
"Whereas Joe has a large viewers... he additionally has to abide by these insurance policies," he added.
Ek talked about that Rogan is the corporate's No. 1 podcast in additional than 90 markets.
The Spotify CEO additionally famous that the final a number of weeks have "offered various studying alternatives" for the corporate.
"There's nonetheless work to be completed," Ek stated. "However I am happy that Spotify is already implementing a number of first-of-its-kinds measures to assist fight misinformation and supply better transparency."
Earlier this week, Rogan responded to thecontroversy — saying, "he isn't attempting to advertise misinformation."
"I've by no means tried to do something with this podcast different than simply discuss to individuals and have attention-grabbing conversations," Rogan stated in a video posted to Instagram on Sunday.
Joe Rogan podcasting.
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