This officially ends the two-year boycott against Spotify’s support of Joe Rogan’s podcast.
On March 22, Joni Mitchell’s music became available again on Spotify. This ended more than two years of her boycott against the platform.
The decision came only a few days after Neil Young, who withdrew his music at the same protest as Mitchell, announced his return to the streaming service.
The Return of Joni Mitchell’s Music to Spotify
Mitchell’s music, including classics like ‘A Case of You’ and ‘California’ from her 1971 album ‘Blue’, is once again available to Spotify’s millions of users.
But Mitchell has not made any public statements about her decision to restore her catalog on the streaming service. This is in contrast with Neil Young’s move, who announced his return in a message on his website.
Spotify has also remained silent on Mitchell’s return.
This is different from the company’s response to the initial boycott in January 2022. At the time, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the controversy in a blog post. He defended the platform’s commitment to free speech. He also promised to add content advisories to podcast episodes discussing COVID-19.
Background of the Spotify Boycott by Mitchell and Young
Back in January 2022, Young had left the platform because he was worried about Spotify letting shows like Joe Rogan’s podcast spread false info about COVID-19 shots.
Mitchell joined Young’s boycott shortly after. She announced her decision to remove her music from Spotify in a statement on her website.
She cited the open letter made by many medical professionals and expressed solidarity with the medical community.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the controversy in a blog post. He defended the platform’s commitment to free speech. He also promised to add content advisories to podcast episodes discussing COVID-19.
In response to the controversy, Rogan also apologized for any offense caused. He promised to include more balanced discussions in his show via Instagram.
Several other artists, including Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, and India Arie, also removed their music from Spotify. However, every one of them has since returned to the platform.
Why Is Mitchell’s Return to Spotify Important?
Mitchell’s return to Spotify is important for several reasons.
First, it marks the end of a high-profile boycott that brought attention to the issue of misinformation on streaming platforms.
Since all artists have now returned to the platform, the boycott may have had limited long-term impact, despite the initial publicity it generated.
Second, Mitchell’s return happens at the same time as a major resurgence of interest in her life and work.
She recently received several other prestigious awards. These include:
- Being inducted into the Folk, Americana, and Roots Hall of Fame as an inaugural inductee in 2023
- Receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2023
- Won her 10th Grammy for Best Folk Album for “At Newport” in 2024
These honors, along with her Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, celebrate her exceptional contributions to the music industry and her lasting influence as a pivotal figure in music.
With her music now available on Spotify, a new generation of listeners can discover her influential catalog.
Finally, Mitchell’s return to Spotify shows the complex relationship between artists and streaming services.
While platforms like Spotify offer easier access to music, they have also been criticized for low royalty rates and a lack of control over content. The fact that Mitchell and Young ultimately decided to return to Spotify suggests that the benefits of reaching a wide audience may outweigh the drawbacks, at least for some artists.