After an absence of over two years, Neil Young returned to Spotify, reversing his boycott of the platform in protest against vaccine misinformation spread on the Joe Rogan podcast.
Neil Young Returns to Spotify
Young's decision to boycott Spotify was fueled by his discontent with the misinformation and the platform's perceived inferior sound quality.
In a recent blog post, Young revealed his reentry to Spotify, citing the platform's adoption of the same disinformation podcast features he had opposed.
Although Young did not explicitly mention the Joe Rogan Experience, his decision suggests a broader concern regarding the proliferation of misinformation across digital platforms.
Despite his reservations, Young acknowledged the limitations of pulling his music from all major streaming services, recognizing that such a move would severely limit its accessibility to music enthusiasts.
Consequently, he opted to return to Spotify in the hopes of prompting improvements in sound quality while praising alternative platforms like Qobuz and Tidal for their high-resolution audio offerings.
Young's blog post underscores his desire for Spotify to prioritize sound quality and calls for introducing a limited high-resolution tier to cater to audiophiles.
The Canadian musician's boycott of Spotify was not a solitary act, as fellow Canadian artist Joni Mitchell also joined in protest. Mitchell's music remains absent from the platform, highlighting the ongoing repercussions of artists taking a stand against perceived injustices.
"They will now all be there for you except for the full sound we created. Hopefully Spotify will turn to Hi Res as the answer and serve all the music to everyone. Spotify, you can do it! Really be #1 in all ways. You have the music and the listeners!!!! Start with a limited Hi res tier and build from there! Thanks for your support folks!" Young said in a blog post.
Spotify Increases Subscription in Response to New French Music Tax
Meanwhile, Spotify has made headlines with its decision to raise subscription prices for users in France. This move comes in Response to a new tax implemented by the French government to support the country's music industry.
The tax, known as the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) tax, targets music streaming services with annual revenues exceeding 20 million euros, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Under this scheme, affected companies are subject to a 1.2 percent levy on all streaming revenue generated within France.
Spotify has opposed the CNM tax, citing concerns about its potential impact on consumers. While the exact magnitude of the subscription price increase has not been disclosed, Spotify hinted that French users could face the highest subscription fees in the European Union as a result of the tax.
Although Apple Music and Deezer have also objected to the tax, they have not announced plans for similar price adjustments. The proceeds from the CNM tax are allocated to the CNM, a public institution tasked with supporting and promoting the French music industry.
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