Neil Young Returns to "Low Res" Spotify
DEVELOPING
Neil Young is returning to Spotify, per today's posting on T-C | Neil Young Archives.
Young announced Spotify will resume streaming his music - “in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve” - since the other major streamers (Apple and Amazon) -- which he already allows -- offer “the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify”.
This comes over two years after he left Spotify in protest.
Neil Young writes that he can't leave Apple and Amazon like he did with Spotify in 2022 because "my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all".
Addressing Spotify, Neil called on the service to rely on high-resolution music, just like its competitors Tidal and Quobuz.
Neil Young: "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!"
Quite a major turn of events in the saga, as evidenced by the deluge of coverage.
The COVID Years: Neil Young Asks Spotify to Remove Music Over Vaccine Disinformation, Then Retracts Letter | TW
As background, in January 2022, Spotify removed Neil Young’s catalog from its service after the artist published — then took down — an open letter with an ultimatum: deal with the vaccine misinformation coming from Joe Rogan’s podcast, or lose his music.
In a statement on NYA in 2022, Neil wrote:
“Most of the listeners [of Joe Rogan's podcasts] hearing the unfactual, misleading and false COVID information on Spotify are 24 years old, impressionable and easy to swing to the wrong side of the truth.”
Which is correct. But this is where disCERNment comes into play.
The 2022 drama made headlines around the EARTH after Neil Young published a letter on his website demanding that SPOTIFY remove all of his music due to Joe Rogan's "vaccine disinformation". And shortly thereafter -- all hell broke loose here on this blog and elsewhere. (See here, here and here)
The magnitude of all of this was so great that even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunited -- although only on paper -- in their opposition to SPOTIFY. Joni Mitchell locked arms with Neil, as well. Neil Young then wrote to SPOTIFY employees: "Get out of that place before it eats up your soul."
In a Neil Young Archives post "MY LETTER TO YOU: Folks, Clearing up some things", Neil admits that he was "misinformed too!"
- Joe Rogan on the Spotify Drama: "I love Neil Young, but ..."
60+ Comments - The COVID Years: Neil Young Asks Spotify to Remove Music Over Vaccine Disinformation, Then Retracts Letter 90+ Comments
- Joni Mitchell Joins Neil Young In Removing Her Music from Spotify 40+ Comments
- Comments of the Moment: Neil Young's "The COVID Years", Joe Rogan, Spotify and Vaccine Disinformation 40+ Comments
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Reunite ... In Opposition to SPOTIFY 40+ Comments
- Neil Young to SPOTIFY Employees: "Get out of that place before it eats up your soul." 35+ Comments
- Neil Young Clears Up Some Things: "I was misinformed, too!" | NYA 30+ Comments
- VIEWPOINTS: The Neil Young, Spotify, & Joe Rogan Controversies 25+ Comments
- Neil Young Will NOT Play Farm Aid 2022 50+ Comments
- Eric Clapton Says He Won't Play At Shows Where COVID-19 Vaccination Proof Is Required 55+ Comments
- Keep Calm, No Fear, [Don't] Shut It Down, and Keep on Rockin'! #BeTheRain 15+ Comments (... this is when the "March Madness" all began, March 2020 ... let the TW record show that we tried.)
Once again, deja vu. As we have written repeatedly here over the decades -- the only consistency with Neil Young is his inconsistency.
... or ... change your mind much?!
MORE TO COME ...
March 14 UPDATE: Neil's article is no longer on the site. Nor has his music returned to Spotify. (thanks Wardo/ED!)
March 14 UPDATE #2: Joe Rogan reacts to announcement reversal: “Congratulations, Neil”
“Congratulations, Neil”
— Mythinformed (@MythinformedMKE) March 14, 2024
Joe Rogan and @ConceptualJames taunt Neil Young for returning to Spotify. pic.twitter.com/hOMidICBoS
Labels: joe rogan, neil young, spotify, streaming
by thrasher@PermaLink: 3/13/2024 06:14:00 PM
24 comments
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24 Comments:
Daryl decided that money is important after all. It is funny.
As much as I use Spotify myself (the blog doesn't write itself, after all) I've gotten used to going to NYA to hear Neil -- that is, when I'm not playing his CDs or records. He can do what he wants with his music. Streaming is not a right, it's a privilege.
It’s hard to be true to every belief we have. Some of his fans will not be able to hear his music if he is not on Spotify. So, I say it’s all right, even tho it’s low res and “isn’t worth anything.”
I feel no need to make cynical pronouncements at this time.
I am glad my musical hero has found love again, and he probably does listen to his wife as any sane married man would.
She may deserve credit for convincing him to finally re-release Time Fades Away.
She may have been a driving force in the Eoic Stand For Peace(!). She filmed it!
She is all right with me. She is good for Neil. And for that I am happy for them.
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
Epic … Stand For Peace…. Thanks DH!
@ wardo - absolutely, streaming is not a right, but a privilege.
Scots had this to say on the whole kerfuffle: "It helps to pick battles where you know you will either win, or your position will be strengthened even if you lose. And I’m not sure this is one of those scenarios."
As we mentioned to Scots over on his Patreon, no one wins. It's a "War of Man".
https://www.patreon.com/scotzman/posts
@ Alan - generally, as rule going back to Pegi days, we refrain from engagement regarding Neil's intimate, personal matters.
In this world of accelerating universal stupidity it may be wise to pick your fights and get off the dead horse (absolutely no pun intended). To have withdrawn the music was a valid statement at the time but now that once the point has been made it's no longer relevant. As for the money issue: It has been calculated that the 2022 decision did cost Neil Young around 400 000 US$, an amount he probably didn't even notice missing. The secondary effect, that his music was less accessible for many of the casual fans, who now are less likely going to see the shows or buy the up-coming releases might be of higher importance. Returning to the streaming platform and having them distribute the music rather is a PR-strategy than about the music or even a change in position. So I cannot see why the two alternatives given by the Scotsman are the only way to look at Neil Young's decision (something the Scotsman didn't claim, I know).
"accelerating universal stupidity"? or AUS.
I was listening to local talent last night in Irish pub and we happened to be sitting next to a couple from Montana. Firsthand evidence of AUS. The husband blabbered on in self-absorbed US male style and then the tragic turn to politics took place right when I was getting up for another beer. The wife claimed that Biden was a "radical leftist" who refused to listen to any conservative voices. This quickly changed to "Biden is WOKE" and then somehow we ended up with an attack on vaccines and a deep admiration for RFK jr. I was told "just wait and listen, you will see that RFK jr has great ideas."
AUS. The "misinformation" during the pandemic HAS consequences, make no mistake. More and more parents are opting for vaccine exemptions "for religious reasons" following the Ten Commandments in the Book of Joe: thou shalt not be jabbed by government agents trying to destroy your precious bodily fluids."
@ Thrasher : sorry about the personal life comment guideline I tread on. I would delete it but seem to have lost that trash button on the blog interface.
My statements were meant to be positive only.
Have a grateful day everyone.
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
we love kerfuffles lol
Post updated w/ Rogan's reaction to the news.
Also, we see the NYA post has been removed?! Furthermore, reports are that NY's music has not appeared on Spotify as of yet on Thurs afternoon.. Can anyone confirm?
@ Dionys - AUS is the pandemic
@ Alan - no worries
@ Shakeydave - actually no, not so much.
As I am not a fan of streaming, Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify never affected me. But for those who were, I’m glad they can enjoy his music again. I personally admire him for standing up for his principles throughout his career, and he has been successful on many occasions. He’s just one person, so he’s only able to make a small impact on these big issues. At least he’s attempting to do something positive.
Our world seems to be getting more judgmental about everything. Perhaps it has always been this way, and social media has just made it more obvious. I don’t know. All I know is that I wasn’t put on this earth to judge anyone. If we have any hope for survival we need to stop judging and start listening to each other. If we can find common ground and work towards a compromise, then maybe we can find a way not to destroy ourselves.
From my perspective….this doesn’t look possible at this point.
Peace to all 🙏
@ Dan - many thanks for thoughts here and over the years.
we value your input highly b/c it helps keep us somewhat centered on an off balance EARTH.
we've been pondering where to go on these difficult subjects as we all go into twilight years.
as for being too judgemental. yeah, get it. but let's see if we can be succinct.
Neil's a public figure. But he's just another human on the highway -- albeit a very talented one.
Regarding being too judgemental. Sure, we're all for let it be. but everyone has their boundaries.
being a highly public figure, Neil is fair game for criticism. And these are not small subjects.
this is core to where we're going. And many see that we've taken the dark fork in the road.
and we're not happy about this at all.
the lack of disCERNment. the sleep walking. the acceptance of the intolerable. the failure to "change your mind."
we've applauded NY for his stances on so many issues over the decades. Family farms. Bridge School. Honor the Treaties. etc
it's incumbent upon us all to speak out against the madness. we can do this the easy way. or the hard way.
or, as JFK intoned: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
so
when neil calls out someone for misinformation, says he's taking his crown jewels elsewhere, then is guilty of the exact same behavior and then comes back w/ his crown jewels w/ a lame rationalization, then yeah, we're going to call it out.
why let it slide?
is NY being held to some higher standard? is he perfect?
how about if the real problem is that folks aren't being judgemental enough? accepting w/o thinking. blind faith.
getting fooled again and again and again. over & over
nope. not on TW, no sir. only the REAL wheat here. no fake chaff stuff.
namaste
But if everything he has can be streamed at his own website, why don't people just use *that*?
@ wardo - yes, great question.
in fact, there was speculation when Neil dropped Spotify, that that was the whole point: drive subscriptions to NYA.
some speculated that the whole Rogan/Spotify 2022 drama was exactly that. Create some big controversy. Get everyone spun up. Occupy mind space, build subscribers, etc
there were some who even thought this was about building up Rogan's podcast.
Spotify preferred to lose legacy artists and their base in order to target a younger audience in the Rogan demographics.
there's way more to the pictures than meets the eyes...
winterlong
@ Thrasher : Indeed, Protest & Survive. We can’t stop the destruction of Earth by being quiet. The extinction of the human race is assured. Billionaires can fly away on a silver seed but die of cancer in space within a few short years at best. Space has loads of radiation and lead is too heavy to lift into orbit to shield people from harm. Terraforming would be the only way to live without cancer. Might as well “live in a vault.”
We yearn for Inner Peace, & we want world peace, but our Government is inclined to drop bombs on brown people or give them to Israel / others to drop.
@ Dan : Wouldn’t it be nice if we would listen to each other? We do, less so than in the past, partly due to polarizing, divisive social media. But your sentiment is what we should strive for. I appreciate your approach and your ideas… inspiring.
@ Wardo : Many modern people would not want to pay an artist above the cost of their streaming service which they pay for monthly. Money is tight, people want convenience, and many care little or know nothing about sound resolution. Casual listeners won’t ever pay for NYA. I love it, we love it. But we are the hard core Neil Young fans.
Have a great day! Be the change you want to see in the world.
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
@ Thrashers: You make several good points, and I agree with your intentions. It’s unfortunate that fame comes at such a price, but it is what it is. My point was directed towards those who make cruel and judgmental statements about others without actually knowing all the facts first. There seems to be a lot of knee jerk reactions based on one’s own individual assumptions. With the advent of social media people seem to make quick assumptions without taking the time to research the data. Others read these comments and jump on the proverbial bandwagon, without researching what the real situation is.
It reminds me of the phone game, where you whisper information into one person’s ear, and then they translate the information to the next person. After the information gets down to the tenth person or so, the story has completely altered from its original meaning.
You drop something heavy on your foot, and you can’t put weight on it, so you call work and tell them you can’t come in today because you dropped something on your foot, and you can’t put any weight on it. Two days later you come back to work, and people are absolutely shocked that you came back so soon after crushing your foot, and having to be in a wheelchair.
My point is; I feels like we are experiencing an epidemic with the inability, (or unwillingness) to engage in critical thought. How can you make a judgement without knowing all the details of a situation? This is the judgement I was referring to.
Peace 🙏
P. S. I wish streaming wasn’t such a powerful force it has become. I admired Neil so much for doing what he did with Spotify. And I also understand why he is doing what he’s doing now. You win some; you lose some. But as least he tried. The world has changed dramatically since technology became God, so I sympathize with why he had to return to them.
Fortunately, we have NYA (and our turntables) to satisfy our Neil Young needs. Along with Thrashers Wheat to share our thoughts, and concerns. So thank you for what you do so well. You are making a positive impact.
Peace 🙏
The Greatest Hits album from 2004 is now on Spotify.
And well said, Dan.
@ Dan - thanks for clarification. apologies if we seemed defensive.
good points. agree: "How can you make a judgement without knowing all the details of a situation?"
@wardo - thanks. Seems like a logical 1st upload. Wonder how much of catalog will ultimately load? Any idea of the Spotify catalog coverage previously?
"Broken Circle (Over And Over)" is now up too.
Up until he took it down, every album was up there, Reprise and Geffen, including Archives releases.
See previous comments on corporate tech monopolies. This is a good example of how it’s seemingly impossible to live outside of the matrix.
I still think people will remember Neil Young long after Rogan is consigned to the landfill of mimetic pop culture. Maybe a wild comparison, but how many people really give a rat’s ass about Rush Limbaugh these days? Good art endures. Junk media tends to eventually outstay its welcome.
Dan: many thanks for your message on critical thinking and judgmental attitudes. This is truly helping me to keep grounded and centered. My comments can be caustic at times—usually because I care enough about the world for certain things to bug me. In a sense, being emotionally and intellectually in touch with life in this way is the opposite of cynicism, but my frustration can probably be read negatively.
It’s not necessarily that Rogan, podcasters, pundits, shock jocks, reality TV influencers, and so forth are necessarily bad people. They’re probably just as lost in the world as anyone else, trying to make sense of things in a way they know how. I just see little cultural or social value in a lot of the media getting pumped out daily—so I don’t consume much of it. Others will do as they please. More broadly, I worry about important conversations getting watered down by sensationalism and advertising.
Living inside the system while trying to transcend it is the nature of life. Or to paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald (I believe), you sometimes have to deal with two or more contradictory ideas at the same time.
The times in which we are living in can be incredibly overwhelming at times, and reactions can be unpredictable from passionate, and caring individuals. I understand how difficult it can be to communicate frustration, and still remain respectful. Over the past decade it feels as if the lines have been blurred when it comes to communication. This seems to be manifesting itself into something dangerous. Those who are so passionate about their ideals seem convinced that this makes everyone who disagrees with them….wrong. This mindset creates stagnation because it eliminates any opportunity for compromise.
The solution to any disagreement requires some sort of compromise. There isn’t one perfect solution to any difficulty that will appease everyone. Yet there will always be those who only want what they desire, regardless of how it impacts others. And this is a problem that never seems to go away.
I wish I had the solution to this, but this issue appears to be a flaw in our species. It’s been going on since the beginning of time. We just happen to be living during a time where history has shown us exactly where we’re headed. And for those who have studied history understand, and this creates enormous anxiety. So it makes sense that we are all having difficulty expressing ourselves, and still remaining respectful to each other.
Recognizing it is important, but unfortunately not everyone does.
Peace 🙏
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