Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the company will spend $100 million for “licensing, development and marketing” of music and audio content from “historically marginalized groups,” according to an internal memo obtained. by Axios journalist Sara Fischer.
Ek also informed employees in the memo that he is not going to “mute” Joe Rogan.
Rogan’s podcast has been the subject of controversy in recent weeks after Neil Young pulled his music from Spotify after accusing the platform of spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. Young’s move caused other artists to pull their music as well.
India Arie shares clips of Joe Rogan saying the N-word while asking Spotify to remove her music for its ‘language around race’
Justin Bieber celebrates 100 million followers on Twitter
Over the weekend, Rogan also apologized for using the N-word on his podcast after a video montage by artist India Arie showing him using the slur 24 times went viral.
“Not my word,” Rogan said, calling it “the most regrettable and embarrassing thing” he’s ever had to deal with.
In the internal note, Ek said that the platform had discussions with Rogan and his team about the content, “including his history of using some racially insensitive language,” and that Rogan chose to have some episodes pulled from the platform.
Ek said that although he opposes what Rogan said, he is not going to cut ties with the platform’s main podcaster.
“While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I am aware that some will want more. And I want to make one point very clear: I don’t think silencing Joe is the answer. Ek wrote in the note to staff.
Ek said the company needs to have clear lines on content, but said “canceling voices is a slippery slope.”
Spotify did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
–
