Spotify CEO Daniel Ek confirms removal of Joe Rogan episodes. Joe Rogan has been embroiled in a racism debate since he was accused of spreading false information about the Covid-19 epidemic. As a result, Spotify has deleted more than 100 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The chief executive of the streaming service said Rogan himself had asked to delete the controversial episodes.
Earlier in the week, Spotify deleted at least 70 episodes of Rogan’s podcast without comment, citing racist language. As of yesterday’s news, the streaming service has deleted a total of 113 episodes, not 70. And Daniel Ek, the company’s chief executive, said in a memo to employees that Rogan himself had asked them to delete the episodes.
On the technology site, Verge, you have the opportunity to see the memo written by Daniel Ek for the staff. “Some of Joe Rogan’s comments weren’t just hurtful-I want to make it clear that they do not represent the values of this organization,” said one in the memo.
He said Spotify spoke directly with Rogan about some of the issues in the podcast. One of those conversations, with Rogan himself, “decided to delete several episodes from Spotify,” Ek said.
While “strongly condemning” Rogan’s remarks, Ek thinks that “shutting Joe Rogan mouth” may not be the answer.
We have to have clear boundaries when it comes to content, and we have to take action once that is over. But holding someone’s voice is a dangerous move. Real and necessary progress is possible only by looking at these issues from a broader perspective, from the point of view of constructive criticism and open debate, “he wrote in the memo.
In the memo, Ek announced the creation of a new fund of 100 million for the licensing and marketing of songs by disadvantaged artists. Spotify has a $1 billion deal with Joe Rogan as well.
On Sunday, Rogan apologized for using racist language.
Read More: Record of 6.5 Million E-Cars Sold in 2021
