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Jan 31, 2022·edited Jan 31, 2022Author

"But why? People have the choice to listen to Joe Rogan, or not to listen. Spotify is not ubiquitous like network television or AM radio. It’s a subscription service; you have to download the app, sign up, pay money, etc. Why should Rogan be forced to limit the opinions expressed by his guests? Why does everyone have to 'deplatform' anyone, regardless of their expertise or credentials, if they express any disagreement with the government’s plan-of-the-moment?"

What you're calling "deplatforming" is what others call "freedom of association". There was never ANY question whether Spotify would kick Rogan off their platform - they paid far too much to buy his exclusivity and Rogan's show is the keystone of their entire podcasting business[1]:

"One ad buyer, who also requested anonymity to speak freely about rates, says Spotify upped prices for its acquired and licensed shows. CPMs, or the cost per thousand listeners, on those programs are up three times as much, they say. A host-read ad that lived forever on Joe Rogan’s show used to cost tens of thousands of dollars previous to him going exclusive to Spotify. Next year, to get any ads on Rogan, the minimum spend is $1 million, they say, at a CPM upward of $60."

In addition to the $1MM minimum spend, I've also read elsewhere that to get an ad on Rogan's show, the buyer must also purchase ads on other Spotify-exclusive shows. (Can't find the link at the moment, but will post if I find it.) Spotify "deplatforming" Rogan's as likely as Sirius XM kicking Howard Stern off the air for saying something offensive.

None of this is secret and I'm sure Young and the other musicians recognized this. However, they also have the right to request that their music not also be on that service and to not be associated (even indirectly) with Rogan's platform. What you're comparing to totalitarian states seems to be to me how things SHOULD work. Rogan is free to keep saying what he's saying, and Neil Young (et. al) isn't being forced to be associated with it. Would the alternative world where Young would be prohibited from removing his catalog from Spotify be superior in some way? It's not like there isn't a shortage of other avenues for Young to peddle his tunes.

[1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/14/22832670/podcast-ads-direct-response-brands-industry-hot-pod

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Jan 31, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr, David Thornton

This is a good thread on the issues with Rogan/live interviews: https://twitter.com/JamesSurowiecki/status/1488146690536263680

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