The Specter of Joe Rogan: How a Podcaster Lit the Fuse for a Music Revolt

While the current wave of Spotify protests is focused on artist pay and Daniel Ek’s investments, the specter of Joe Rogan still looms large over the conversation. The intense controversy in 2022 over Spotify’s exclusive deal with the podcaster was a critical moment that primed the pump for today’s broader music revolt.
The Rogan affair, which prompted Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to leave the platform, fundamentally changed the nature of the critique against Spotify. It shifted the focus from the company’s treatment of musicians to its broader role as a media powerhouse and its responsibility for the content it promotes. It raised new and uncomfortable questions about misinformation and corporate ethics.
This episode revealed a potential conflict of interest at the heart of Spotify’s business. The company had spent hundreds of millions of dollars to become a dominant player in podcasting. This meant that when faced with a choice between backing a controversial but hugely popular podcaster and placating two legendary musicians, the company’s financial incentives were clear. They chose Rogan.
For many musicians, this was a wake-up call. It suggested that as Spotify’s podcasting ambitions grew, the music side of the business might become a lower priority. It also aligned the company with a brand of controversial media that many artists found politically and culturally toxic.
The Rogan controversy, therefore, acted as a powerful catalyst. It eroded trust, exposed the company’s priorities, and legitimized the idea of leaving the platform for reasons of principle. It lit the fuse, and even though the initial explosion subsided, the slow burn of discontent it created helped to ignite the larger fire of the “Death to Spotify” movement.