It has been a week Spotify would rather forget. After a number of artists quit the platform due to its ongoing support of Joe Rogan’s controversial podcast and the company’s global market share taking a major hit, the Sussexes have publicly expressed concerns about misinformation on the streaming platform.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle’s Archewell organization, which has a dedicated podcast division signed exclusively to the audio streamer, released a statement early Sunday expressing the couple’s worries about Spotify’s failure to prevent the spread of coronavirus misinformation.A spokesperson for the Sussexes told media outlets, including BAZAAR.com, that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first aired their views on the matter as far back as April 2021—four months after signing a multi-year podcast partnership.
“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform,” the spokesperson says. “We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.””We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does,” the representative added.
Just hours before the couple’s January 30 statement, self-help author and friend of the Sussexes Brené Brown took to Twitter to share she will not be uploading new episodes of her exclusive Spotify podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead, until further notice. “I will not be releasing any podcasts until further notice. . . I’m sorry and I’ll let you know if and when that changes,” she wrote.
I will not be releasing any podcasts until further notice. To our #UnlockingUs and #DaretoLead communities, I’m sorry and I’ll let you know if and when that changes. Stay awkward, brave, and kind. ❤️👊🏼❤️
— Brené Brown (@BreneBrown) January 29, 2022
It seems Spotify have been listening closely. On Sunday evening, CEO Daniel Ek announced that the company is planning to implement “changes to help combat misinformation”. In a press release, he explained, “It’s become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time.”
