Neil Young justifies his comeback to Spotify, stating that Apple Music has deteriorated to the same level as other streaming services. Two years after withdrawing his music from Spotify to protest against the platform's airing of the Joe Rogan podcast, Neil Young now views Apple Music and other streaming services as equally objectionable, leading him to reconsider his stance on distributing his music across all platforms. Young, who has been vocal about streaming services since 2012, initially collaborated with Steve Jobs on a high-fidelity music format and has criticized the audio quality of services and devices, including the MacBook Pro. His discontent led to a temporary removal of his music from streaming services in 2016, partly due to audio quality issues and the competitive performance of his own high-definition music player, Pono, against the iPhone.
Young's 2022 withdrawal from Spotify was a direct protest against the platform's association with the Joe Rogan podcast, which he accused of spreading COVID misinformation—a move that inspired other artists like Joni Mitchell and India.Arie to do the same. However, Young's recent decision to return to Spotify, announced on his website, stems from his belief that the issue of disinformation is no longer exclusive to Spotify, as Apple and Amazon have begun hosting similar content.
Although Young criticizes Spotify for its low-resolution music streaming, he acknowledges the necessity of being present on major streaming platforms to reach listeners. He hopes for an improvement in Spotify's sound quality and encourages the platform to adopt high-resolution audio streaming, highlighting that services like Qobuz and Tidal offer superior sound quality. Young's return to Spotify, along with Mitchell and India.Arie, underscores the complexities musicians face in balancing principles with the realities of digital music distribution.