A key difference is that Facebook's and YouTube's challenge is policing content at unprecedented scale Spotify, however, is searching for a position of neutrality after investing $100 million to license a podcaster already known for courting controversy. The latest controversy over Rogan throws Spotify into a dilemma that Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other internet giants have struggled to manage: walking the tightrope between freedom of expression and effective moderation of the most objectionable content on their platforms. That dollar amount matched the value of Spotify's 2020 licensing deal with Rogan, which made his podcast a Spotify exclusive. The memo was reported earlier by The Verge.Įk went on to say that Spotify plans to invest $100 million in artists, songwriters and podcasters from 'historically marginalized groups,' promising the funds would be spent on developing, licensing and marketing those creators.

'Some of Joe Rogan's comments incredibly hurtful - I want to make clear that they do not represent the values of this company,' Ek wrote in a memo to employees, which provided Monday by a company spokeswoman. Last week, more than 70 episodes of the podcast disappeared from Spotify after videos of Rogan using racial slurs on past shows were circulating widely on social media. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek confirmed Sunday that Joe Rogan chose to remove multiple episodes of his popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, from the streaming service after Spotify leadership's discussed his use of 'racially insensitive language,' according to a memo sent to employees.

Spotify and joe rogan