Neil Young announces return to Spotify after misinformation controversy

Neil Young on Wednesday said his music will return to Spotifyjust over two years after he and other artists removed their catalogs from the music streaming platform amid a vaccine misinformation controversy.

Spotify has not confirmed the news. CNBC has reached out to the company for comment.

The incident that led to his departure centered on Spotify’s multimillion-dollar deal with Joe Rogan, whose podcast of the same name was accused by Young of spreading “false information” about the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines. A group of 270 American doctors and scientists also summoned Spotify to “take action against the mass disinformation events that continue to occur on its platform.”

In a statement released Tuesday, Young said his decision to return was in light of Apple and Amazon “serving the same disinformation podcast features” he opposed on Spotify.

Spotify announced a multi-year deal with Rogan last month that removed its exclusivity, meaning “The Joe Rogan Experience” will return to platforms including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Amazon Music.

“I can’t just leave Apple and Amazon like I did Spotify because my music wouldn’t be streaming for music lovers at all,” Young said on his website.

The singer, whose hits include “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man” and “Harvest Moon,” took multiple digs at Spotify in his statement, calling it “the #1 streamer of low-res music in the world…where you get -less quality than we did.” He also called for the platform to introduce a high definition level.

Young previously said Spotify accounted for 60% of his global streaming revenue before his departure.

Last month, Young and the band Crazy Horse announced a new album, “Fu##in’ Up,” and a North American tour.

Other artists who pulled their work from the platform in January 2022 include Joni Mitchell, India Arie and the band Crosby, Stills and Nash.

The move put Spotify in a position to choose between a host of legendary music figures and Joe Rogan’s controversial but hugely popular podcast, which was its most streamed show in 2023. At the time, Spotify CEO Daniel Eck said he didn’t believe in the “silence” Rogan.

Rogan apologized amid the furor, promising to demonstrate a balance of views in his platform.

CNBC has reached out to Apple and Amazon for comment.