Spotify CEO criticizes Joe Rogan's racist insults

Daniel Ek, Spotify's CEO, says he "deeply" rejects racist insults and other statements made by prominent US podcaster Joe Rogan, but that he would not ban him from the service.

Ek's remarks, which were sent in a memo to colleagues seen by Reuters, came after Rogan apologised for the second time in a week, this time for using racist slurs after a montage video leaked showing him saying the N-word repeatedly.

Following talks with the music streaming platform and his own views on some of the content in the programme, including the use of racially offensive language, Ek stated it was Rogan's choice to delete a number of earlier episodes from The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

"While I strongly oppose what Joe has stated, I want to be clear about one thing: I do not feel that silencing Joe is the solution," Ek added.
Ek reaffirmed his stance on Spotify's content moderation policy, stating that the company should have clear boundaries surrounding the information it distributes. When they are crossed, the corporation should take action, but he emphasised that cancelling voices is a slippery slope.

According to the letter, which was confirmed by a Spotify spokeswoman, the business would also invest US$100 million to the licencing, production, and promotion of music and audio material from historically marginalised groups in an effort to elevate creators from a variety of backgrounds.

Rogan had stated in his apology that the montage showed him using the term in chats on shows over the previous 12 years, and that it contained examples of him addressing its use by Black and white comedians and others.

Rogan, a mixed martial arts pundit and a vocal vaccination sceptic, has sparked debate with his opinions about Covid immunizations, the epidemic, and government orders to stem the virus' spread.

Singer-songwriters such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have said that their music would be removed from Spotify in protest of coronavirus disinformation spread on the network.

Last week, the outcry over Covid's misrepresentation on the streaming service cost the company more than $2 billion in market value.

Spotify has stated that any episode discussing Covid-19 would have a "content advisory" added to it.