Spotify CEO Daniel Ek defended the company’s continued relationship with embattled podcaster Joe Rogan during a Wednesday address to employees.
Audio of the speech to Spotify staff was leaked to the Verge and reportedly features Ek’s explanation that Rogan is an essential component to the company’s goals.
“If we want even a shot at achieving our bold ambitions, it will mean having content on Spotify that many of us may not be proud to be associated with,” Ek said in the recording, according to the Verge. “Not anything goes, but there will be opinions, ideas, and beliefs that we disagree with strongly and even makes us angry or sad.”
THE ROCK BACKS UP JOE ROGAN, AGREES WITH EFFORT TO SHOW DIFFERENT OPINIONS
“Another important point for you to know is that in 2019, our music and podcasting catalog was not that differentiated, and because of this, we were locked out of deals with some critical hardware partners like Amazon, Google, and even Tesla,” Ek continued. “To combat this, we needed to find leverage. And one way we could do this was in the form of exclusives, specifically with voices like Joe Rogan’s, the Obamas, Brené Brown, Dax Shepard, just to name a few.”
Ek added that Spotify does not have creative control over its publishers.
Rogan’s podcast has faced stiff backlash recently for his interviewing of doctors who hold controversial views about the coronavirus vaccine that conflict with information provided by government sources.
“Everyone’s a little upset, especially the people whose initiatives directly contradict what’s happening,” an employee who asked to remain anonymous said, according to the Verge. “People are feeling increasingly frustrated that no matter what the company says messaging-wise, or no matter what people’s initiatives are, it all kind of ladders up to, ‘What’s the best for Joe Rogan and Joe Rogan’s audience?’”
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The employee further explained that staff members wishing to feature “diverse creators for Black History Month have seen their initiatives sidelined while Rogan captured the company‘s attention,” the Verge reports.
Rock ‘n’ roll relic Neil Young recently pulled his music off the platform in protest of Spotify continuing to host Rogan’s show.
