The streaming giant is coming under fire for apparently covering up a public promise.
Last year Joe Rogan and Spotify (PLACE) – Get a free reportthey were widely criticized for… well… where do you start, really?
The host of the popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,”who has been reported to be worth $200 million to SpotifyHe has been criticized for spreading conspiracies and for Rogan’s tendency to make some inflammatory remarks.
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But Rogan and Spotify found themselves in especially hot trouble last year when he interviewed Robert Malone, a vaccine skeptic who has been banned from Twitter for spreading misinformation and who claimed on the show that vaccines don’t work, which is going on. against what is universally accepted. medical consensus.
In an act of protest, classic rock legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, both survivors of childhood polio, removed their music from the service, and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Inida.Arie posted a video on Instagram compiling various instances of Rogan. using racial slurs.
As a result, Spotify has formed an 18-member Security Advisory Council to provide expert input on topics ranging from hate speech to disinformation and online extremism, and Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek has also formed a COVID-19 center providing “easy access to data”. facts based on data, up-to-date information shared by scientists, doctors, academics, and public health authorities from around the world, as well as links to reliable sources.
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In addition, Spotify formed the “Creator Equity Fund,” which has pledged to commit $100 million “for the licensing, development, and marketing of music (artists and composers) and audio content from historically marginalized groups.”
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Now the news has surfaced that Spotify has spent less than 10% of its funding on that work. according to Bloomberg. The culprit appears to be the corporate bureaucracy.
The initiative is reportedly behind schedule in hiring a staff of eight to oversee the project and “has undergone shifting priorities.” It had not completed its 2023 budget and had not determined its priority projects, according to a memo.
Another fund meant to promote diversity in podcasts was hit by the layoffs. Bloomberg reported that the fund, which was meant to distribute money over three years, “lacked a clear and well-structured system for vetting and approving projects or allocating money.”
When asked for comment, Spotify pointed to “Glow,” which highlights the music of LGBTQ artists, and “Nailing It,” a podcast hosted by three black women, and sent out a statement saying:
“The Spotify Creator Equity Fund is dedicated to a variety of initiatives that help elevate and support an inclusive and diverse portfolio of artists and creators on the platform. We are able to empower and uplift underrepresented voices around the world.”
