Spotify to add content advisory to podcasts that discuss COVID-19

Audio streaming giant Spotify announced it will add a content advisory to podcasts that discuss COVID-19 after several musicians boycotted the service due to virus misinformation. 

In a statement on Sunday, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the advisory would direct users to COVID-19 Hub, which provides easy access to data-driven facts and expert guidance on the virus. 

“This new effort to combat misinformation will roll out to countries around the world in the coming days,” the statement said. “To our knowledge, this content advisory is the first of its kind by a major podcast platform.”

Ek also said the company will begin testing ways to highlight its Platform Rules in their creator and publisher tools to raise awareness about what’s acceptable on the platform. 

Spotify’s changes come as popular musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have asked the company to remove their music in protest of COVID-19 misinformation, particularly on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast. 

Spotify’s statement did not specifically reference the musicians or Rogan, who signed a $100 million deal with the streaming giant. 

“Based on the feedback over the last several weeks, it’s become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time,” Ek said in explaining the changes. 

Mitchell, in announcing her decision to join Young in removing her music from Spotify, said: “Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”