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Spotify’s Daniel Ek Panics Over Rock Star Defections: “Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly”

Roger Friedman
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Spotify’s Daniel Ek Panics Over Rock Star Defections: “Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly”

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Spotify’s Daniel Ek is in panic mode over the defections of rock stars Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Nils Lofgren, Peter Frampton and others who are speaking out against the streamer. They’re pulling their music over disinformation being broadcast by right wing podcaster Joe Rogan.

So now Ek says there will be new rules over how the disinformation will be disseminated. Spotify will still allow it, but they’ll tell you it’s wrong up front. So it will be the listeners’ decision to accept fake information. Isn’t that great?

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Ek says: “Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly.” But he’ll let them stay since he can make money off of them. And that’s what this is about.

Spotify stock price has dropped by $70 since January 3rd.

Will this stop the departure of the rock stars? I doubt it. But you can read the new Spotify proclamation here:

From Daniel Ek. You’ll note that Ek doesn’t mention the Neil Young situation or any of the musicians by name. But the panic is there between the lines.

A decade ago, we created Spotify to enable the work of creators around the world to be heard and enjoyed by listeners around the world. To our very core, we believe that listening is everything. Pick almost any issue and you will find people and opinions on either side of it. Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly. We know we have a critical role to play in supporting creator expression while balancing it with the safety of our users. In that role, it is important to me that we don’t take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.

You’ve had a lot of questions over the last few days about our platform policies and the lines we have drawn between what is acceptable and what is not. We have had rules in place for many years but admittedly, we haven’t been transparent around the policies that guide our content more broadly. This, in turn, led to questions around their application to serious issues including COVID-19.

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. These issues are incredibly complex. We’ve heard you – especially those from the medical and scientific communities – and are taking the following steps:

Today we are publishing our long-standing Platform Rules. These policies were developed by our internal team in concert with a number of outside experts and are updated regularly to reflect the changing safety landscape. These are rules of the road to guide all of our creators—from those we work with exclusively to those whose work is shared across multiple platforms. You can now find them on our newsroom, and they’ll live permanently on the main Spotify website. They are being localized into various languages to help our users understand how Spotify assesses all content on our platform.
We are working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19. This advisory will direct listeners to our dedicated COVID-19 Hub, a resource that provides easy access to data-driven facts, up-to-date information as shared by scientists, physicians, academics and public health authorities around the world, as well as links to trusted sources. This new effort to combat misinformation will roll out to countries around the world in the coming days. To our knowledge, this content advisory is the first of its kind by a major podcast platform.
We will also begin testing ways to highlight our Platform Rules in our creator and publisher tools to raise awareness around what’s acceptable and help creators understand their accountability for the content they post on our platform. This is in addition to the terms that creators and publishers agree to governing their use of our services.

I want you to know that from the very first days of the pandemic, Spotify has been biased toward action. We launched a variety of educational resources and campaigns to raise awareness and we developed and promoted a global COVID-19 Information Hub. We donated ad inventory to various organizations for vaccine awareness, funds to the World Health Organization and COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) to increase vaccine equity and supported the Go Give One fundraising campaign. And we established a music relief project to support the creative community. While this is not a complete list, I hope it gives you a sense of how seriously we’ve approached the pandemic as a company.

I trust our policies, the research and expertise that inform their development, and our aspiration to apply them in a way that allows for broad debate and discussion, within the lines. We take this seriously and will continue to partner with experts and invest heavily in our platform functionality and product capabilities for the benefit of creators and listeners alike. That doesn’t mean that we always get it right, but we are committed to learning, growing and evolving.

Daniel

RIP Howard Hesseman, aka Johnny Fever, the Coolest DJ Ever from “WKRP in Cincinnatti,” Also “Spinal Tap,” “Mary Hartman”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Howard Hesseman, aka Johnny Fever, the Coolest DJ Ever from “WKRP in Cincinnatti,” Also “Spinal Tap,” “Mary Hartman”

Howard Hesseman has died at age 81. The popular actor played Dr Johnny Fever, ace anti-authoritarian deejay at “WKRP in Cincinnatti” for 90 episodes in the late 70s and early 80s. Hesseman was sasfely subversive comic, not quite Martin Mull, and just shy of “Saturday Night Live”‘s Not for Prime Time Players. He had his own niche, and every one of his appearances was welcome and memorable. Before he was on “WKRP,” Hesseman was on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” making him cool way before everyone else (just like Martin Mull and Fred Willard).

Laraine Newman, of the original “SNL” cast,” wrote on Twitter: “RIP Howard Hessman. What great times we had. Great laughs and fun going to see Etta James in Manhattan Beach and Joe Tex at The Parisian Room. Staying at your beautiful house in Ramatuellle. Oh god this hurts.”

Michael McKean, who starred with Hesseman in “This is Spinal Tap,” wrote on Twitter: “Impossible to overstate Howard Hesseman’s influence on his and subsequent generations of improvisors. The first time I saw him on stage (Troubadour, ’71, with The Committee) I saw that he was the real deal. He was a friend for 50 years. Howard’s character in Spinal Tap didn’t even exist until 24 hours before the shoot: we’d discovered that the musician we’d hired to play Duke Fame couldn’t improvise, so Rob said let’s give him a manager. I’ll call Howard. He blitzed it, of course. We’d go years without seeing each other (Howard and Caroline lived mostly in Europe) but when we did, he’d hilariously fill me in on the great music, dumb show biz and silly-ass humans he’d encountered. RIP Don Sturdy.”

“WKRP” had a lot of heart and wit, which is why it’s remembered so fondly now. Of course, it was produced by MTM and came from the Mary Tyler Moore world of characters over punchlines.

Katy Perry Had Her “Spinal Tap” Moment on “SNL” Last Night Because Long Time Director Quietly Retired Last Month

Roger Friedman
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Katy Perry Had Her “Spinal Tap” Moment on “SNL” Last Night Because Long Time Director Quietly Retired Last Month

Katy Perry had her “Spinal Tap” moment last night on “Saturday Night Live.”

Dressed as a mushroom, Katy danced among what many on social media described as scrotums. These also dancing objects carried signs that read “Eat Me.” Okay. Katy is trying to maybe reclaim her music career after years of coasting on “American Idol” as a judge. Did this do the trick? The single, “When I’m Gone,” zoomed up the iTunes chart to number…47.

How did this happen? Last night marked the third show in a row with director Don Roy King. King quietly retired at the end of 2021 after 15 seasons. His last show was that sadly bizarre COVID unplugged thing with Paul Rudd and Tom Hanks. King won 11 Emmy Awards over his stay at “SNL” but no said goodbye to him.

“SNL” was a desultory affair last night? How many dog shows can you do in one season? And the constant sketches about masturbation, ED, and penis size are just supremely lazy. Why was there no Dionne Warwick talk show? No mention of Kenan as the name of the big storm? No Mikey Day as Djokovic? No Tom Brady retirement announcement?

And Willem Dafoe? Not one nod to one of his movies? Just the sketch where the woman kept guessing the wrong titles? Not even a Spider Man send up?

Well, no “SNL” again until February 26th when John Mulaney returns for the fifth time as host. He will discuss his drug intervention, affair, divorce, and new child with an uncomfortable crowd. He will also be the umpteenth alumna to host the show this season because it’s so hard to get big stars during COVID.

Part 4 of Janet Jackson Documentary Utter Fiction, An Infomercial for Alternative Facts and Lies (Listen to New Song)

Roger Friedman
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Part 4 of Janet Jackson Documentary Utter Fiction, An Infomercial for Alternative Facts and Lies (Listen to New Song)

Now we know why there was no press link to part 4 of the Janet Jackson documentary. It was all fiction.

What an incredible and disappointing ending after the first two parts were pretty good, and the third part couldn’t hurt anyone.

But Part 4 skipped over Janet’s marriage to and divorce from billionaire Wissam El Mana, father of her child. His name was not uttered once. They must have quite an NDA. If you watch this chapter you’d think the little boy, Eissa, just materialized out of thin air.

Then there’s the matter of Janet’s abusive father whom she hated. She despised him so much I have a witness who was in the family kitchen with her in the 1980s when Janet came into the kitchen, pulled out a butcher knife, and had to be stopped from killing him.

In 2015, Joseph Jackson went to Brazil on a trip to basically get laid and not with nice women. He had a heart attack and two strokes and had to be retrieved from Sao Paolo. None of the kids would go, but Janet went and brought him back. It was reported everywhere, including in this column.

Really. I found the first evening of the documentary entertaining. But as it split from reality, I had to say something. Sorry, Michael Jackson fans.

There’s also no mention of the incredible family scandal of 2012 when some of Janet’s siblings “kidnapped” Katherine Jackson and took her to Arizona. They wanted Katherine’s inheritance from Michael. It was little Paris Jackson who ratted them all out. Janet was at the center of that. You will note that only Tito and Randy speak in the documentary. Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, where are they? They are glaringly absent.

A huge omission from Part 1 when Janet claims James De Barge was the first love of her life. This is not true. Janet had a serious boyfriend, three years her senior, with whom she was madly in love. I have very good sources. Joseph broke the couple up because this kid, who was 19, would not become a Jehovah’s Witness. I know this man’s name and I’ve sent him a message. I won’t reveal him name unless he lets me. He’s 58 now, and doesn’t need the grief.

Oh, and let’s not forget Janet’s role in attacking Joseph Jackson’s mistress physically when their relationship was revealed. That’s when Janet found out she was not the youngest Jackson. They all have a younger half sister, Johvanni, who for years worked at McCarren Airport in Las Vegas while the other kids were living it up.

By the way, this was the Joseph Jackson who brought a Michael Jackson imitator with him to the 2009 BET Awards, seriously. I hung out with them. This was four days after Michael died.

One last thing tonight:The new song, Luv I Luv, played over the end credits. It was neither written nor produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But one of the co-writers listed is Randy Jackson, Janet’s brother, who I see has feathered a nice nest for himself after nearly destroying Michael when he worked for him.

 

E Street Band Member Nils Lofgren Joins Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Asks Spotify to Remove His Music

Roger Friedman
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E Street Band Member Nils Lofgren Joins Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Asks Spotify to Remove His Music

Nils Lofgren, a long time solo star and guitarist for the E Street Band, has taken a stand. He wants his music off of Spotify.

Lofgren is joining Neil Young and Joni Mitchell protesting Spotify disseminating false information about COVID and the vaccines via right wing host Joe Rogan.

Lofgren wrote on Neil Young’s Archives site:
A few days ago, my wife Amy and I became aware of Neil and Daryl standing with hundreds of health care professionals, scientists, doctors and nurses in calling out Spotify for promoting lies and misinformation that are hurting and killing people.

When these heroic women and men, who’ve spent their lives healing and saving ours, cry out for help you don’t turn your back on them for money and power. You listen and stand with them.

As I write this letter, we’ve now gotten the last 27 years of my music taken off Spotify. We are reaching out to the labels that own my earlier music to have it removed as well. We sincerely hope they honor our wishes, as Neil’s labels have done, his. We will do everything possible towards that end and will keep you posted.

Neil and I go back 53 years. Amy and I are honored and blessed to call Neil and Daryl friends, and knew standing with them was the right choice. We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere, to stand with us all, and cut ties with Spotify.

Music is our planet’s Sacred Weapon, uniting and healing billions of souls every day. Pick up your sword and start swinging! Neil always has. Stand with him, us (Joni Mitchell!), and others. It’s a powerful action YOU can all take NOW, to honor truth, humanity and the heroes risking their lives every day to save ours.

Peace and Believe, Nils, Amy Lofgren

Nils’s outspoken wife, Amy, wrote on Twitter:

“Misinformation on covid19 is not free speech. It is deadly. That is the point.

@NeilYoungNYA
@jonimitchell
@peterframpton
@nilslofgren

don’t want to be on a platform that supports very dangerous content. We stand with #healthcareworkers”

Lofgren is not a huge streaming artist on his own. His biggest track, “Shine Silently,” one of my personal favorite records, only has 3.5 million plays. But the Lofgrens are well respected, and their ties to Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band give them a lot of influence. This may be the start of another unraveling for Spotify.

 

Exclusive: Janet Jackson A&E Doc Will End with New Video Created Just for Film “Luv I Luv”

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Janet Jackson A&E Doc Will End with New Video Created Just for Film “Luv I Luv”

What has she done for us lately? Well, Janet Jackson will conclude her four hour documentary tonight with a surprise.

Janet, say my sources, will perform a new song called Luv I Luv. It was created especially for the documentary which airs tonight on A&E beginning at 8pm. Part 2 starts at 9pm so the video will be in that final hour.

The song was just added to the end of the doc, which is why we don’t have a press link for part 4. I’m assuming “Luv I Luv,” not to be confused with a 2008 song called “Luv,” was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

All four hours will air again tomorrow night, Sunday, beginning at 8pm on Lifetime.

 In the meantime, here is one of their great JJ collaborations.

 

Box Office: “Spider Man” and “Scream” Each Made $2 Mil Last Night Despite Approaching Blizzard

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Spider Man” and “Scream” Each Made $2 Mil Last Night Despite Approaching Blizzard

Was there a box office last night?

Looking at the snow right now, you’d think, No way. But actually some people didn’t care about the approaching blizzard. They don’t care about COVID, either, so snow? That’s nothing!

Both “Spider Man” and “Scream” made $2 million last night. The former actually raked in another $2.750 million. Hah! Bitter cold? Who cares when you can see the same movie for the 19th time!

Everything else was kind of meh, with the total box office for the top 11 movies coming in at just under $8 million.

Tonight will be a disaster unless there’s someone who really needs to see “Spider Man” again and has good chains for their tires.

“SNL” is new later with Willem Dafoe and Katy Perry. They can’t not do a sketch about the blizzard being called “Kenan” can they? The funny part is that in Connecticut the same storm is called “Bobby” because it sounds whiter. LOL. You can’t make this stuff up!

Janet Jackson Doc Continues Tonight: Shedding Rene, Losing Coke Contract, Kissing Tupac

Roger Friedman
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Janet Jackson Doc Continues Tonight: Shedding Rene, Losing Coke Contract, Kissing Tupac

There are two more hours of the Janet Jackson documentary tonight on A&E.

The first two hours last night were a little more revealing and revelatory. Tonight’s first hour is more like an “E! True Hollywood Story,” which is still fun and worth watching especially since we’re all snowed in.

The most interesting part of tonight’s first episode is video of Janet and brother Michael Jackson writing the song “Scream” together. Unfortunately, A&E gave that clip to “ET” so it’s been available for a few days. But seeing Michael at work and in a normal, human give and take with his sister is refreshing.

There’s also footage of Janet and husband Rene with advertising people and Coca Cola execs at a conference table getting ready to sign a deal for commercials. But Janet says when Michael’s 1993 child molestation accusations came out, the deal was quashed. “Guilt by association,” she says. (Not ‘guilty by association’ which is how the press came out recently. There’s a difference.)

Janet lost the Coke deal, but she persevered. She released her fifth hit album, got a lot of press for her “scandalous” Rolling Stone coverage, and made the movie “Poetic Justice.” There’s footage of Tupac Shakur smiling and laughing on “Arsenio Hall.” talking about kissing Janet. Poor Tupac: a cloud of violence hovers over his memory. But he was very engaging.

By the end of this segment, Janet ditches and divorces Rene. He sued her for $10 million and they settled. But we have Rene to thank for a decade of videography. He was smart enough to chronicle and keep everything. (I’m sure he charged these documentary people an arm and a leg for the rights.) Now Janet is on her own, dating Jermaine Dupri, and about to have her Super Bowl debacle. That’s in the last episode, which we may all have to watch together since the press doesn’t have it yet.

There’s a lot missing from this four hour extravaganza. That’s what happens when the subject has editorial control. But the Janet documentary on A&E is breezy entertainment for a bad weekend. You get the gist of the situation if not the gory details. You could do worse.

Spotify Boycott: Who Will Join Neil and Joni? Bruce? Dylan? Jackson Browne? McCartney? Stones?

Roger Friedman
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Spotify Boycott: Who Will Join Neil and Joni? Bruce? Dylan? Jackson Browne? McCartney? Stones?

Now that Joni Mitchell has thrown in with Neil Young, the question is: who’s next?

Which legacy rockers will join Neil and Joni and remove their music from Spotify in protest of Joe Rogan.

Rogan, an anti-vaxxer who’s tested positive for COVID, continues to disseminate misinformation on his Spotify radio show/podcast. He’s paid millions by the streamer to do it, and they don’t censor him in any way.

Pulling music off Spotify isn’t easy, especially when many artists have sold their rights to corporations for big payouts. Neil and Joni each control their own catalogues.

But who will join them? Jackson Browne? Bonnie Raitt? David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash? Bruce Springsteen? Paul Simon? Stevie Wonder? Bob Dylan? All of these people are very principled and have stood up for causes in the past like No Nukes. But this means taking a hit in the pocketbook. Not a big hit, because legacy artists do not have big streaming numbers. But if more join the cause, Spotify will have a huge PR headache. They’ve already seen their stock price fall by $20 since the beginning of the week.

Stay tuned…

Spotify Revolt: Joni Mitchell Says She Stands with Neil Young, Will Remove Her Music from Streaming Service

Roger Friedman
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Spotify Revolt: Joni Mitchell Says She Stands with Neil Young, Will Remove Her Music from Streaming Service

I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify. 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. Joni Mitchell

Neil Young’s old friend and fellow Canadian, Joni Mitchell, has come out swinging in solidarity with him. Joni says she wants all her music off Spotify, too. Forget Barry Manilow! Joni is incensed by Joe Rogan’s disinformation campaign on the streaming service and won’t stand by idly while it’s promoted.

Joni has also offered up a link today to a letter from dozens of scientists addressed to Spotify called

A call from the global scientific and medical communities to implement a misinformation policy

This is significant. Now it’s time for more celebrated and revered rock, pop, and R&B stars to follow Joni and Neil. Bravo, Joni!

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