Low-Res May His Music Stream: Neil Young Putting Catalog Back On Spotify

After a two-year absence, Neil Young‘s music will return to Spotify. However, the legendary rocker isn’t happy about it and hasn’t changed the stance that led to him pulling his catalog from the streaming giant.

Young made the decision to remove his music from Spotify in January 2022. The move came in protest to Joe Rogan whose podcast was available exclusively on Spotify. Rogan was accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation by Young and in an open letter issued by hundreds of medical industry professionals, doctors, scientists, professors and nurses.

“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” wrote Young at the time in a letter obtained by Rolling Stone before adding, “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.”

Joe Rogan now has a deal that brings his podcast to several platforms as it is no longer a Spotify exclusive. “My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify,” Neil Young wrote in a letter entitled “My Return To Low Res Spotify” posted on his Neil Young Archives website on Tuesday, March 12. “I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all, so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve and people will be able to hear and feel all the music as we made it.”

Neil Young has long been an advocate for improving the sound quality of digital and streaming services. Young launched the Pono digital media player and music download service for high-resolution audio in 2012. While the service and support for the players was discontinued in 2017, Young has continued to be a proponent of high-resolution audio.

“I hope all you millions of Spotify users enjoy my songs! They will now all be there for you except for the full sound we created. Hopefully Spotify will turn to Hi Res as the answer and serve all the music to everyone,” Young added. “Spotify, you can do it! Really be #1 in all ways. You have the music and the listeners!!!! Start with a limited Hi res tier and build from there!”

Neil Young & Crazy Horse launch a North American tour on April 24. The band’s new album, FU##IN’ UP, arrives on April 20 ahead of a wider release on April 26.