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Summary
- Lately, Spotify experienced an internal unrest in its workforce over the hosting of Joe Rogan’s podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience" episode, (streamed on Spotify from 1 September 2020, after the inking of the exclusive deal in May), which was described as transphobic.
- Friction is building between leadership team of Spotify and workforce over the podcast, as employees want Joe Rogan to be removed primarily due to his comments in the past, however senior leadership team is not in the favour of removal of the transphobic content from the Company’s influential platform.
- An uproar had surrounded Joe Rogan in the past as well, due to his remarks specifically on the trans community.
- Most recently, Joe Rogan made puns at the expense of Caitlyn Jenner (which were directed towards her family), that have been pronounced as transphobic by many, including Caitlyn Jenner herself.
- Though, the podcast is free to be accessed, Spotify is positive about Joe Rogan’s podcast to surge the traffic to its service, leading to a rise in subscribers; and shape its podcasting empire, enabling it to contend with Amazon, Google, and Apple.
The signing of a podcaster, Joe Rogan, to a multi-year exclusive licensing deal in May 2020 certainly gave a boost to Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) share price, but then it also heated up an internal struggle in the Company.
‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ is one of the most downloaded podcasts, globally. The show features Joe Rogan chatting to a swathe of guests for several hours at a time. The show streamed on Spotify from 1 September 2020, after the inking of the exclusive deal.
As per various media reports, Spotify experienced internal unrest amid its workforce over the hosting of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ episodes that have been described as transphobic by them.
It did not take long for Joe Rogan to kindle controversy at Spotify.
But what did he say?
Most recently, Joe Rogan made puns at the expense of Caitlyn Jenner, which have been pronounced as transphobic by many, including Caitlyn Jenner herself.
He misgendered Caitlyn Jenner and joked, which were directed towards her family by stating that-
An uproar surrounded him in the past as well
The well received yet polarising podcast host has been slammed several times for his remarks in the past, specifically on the trans community.
A couple of months ago, he was castigated for laughing uproariously at a peer comedian demanding erotic acts in exchange for time at a comedy club’s stage.
As per several media reports, close to 10 meetings have been held with multiple groups and individuals, wherein they have expressed their respective concerns and dismay.
Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, said that some of the employees want Joe Rogan to be removed primarily due to the remarks passed by him in the past.
Amid internal unrest, multiple questions were raised in the meeting from the employees, including the one: “Many LGBTQAI+/ally Spotifiers feel unwelcome and alienated because of leadership’s response in JRE conversations. What is your message to those employees?”.
Moreover, the CEO was also found explaining to the personnel as to why he was not in the favour of removal of the transphobic content from the Company’s influential platform.
Numerous debates were taking place at Spotify in relation to management of the hateful content, similar to the way handled by Twitter or Facebook.
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Why Joe Rogan’s podcast matters to Spotify?
Owing to the multi-year exclusive licensing deal in May 2020, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, podcast would disappear from all other platforms.
Despite the fact that podcast is noted to have free accessibility, Spotify is positive about Joe Rogan’s podcast to surge the traffic to its service, driving considerable increment on the number of subscribers.
This platform-exclusive deal is considered to be rare, as it is usually very tough to make a hefty amount of money in the podcasts’ crowded world.
Moreover, this deal has emerged as a huge win for the platform primarily due to the fact that it will help in developing its podcasting empire and enable it to contend with Amazon, Google and Apple.
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With this latest row over Rogan’s words with Spotify’s workforce, he would be under a radar. He reckons himself as an edgy comedian, and would continue to pass comments, as well as jokes that are likely to derive criticism internally and externally at Spotify.
On 18 September 2020, Spotify Technology S.A. last traded on NYSE at US$233.89, down by 0.18 per cent from its previous close.
