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Last February, when multiple editions of Joe Rogan’s Spotify podcast sparked controversy over racist language and COVID-related misinformation, the streaming giant’s CEO apologized to offended staff, Licensing, developing and marketing music (artists and songwriters) and audio content from historically marginalized groups.
About 14 months later, its $100 million “Creator Equity Fund” has put less than 10% of its money into its work, according to a Bloomberg report. The initiative is behind schedule in that he has hired eight staff to oversee the project and is “suffering from shifting priorities,” said an unnamed person familiar with the effort. citing the report said. Earlier this year, the fund had not finalized its 2023 budget and had not decided on priority projects, according to a memo obtained by the publication. Layoffs last year, according to unions representing workers.
According to Bloomberg sources, the $100 million was designed to be spent over three years, but the streaming service does not have a well-structured and clear document for reviewing and approving projects or allocating funds. there was no system. Ideas were suggested, but were often not accepted.
A Spotify rep declined to comment on the specific amount of the equity fund’s spending, but it said it will be releasing “Glow,” which spotlights the music of LGBTQ artists, and three black women. We also recently announced an expanded partnership with Spelman College, a black women’s school in historic Atlanta.
“The Spotify Creator Equity Fund is dedicated to a variety of initiatives that help advance and support a comprehensive and diverse portfolio of artists and creators on our platform,” a spokesperson said in an email. “We can empower and elevate underrepresented voices around the world.”
contact address variety, A Spotify representative declined to comment further, but did not dispute the information in the report.
Rogan’s deal with Spotify, the world’s largest paid music subscription service, was thought to be around that amount, but it was later reported to be well over $200 million, so the figure of $100 million has been dropped. was considered symbolic. The move was sometimes seen as a cynical and vague attempt to defuse the situation, especially after spending his $300 million on a sponsorship deal with Barcelona FC football club weeks later.
At the time of the announcement, in a February 2022 letter to staff, CEO Daniel Ek, who had been criticized both internally and externally over his partnership with Rogan, explained how the controversy over hosting the podcast had erupted. “I deeply apologize,” he said. influenced them. But after the company removed the last 70 episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” amid Logan’s repeated use of the N-word and racist language on the show, Ek announced that Spotify would be contracted to distribute the podcast. I signaled that I had no plans to end the I have continued.
“I don’t think silencing Joe is the answer… Canceling voices is a slippery slope,” he wrote in a Sunday note obtained by Variety. “If we believe in having an open platform as a core value of our company, we must also believe in elevating all types of creators, including underrepresented communities and creators from diverse backgrounds. .”
Logan has been a controversial figure since Spotify signed him to an exclusive deal in 2020, given his familiarity with several right-wing personalities he hosted on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
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