A group of Spotify staff in New York is threatening to strike in protest of the platform’s decision not to impose direct editorial oversight on the content of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, MMA Mania reported.
Although some demands have already been met by the company’s management, including omitting multiple past episodes such as interviews with Milo Yiannopoulos, Gavin McInnes, and Alex Jones who are all considered far-right commentators, the workers remained dissatisfied, vowing to make a high-profile walkout or strike, according to the outlet.
The workers are reportedly demanding the company grant them the ability to edit or remove parts of future interviews in the recently bought podcast, or even ban the upload of whole episodes that would be considered problematic.
In addition, staff demanded the right to issue warnings, make corrections, and fact-check Rogan’s material.
According to Digital Music News, the Spotify management rejected further demands by the staff, arguing that Rogan’s content does not violate any of the platform’s guidelines.
Spotify signed a multi-year deal with Joe Rogan in May this year. The exclusive arrangement, worth $100 million, included airing the podcast's 11-year library which, as of 25 September, has 1,541 episodes.