Joni Mitchell’s music has quietly returned to Spotify greater than two years after she followed Neil Young in protesting what she described as “lies” about Covid-19 vaccines being spread on the streaming platform.
No official announcement has been made about Mitchell’s decision, but on Thursday, fans on social media began excitedly noting the reappearance of a few of her albums on Spotify. Friday morning saw the return of most, if not all, of Mitchell’s original albums, including such classics as “Blue” (1971), “Court and Spark” (1974) and “Mingus” (1979).
Representatives for the singer-songwriter, her record labels and Spotify either didn’t respond or didn’t comment on Thursday and Friday when asked about Mitchell’s alleged comeback albums.
In January 2022, in a post on his website titled “I Stand With Neil Young!” Mitchell announced that she can be removing all her music from Spotify. Young did so after criticizing the location for its support of Joe Rogan, a podcast star whose show has drawn criticism from doctors and public health officials who said a few of Rogan’s guests spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.
“Irresponsible people spread lies that cost lives,” Mitchell wrote.
Last week, Young turned his music over to Spotify, saying: “My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have begun to provide the same disinformation podcast features that I opposed on Spotify.” Rogan previously had an exclusive cope with Spotify, which was renewed – for a reported $250 million – to allow his show to be distributed on other platforms.
Mitchell, 80, has change into more energetic lately after suffering an aneurysm in 2015 that originally left her unable to speak. She has performed several performances, including on the 2022 Newport Folk Festival and the Grammy Awards in February, and is scheduled to perform two “Joni Jam” concert events on the Hollywood Bowl in October with Brandi Carlile and others.
