Neil Young

Music streaming giant Spotify on April 27 reported a lower than expected growth in paying subscribers in the first quarter, citing its exit from Russia.

Following the company's publication of its first quarter earnings, shares in the streaming service were down over 11 percent on the New York stock-exchange, where the company is listed.

Neil Young is urging Spotify employees to quit their jobs at the company he's accused of spreading disinformation, urging them to leave before "it eats up your soul."

Spotify's popular U.S. podcaster Joe Rogan apologized on Feb. 5 after a video compilation surfaced that showed him using a racial slur in clips of episodes over a 12-year span.

The mea culpa came after Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter India. Arie posted the compilation on Instagram and announced that she was removing her music from Spotify's streaming service because of it.

After music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell quit Spotify over a Covid misinformation row, some lesser-known artists have said they simply couldn't afford to leave the world's largest music streamer despite their concerns.

Spotify said it is working to add advisory alerts to every podcast on its platform that discusses the coronavirus.

The director of the company Daniel Ek revealed the plans to ban the employees of the streaming giant from sharing "fraudulent" information that could pose a threat to public health.

Joni Mitchell said on Jan. 28 she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who ignited a protest against the streaming service for airing a podcast that featured a figure who has spread misinformation about the coronavirus.

Neil Young's music will be removed from Spotify at his request, following the veteran rock star's protest over the streaming service airing a popular podcast that featured a figure criticized for spreading COVID misinformation.

Spotify, in a statement on Jan. 26, said that it regretted Young's decision, "but hope to welcome him back soon."

Little Richard, one of the chief architects of rock 'n' roll whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, died on May 9 after battling bone cancer. He was 87.

Lana Del Rey has become the latest Western musician to call off a concert in Israel as security fears from the Gaza conflict take a toll on the entertainment industry.
      
The US pop balladeer, whose latest album "Ultraviolence" debuted at number one on the US charts, had been scheduled to play her first concert in Israel at Tel Aviv's Nokia Arena on August 20.
      

So far this summer, thousands of Istanbulites have been treated to blockbuster performances from David Guetta, Justin Timberlake, Bob Dylan, and Metallica. It is now almost mid-season, but for live music fans in the city there is still a lot to look forward to, with Istanbul preparing to host many more world-renowned artists and bands in the coming months.