Signs of cultural separation
The crisis in the United States can be even more complicated because Spotify is headquartered 4,000 miles from Sweden, in Sweden, Mr. Eck, an advertising executive who grew up on the outskirts of Stockholm and many of the company’s engineers. And are based on long-standing employees.
In Sweden, free speech is a strict belief. Many employees there – and in the United States – were outraged when Spotify removed music from their playlists in 2018 due to what was considered contentious or disgusting.
Mr Eck has made it clear that he is wary of taking on the role of censorship. “We are not in the business of giving the speakers what they want them to have on stage,” he told staff at The Verge earlier this month. We all like it and once we agree we have to get rid of religion and politics and humor and health and environment and education.
And as a matter of business, censorship of Mr. Rogan can alienate his supporters and set a precedent for other podcasts, says media research industry analyst Mark Muligan.
“This could jeopardize their future podcast strategy,” Mr Muligan said.
In a recent memo to the staff, Mr. Eck wrote: “Deleting the vote is a slippery slope.” Mr Rogan wrote that he had decided to get rid of them after meeting with Spotify executives and “making his own reflection.”
Katherine Rosman And Ben Cesario As reported from New York Mike Isaac Reported from Auckland, California, and Adam Satariano Reported from London. Further reported by Nicole Sparling In Los Angeles and Mark Tracy And Jessica Cheng In New York.