Neil Young’s Latest Move
Neil Young has announced plans to remove his music catalog from Amazon. In a post published on his website on October 8th, Young called on his listeners to shop local and boycott the company.
The Reason Behind the Decision
Young’s decision is driven by his desire to encourage his listeners to support local businesses and communities. He believes that big corporations like Amazon are detrimental to the well-being of society. "Forget Amazon and Whole Foods. Forget Facebook," Young wrote on his website. "Buy local. Buy direct. Bezos supports this government. It does not support you or me."
A Long-Standing Critic
Young has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump for years. He has written songs that denounce "fascists" and has published commentary on politics, the entertainment industry, and other global issues. Last month, he wrote a song called "Big Crime" that includes the phrase, "There’s big crime in the White House in DC."
The Importance of Shopping Local
Young emphasizes the importance of shopping local and supporting community businesses. "The time has come, forget about Amazon," he said. "It’s easy to shop local. Support your community. Go to the local store. Don’t go back to the big corporations that sold out America." He believes that by doing so, people can help save America from the age of corporate control it is entering.
Previous Controversies
This is not the first time Young has withdrawn his music from a platform. He previously withdrew from Spotify after claiming the platform allowed podcasts like Joe Rogan’s to spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. He also announced he was leaving Facebook over the company’s AI chatbot.
A Call to Action
Young ended his message by urging his listeners to take action. "[Amazon] You have to buy from them. Not," he said. "They shut down our government, your income, your security, your family’s health security. Bring America back together, stop buying from big corporations and support local businesses. Do the right thing. Show who you are."
Uncertainty Surrounding the Decision
It remains unclear whether Young is removing his digital music library from Amazon Music or whether he is also forcing the removal of products from Amazon. Representatives for Amazon Music and Neil Young did not immediately return calls for comment.
