Spotify's backing for Joe Rogan is a "slap in the face," according to the creators of a scientific podcast on the platform.
Wendy Zukerman and Blythe Terrell, founders of Gimlet Media's Science Vs podcast, have stated that they will cease production unless the streaming giant comes down harder on misinformation spread.
It comes as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have removed their songs off Spotify due to the site's support of The Joe Rogan Experience.
In a letter to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, Zukerman and Terrell claimed the company had done "little" to address false content in a recent episode of the podcast.
"Throughout the pandemic, Spotify has given Science Vs the resources we needed to produce accurate content about the coronavirus," they said.
"Spotify's support of Joe Rogan's podcast has felt like a slap in the face.
"Rogan's show leaves the audience with a skewed and inaccurate view of the COVID-19 vaccines.
"And Spotify has done little to address this."
Zukerman's post appeared on her verified Twitter account.
Zukerman and Terrell acknowledged the challenges of regulating information on a vast platform, but said Spotify had a "responsibility to do more," according to them.
Following the controversy, Rogan said that he would strive to "balance out" the perspectives voiced on his show.
Rogan said he backed Spotify's plans to add content advisories to episodes that reference COVID in an Instagram video.
He apologized if he upset anyone and stated that he "was not trying to promote misinformation." He also said that he would "try harder to get people with differing opinions" to come soon after those with contentious views.
The 54-year-old stand-up comedian has already sparked debate by arguing that the young and healthy should not be vaccinated.
Young and Mitchell withdrew their songs from Spotify in protest last week, citing Rogan's "false information about vaccines" as the reason.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also expressed concerns to Spotify regarding COVID-19 misinformation, but they have stated that they would continue to work with the platform.
The couple agreed to a lucrative contract with the streaming service to host and produce podcasts, which is expected to be valued at roughly $25 million by late 2020.
Spotify acquired Gimlet as part of an investment in its podcast business, an expansion of audio content that was highlighted by its subsequent deal in 2020 to bring Rogan exclusively to the platform for an estimated $100 million.
