Harry and Meghan have urged Spotify to “stop spreading misinformation” following concerns that the platform is promoting untruths about the pandemic.
Last week Neil Young removed his songs from Spotify in protest over The Joe Rogan Experience podcast – which has been known to air vaccine-sceptical views.
Joni Mitchell has also indicated that she will follow suit.
Now Harry and Meghan have weighed in on the row, revealing they flagged their concerns about Covid misinformation on the platform in April last year.
The couple said they would continue to work with Spotify.
A statement by the couple’s company Archewell said: “Since the inception of Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis.
“Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of rampant mis- and disinformation every day.
“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of Covid-19 misinformation on its platform.
“We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.
“We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed an £18 million deal with Spotify to create a series of podcasts promoting “shared values”.
The couple have made just one episode, released in December 2020, which featured celebrity guests Sir Elton John and James Corden reflecting on their time in lockdown.
Spotify bought the rights to the hugely successful podcast The Joe Rogan Experience in 2020 for a reported £75 million.
The show has since become the most popular on the platform and has hosted interviews with figures including Elon Musk and Quentin Tarantino.
However, since the pandemic it has been accused of fuelling conspiracy and misinformation surrounding Covid and the vaccine.
In December Rogan, 54, interviewed Dr Robert Malone, a virologist who helped develop the mRNA technology behind several Covid vaccines.
However Dr Malone came under fire for claiming vaccination puts people who have already had Covid-19 at higher risk.
He also sparked controversy for comparing current US society to 1930s Germany and for claiming world leaders had hypnotised the public into supporting vaccines.
Harry and Meghan currently live in a mansion in Montecito with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
The pair purchased the nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom property for $14,65 million (£10 million) in June 2020.
The property boasts hiking trails into the Santa Ynez mountains, views over the Pacific and includes a gym, spa, cinema, separate guesthouse, tennis court, pool, a children’s play area and a shed for rescued battery hens.
Since moving to California and stepping down as working royals, the couple have secured a number of lucrative business deals thought to be worth millions.
In 2020 they signed a multi-year deal with Netflix for an undisclosed amount, with plans to make documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming for the streaming platform.
Prince Harry is thought to have inherited around £23 million from Princess Diana while Meghan brought around £3 million to the marriage.
Spotify has been contacted for comment.
