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James Blunt jokes he will release new music if Spotify does not remove Joe Rogan podcast

James Blunt says he will release more music if Spotify continues to stream Joe Rogan.

James Blunt has joked on social media that he will release new music if Spotify does not remove podcaster Joe Rogan from the streaming platform.

Spotify has come under recent pressure from some artists to remove Rogan's podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, because of what they say is misinformation about COVID-19 being spread.

Artists have asked to be removed from the streaming giant in opposition to Rogan's program. 

However, Blunt has taken the opposite approach to the debate by jokingly threatening to release new music if Rogan remains on Spotify. 

"If @spotify doesn't immediately remove @joerogan, I will release new music onto the platform," he wrote on Twitter.

Blunt has a long history of making light-hearted jokes at his own expense, mainly that his music is unpopular. 

Artists Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have had their catalogue of songs removed from the streaming giant over their opposition to Rogan's show.

This came after 270 scientists and medical professionals signed a letter earlier this month urging Spotify to take action against Rogan, accusing him of spreading falsehoods on the podcast.

That letter came following an episode with Dr Robert Malone, which they said had contentious claims.

Those who signed the letter called for Spotify to introduce a misinformation policy.

Joe Rogan's podcast is one of the most popular on Spotify. (Photo by Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images)

Neil Young was the first to have a stand-off with the streaming giant when he said Spotify "can have Rogan or Young. Not both".

"Spotify has become the home of life-threatening COVID misinformation," he said on his website.

"Lies being sold for money.

"I realised I could not continue to support Spotify's life-threatening misinformation to the music-loving people."

Young's music was removed from the platform.

The World Health Organization came out in support of Young's stance, with chief executive Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressing "we all have a role to play to end this pandemic and infodemic".

Joni Mitchell became the next to take her catalogue off Spotify, saying it was "irresponsible" to spread lies.  

Podcaster Brené Brown has also announced she will no longer be producing episodes for the foreseeable future.

Brown, who signed an exclusive deal with Spotify in 2020, did not give a reason to her followers why she will be halting her shows.

Wires/ABC

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