Neil Young Stands Firm: Music Stays Off Amazon Due to Bezos's Political Ties

Back in October, Neil Young pledged to remove all of his music from Amazon. He's reaffirming that decision in a recent post on the Neil Young Archives.

"Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, a billionaire backer of the president,” he wrote. “The president’s international policies and his support of ICE make it impossible for me to ignore his actions. If you feel as I do, I strongly recommend that you do not use Amazon. There are many ways to avoid Amazon and support individual Americans and American companies that supply the same products. I have done that with my music and people who are looking can find it in a lot of other places.”

He elaborated, “Record stores provide all my vinyl and CDs, while the digital music world has many alternative options to purchase my music if you like it. My music will never be available on Amazon, as long as it is owned by Bezos. My position is unfortunately harmful to my record company in the short term, but I think the message I am sending is important and clear. Thanks for buying music locally and from independent digital services.”
Neil Young

Young’s complete catalog, including a vast archive of live concerts, studio outtakes, and concert films, is available on the Neil Young Archives in super high definition sound. Prices range from $24.99 to $99.99 a year. In a surprising move, he recently gifted all of it to the people of Greenland in response to President Donald Trump’s past actions.

“I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government,” he wrote. “It is my sincere wish for you to be able to enjoy all of my music in your beautiful Greenland home, in its highest quality. This is an offer of peace and love. All the music I made during the last 62 years is yours to hear. You can renew for free was long as you’re in Greenland. We do hope other organizations will follow in the spirit of our example.”

Residents of Greenland can go to NeilYoungArchives.com/Greenland to sign up.

Finally, in a public letter he posted on Monday, his third in just three days, Young also shared some thoughts on the media landscape today. “If you watch Fox, try another channel for your news for just one day,” he wrote. “Untruths are abounding on Fox. New York Times used to be where I went for news. Now I go to The Guardian. I suggest you give it a try. Forget the news ‘shows’ on media. They are all posers and good looks. Remember ‘News Programs’ where it was not all about posing? Americans need some truth, not media obsessed with satisfying everybody. CNN? Trash mostly. Look deeper. There is real coverage. Go to independent journalism. Get some relief from white-washed ‘news shows.'”
Neil Young Live

Young has had ample time to consume The Guardian since his last performance at the Painted Turtle Camp in Lake Hughes, California, on Oct. 25. He is scheduled to commence a European tour with the Chrome Hearts on June 17 at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England.