Missing Joni and Neil? Here’s how to break up with Spotify

The recent decision by Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to pull their music off Spotify amid a backlash over Joe Rogan's podcast has put fans of the folk icons in an awkward position - and reminded us that music can find a home beyond the now ubiquitous Spotify playlist.

Rogan, who has been accused of spreading Covid-19 misinformation through his wildly popular podcast, has since promised to "try harder", while Spotify has said it will direct listeners toward facts about the pandemic. But for some, it might be too little too late, especially if other artists follow in the boycott.

So for users wanting to join the musicians in protest and get their tunes elsewhere, here are some options.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Spotify isn't the only place to stream. Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal all have hundreds of millions of titles. And Apple has already capitalized on the Spotify chaos by recently declaring itself the "home of Neil Young".

It takes some effort, but it's possible to transfer your precious tunes from Spotify to other services. Through third-party tools like FreeYourMusic, Soundiiz, and SongShift, users can select which songs and playlists to transfer, and the software will do the rest. Many have success with the free versions of the software, but if you have an enviable library with thousands of songs, you may have to pay a premium.

Y2K mania is already in full force, and the technology of the aughts offers valuable alternatives to music streaming. And what better way to honor the early 2000s than dusting off that iPod Shuffle that your Gen Z cousin has been using as a hairclip? Pandora is another old favorite that can work its way back into the rotation, and you can get Neil and Joni's music on it, too.

For fans of podcasts, other options include apps like Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Audible, RadioPublic, and TuneIn, which probably have most of your favorite programs. TuneIn even offers access to 100,000 radio stations for your listening pleasure.