It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Spotify. Legendary rocker Neil Young yanked his music from the service, calling it out for the COVID-19 misinformation served up on Joe Rogan’s podcast, an exclusive to Spotify. Other musicians, including Joni Mitchell and India.Arie, followed suit, and for a while at least, the hashtag #DeleteSpotify was trending on social media.
Spotify’s response sent a mixed message: The company noted its “obligation to do more” to tamp down misinformation, but also said it wouldn’t be a “content censor.” Then on Wednesday, even as it sounded some positive notes for its fourth quarter, it projected a slower-than-expected start to 2022, which had investors souring on the company’s shares.
So what now for Spotify? At least as far as the protests are concerned, says CNET’s Joan Solsman, it’s going to take more than some disgruntled legacy artists to budge the company very much.
Her story is among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don’t want to miss.
Spotify won’t nix Joe Rogan till The Weeknd or Bad Bunny protests too
And even then, Spotify still might not, despite backlash.
The Weeknd accepts the Song of the Year award for Blinding Lights at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Thank you, Wordle. It’s been fun
Commentary: Wordle’s acquisition might be the beginning of the end, but it’s been a source of comfort and connection in hard times.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Driving a 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster made me a believer
A classic example of how being wrong can be oh-so-right.
TangentVector/Porsche
And Just Like That finale proves it: The reboot has a major sex problem
The follow-on to Sex and the City can’t keep up with today’s evolving sexual landscape.
HBO
Why the heck is there still an automotive chip shortage?
As with most things in this convoluted industry, it’s complicated, though the situation should start getting better later this year.
Nvidia
This drone flies using da Vinci’s 530-year-old helicopter design
Leonardo’s aerial screws actually can work when built with modern materials, University of Maryland engineers find with a drone called Crimson Spin.
Austin Prete/University of Maryland
Why I’m still calling it the Oculus Quest
Commentary: Meta’s rebranding of its popular VR headset has happened, but I don’t care.
Scott Stein/CNET
The most accurate calorie burn tracker isn’t a smartwatch — and you can make one yourself
A new wearable designed at Stanford University is much more accurate at calculating calorie burn than your smartwatch.
Andrew Brodhead
How Dying Light 2 is the biggest gamble in Techland’s history
We talk with developer Techland about the challenges and triumphs of making Dying Light 2 and where it can go from here.
Techland
Now playing:
Watch this:
Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter designs power this drone
1:10