Veteran musician Neil Young has announced a unique offer granting residents of Greenland complimentary access to his entire musical repertoire. This announcement was made public via his personal blog, highlighting his desire to bring comfort through music to those in Denmark’s semiautonomous territory, currently embroiled in political strain involving the United States and NATO.
Young explicitly acknowledged the challenges Greenlanders face due to what he described as unwarranted stress and threats tied to governmental actions he deems temporary and unpopular. He expressed his hope that his songs and music films would provide some relief and enhance the experience of residing in Greenland by allowing high-quality enjoyment of his music.
The provision is initially established for a period of one year, with the intent to consider extensions beyond that timeframe. Eligibility to participate in this offer requires applicants to possess a cellphone registered in Greenland. Young characterized this gesture as a message of peace and love.
This offer markedly diverges from Young’s recent stance regarding Amazon Music. Last week, he publicly blocked his catalog from the Amazon Music streaming service, citing the platform’s ownership by Jeff Bezos, who Young noted financially supports U.S. President Donald Trump. Young condemned the president’s international policies and his administration’s support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating that these factors compelled him to disassociate from Bezos’s platform. He advised those sharing his views to avoid using Amazon Music.
Efforts to secure statements from Amazon Music representatives or Young’s management team on these developments remained unsuccessful as they did not immediately respond to inquiries.
Neil Young’s history with streaming platforms reflects a contentious relationship. For example, he previously removed his music from Spotify in protest against episodes by podcaster Joe Rogan related to COVID-19 vaccines, although his catalog was eventually restored. Young has been critical of Spotify’s audio quality in the past, insisting on temporary withdrawals to address these concerns. His music remains accessible on other platforms, including Apple Music.
Among Young’s well-known songs are ‘‘Rockin’ in the Free World’’ and ‘‘Heart of Gold,’’ signaling his enduring presence and influence in the music industry.