Neil Young is often described as “principled” for a reason. Throughout his long career, the Canadian singer-songwriter has been known for staying true to his gut instincts, rarely compromising his strong moral values.
While many rock stars abandon their youthful ideals once they achieve fame and fortune, Young is an exception. In fact, his success has only deepened his commitment to those principles, as money has never been his top priority.
Young’s ethical mindset traces back to his roots in the Woodstock generation and the countercultural revolutions of the 1960s. He has always strived to maintain his hippie sensibilities, which are grounded in a collective spirit rather than individualism.
As times have changed, so has the music industry. What once challenged authority in the 1960s transformed into a more consumer-driven culture by the 1980s, a shift that never sat well with Young.
While he does have a practical side, as seen when he sold 50% of his music catalog for $150 million in 2021, Young’s principles remain intact. A prime example is his temporary removal of his music from Spotify due to concerns over misinformation on The Joe Rogan Experience, then exclusive to the platform.
Young’s decision to return to Spotify came after the exclusivity deal ended, and he explained:
“I can’t just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did with Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all.”
This statement reflects Young’s balance of pragmatism and principle. He understands that while he might oppose certain platforms, pulling his music completely could end up hurting his fans more than anyone else.
However, this isn’t a new stance for him. Back in the 1980s, he was just as outraged when artists allowed their songs to be used in commercials, considering it a betrayal of artistic integrity.
At that time, musicians like Eric Clapton were boosting their income by endorsing products like Michelob beer, a decision Young mocked in his music video for ‘This Note’s For You.’ The video also poked fun at stars like Michael Jackson and corporate giants like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Budweiser.
Young’s parody was a lighthearted jab at his contemporaries, but it initially caused some controversy when MTV refused to air the video, fearing it would offend sponsors.
In response, Young famously wrote, “MTV, you spineless twerps… What does the ‘M’ in MTV stand for: music or money?”
The letter worked. MTV reversed its decision, and ironically, ‘This Note’s For You’ went on to win the ‘Video of the Year’ award at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, beating Michael Jackson.
Despite the victory, Young considered rejecting the award but ultimately accepted it, explaining, “You can’t get money to make videos if MTV won’t play them.”
Even after selling half of his catalog, Young remains selective about the brands he aligns with. In 2019, he and Bob Dylan co-headlined a show in London’s Hyde Park.
Young successfully pressured the festival’s promoters to remove Barclaycard as a sponsor due to the bank’s links to the fossil fuel industry. In a 2023 interview with Zane Lowe, Young doubled down on his long-standing refusal to let his music be used in advertisements, saying, “I like the songs to be the songs. I don’t want the songs to be associated with a product, movement, politician, or anything.”
Unlike many aging rock stars who may have softened with time, Neil Young’s moral compass remains as sharp as ever. His unwavering integrity may have cost him financially over the years, but he is a man who cannot be bought.
