What is Canada’s greatest export—Molson’s, hockey, or Neil Young? For over 50 years, Young has been one of the world’s most celebrated and versatile artists. But as Charles Sauer writes in RealClearMarkets, his latest move hits a sour note.
In a recent decision, Neil Young announced he would pull his entire catalog from Amazon Music and urged fans to boycott Amazon and other “big tech” platforms like Facebook and Instagram because of their founders’ supposed political views. As Sauer explains:
“Young took this action because he disagreed with Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’s alleged support for President Trump.”
“He urged his fans to shun big tech and ‘buy local.’ Young is certainly within his rights to do what he’s done. Just the same, having a right to do something does not mean you should do it.”
Unfortunately, that act of protest hurts the very people who love his music most—his fans. Removing his catalog from major streaming platforms doesn’t punish Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg—it only deprives fans of affordable, accessible music.
“The most obvious problem with Young’s decision is that abandoning Amazon means taking from his fans the ability to get his music at an affordable price with quick delivery… It also deprives them of the opportunity to make new friends who share common interests—such as the music of Neil Young.”
Sauer notes that Amazon doesn’t just serve massive corporations—it empowers small businesses across the world to reach customers they never could before. Boycotting Amazon doesn’t hurt Big Tech; it hurts the small entrepreneurs and independent creators who rely on it.
“If Neil Young fans followed his advice to buy local, small businesses would be the main ones hurt.”
Ultimately, the decision reveals a misunderstanding of both commerce and culture. A thriving digital marketplace gives artists like Young a bigger audience—and a bigger voice on the very issues they care about.
As Sauer concludes:
“Young thinks he is hurting Jeff Bezos by pulling his music off Amazon. But he is really hurting his fans by denying them the ability to enjoy his music on one of the world’s most popular platforms… Instead of removing his music, Young should be working to take full advantage of the platform Bezos offers him to keep on rockin’ in the free world.”
Read more in RealClearMarkets by clicking here.
