Neil Young Extends Musical Olive Branch to Greenland and Cuts Ties with Amazon
In a striking act of solidarity, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young has gifted the people of Greenland with complimentary access to his extensive music and documentary archive for a full year. This generous move comes as the Arctic territory finds itself embroiled in a tense diplomatic standoff with the United States government. Young, aged 80, articulated his intentions in a heartfelt statement published on his official Neil Young Archives website, which serves as a comprehensive repository of his recorded works, live performances, and other creative outputs spanning over six decades.
A Gesture of Peace Amid Political Turmoil
Young expressed his hope that his musical offerings would help alleviate some of the "unwarranted stress and threats" that Greenlanders have been enduring due to actions from the US administration. He warmly invited residents to enjoy his entire catalogue in high quality from their "beautiful Greenland home," framing the donation as an "offer of Peace and Love." The access is renewable at no cost for as long as individuals remain in Greenland, with Young encouraging other organisations to follow his benevolent example in support of global harmony.
This philanthropic initiative coincides with recent geopolitical developments. On 22 January, US President Donald Trump moderated his earlier assertive stance regarding Greenland, which had included claims of "right, title and ownership." He announced that a "framework of a future deal" had been established with the territory and retracted tariff threats against several European nations. These threats had been issued after NATO allies mobilised troops in response to Trump's prior menacing remarks about forcibly acquiring the Arctic island.
Standing Against Amazon Over Trump Allegiances
Concurrently, Young has reaffirmed his strong opposition to Amazon, specifically targeting CEO Jeff Bezos for his financial backing of Donald Trump. In 2024, Amazon contributed a substantial $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, a move that has deeply troubled the artist. Last October, Young declared his intention to withdraw his music from Amazon's streaming service, Amazon Music, although his physical CDs and vinyl records remain available for purchase through other retailers.
In a recent update, Young elaborated on his stance, criticising Bezos as a "billionaire backer of the president." He cited Trump's international policies and support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as key reasons for his protest. Young urged his fans to avoid using Amazon altogether, suggesting alternative methods to acquire his music, such as purchasing LPs and CDs from independent record stores or exploring other digital streaming options. However, he acknowledged the challenges, having previously voiced criticisms against major streaming platforms.
A History of Protest and Pragmatic Returns
Young's latest action echoes his past principled stands. In 2022, he famously removed his music from Spotify in protest against Joe Rogan's podcast, which was exclusively hosted on the platform and had disseminated Covid-19 misinformation. Interestingly, Young returned to Spotify in 2024, shortly after Rogan's show became accessible on multiple services including Amazon, Apple, and YouTube. At that time, Young explained his decision on his website, noting that since Apple and Amazon had begun featuring similar disinformation content, leaving all major platforms would severely limit his music's availability to listeners, prompting a pragmatic return to Spotify.
Regarding his withdrawal from Amazon Music, Young admitted that the move could be "unfortunately harmful to my record company in the short term," but he believes the message he is conveying is both "important and clear." Earlier this month, he made several posts condemning ICE's actions in Minneapolis, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good, and accused Trump of fostering instability to maintain his grip on power.
On a lighter note, Young has recently announced an exciting European summer tour, set to commence at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 17 June. He will be joined by Elvis Costello and the Imposters on select dates, offering fans a chance to experience his timeless music live.
