Rock legend Neil Young announced on October 8, 2025, that he will remove his music from Amazon, calling out founder Jeff Bezos for supporting the current government and urging fans to support local businesses instead of large corporations.
Young’s Call to Boycott Amazon
On his Neil Young Archives website, the 79-year-old musician declared, “The time is here. FORGET AMAZON.” He stated that his music would soon no longer be available on the platform [1][2][3]. Young’s announcement included a header reading “BEZOS SUPPORTS THIS GOVERNMENT,” directly referencing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his perceived support for the Trump administration [4][5].
The artist encouraged listeners to reject corporate giants. “It is easy to buy local. Support your community. Go to the local store. Do not go back to the big corporations who have sold out America,” he wrote [6][7]. Young framed his decision as a necessary sacrifice, stating, “We all have to give up something to save America from the Corporate Control Age it is entering. They need you to buy from them. Do not” [8].
Scope of the Removal
It remains unclear whether Young intends to remove his music exclusively from Amazon Music’s streaming service or if he plans to eliminate all products associated with him from the Amazon marketplace, including physical albums [2][3]. Representatives from Amazon Music and Neil Young have not responded to requests for comment regarding the specifics of the removal [6].
Broader Corporate Boycott
Young’s protest extends beyond Amazon. In his October 8 statement, he also called for a boycott of Whole Foods, the upscale grocery chain Amazon acquired in 2017, and Facebook, displaying the Meta logo with the message “FORGET FACEBOOK” [4][9]. This follows his departure from Facebook in August 2025, after a Reuters report revealed that Meta’s AI chatbots were inappropriately interacting with minors [5][10].
Young connected his protest to the current government shutdown. “They shut down our government your income your safety your family’s health security. Take America Back together, stop buying from the big corporations support local business. Do the right thing. Show who you are,” he stated [6][8].
History of Platform Protests
Spotify Controversy
This is not Young’s first high-profile withdrawal from a major platform. In January 2022, he famously removed his music from Spotify in protest of what he described as misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines being spread by podcaster Joe Rogan [5][10]. Fellow artist Joni Mitchell quickly followed his lead in solidarity.
Young’s absence from Spotify reportedly cost him approximately 300,000 dollars in lost royalties [5]. However, he returned to the platform in 2024 after Rogan’s exclusive deal with Spotify ended [10].
Recent Anti-Trump Activism
Young has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump for years. In September 2025, he composed and recorded an anti-Trump song titled “Big Crime,” which includes lyrics addressing fascism and contains the line, “There is big crime in D.C. at the White House” [5][6]. He regularly publishes commentary on politics and global issues through the Neil Young Archives platform [6].
Despite his opposition, Young extended a backhanded invitation to Trump earlier in 2025 to attend one of his concerts, adding the caveat “as long as there is not martial law by then” [10].
Industry Impact
Young’s willingness to sacrifice commercial relationships for political and ethical stances has established him as one of the most outspoken figures in rock music [6]. His actions have previously inspired other artists to take similar stands, demonstrating the influence of high-profile musicians in corporate accountability discussions within the entertainment industry.
The removal from Amazon represents Young’s latest effort to encourage consumers to prioritize local businesses over what he characterizes as exploitative corporate giants, positioning the decision as both a personal protest and a broader call to action for economic change.
