Despite its rules, Spotify is still hosting QAnon-supporting shows
Written by Alex Kaplan
Published
Updated
Update (3/14/22): Following the publication of this article, three of the QAnon-supporting shows mentioned -- MatrixxxGrooove Show, Steel Truth, and Cannabis and Combat -- appear to have been taken down.
Multiple figures who have supported the QAnon conspiracy theory have active shows hosted on Spotify, despite the platform’s previous crackdown on QAnon content. Some of the figures appear to have joined the platform only in recent weeks, even after the platform came under increased scrutiny for allowing podcaster Joe Rogan to spread rampant misinformation.
The QAnon conspiracy theory revolves around an anonymous account known as “Q,” and some of its supporters have been tied to violent incidents and participated in the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol. Multiple government agencies have also issued internal warnings of domestic terrorism regarding supporters of the conspiracy theory.
In October 2020, after Media Matters reported that multiple QAnon shows were on Spotify, the platform banned them, telling Insider that the company “prohibits content on the platform that promotes, advocates or incites violence against others.”
Yet a Media Matters review in late February and early March found that multiple QAnon-supporting figures have continued to stream on the platform -- with some joining the platform very recently. The shows and figures found in the review are:
- MatrixxxGrooove Show (or MG Show), a QAnon program that has been banned from YouTube that is co-hosted by QAnon influencer Jeffrey Pedersen, known online as “intheMatrixxx.” The show appears to have begun uploading episodes to the platform in February.
- Steel Truth, hosted by QAnon supporter Ann Vandersteel. The show appears to have begun uploading episodes in January.
- A podcast hosted by Nicholas Veniamin, a QAnon influencer. The show appears to have begun uploading episodes in late February.
- Unleashing Intuition Secrets, hosted by QAnon influencer Michael Jaco. The show appears to have begun uploading episodes in April 2021.
- Tomotley Talks, a show hosted by QAnon-supporting attorney and influencer Lin Wood. The show began in February and started uploading episodes on the platform that same month.
- Cannabis and Combat, a QAnon-supporting podcast whose host, Justin Andersch, has reportedly accosted and threatened Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak. The show appears to have begun uploading episodes in September.
- Truth and Art Radio, a QAnon show banned from YouTube.
Spotify has also struggled to enforce its own rules with regard to other problematic figures like Joe Rogan and Alex Jones, along with coronavirus misinformation elsewhere on the platform.