In a remarkable act of artistic solidarity, veteran singer-songwriter Neil Young has granted the entire population of Greenland complimentary access to his extensive music and documentary archive for one year. This generous gesture arrives as the Arctic territory finds itself embroiled in a tense geopolitical dispute with the United States government.
A Musical Gift for Peace and Love
Young announced the donation via a heartfelt statement on his official Neil Young Archives website. The platform provides comprehensive access to the 80-year-old musician's vast recorded output, live performances, and other creative works spanning over six decades.
"I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government," Young wrote, directly addressing the people of Greenland. He expressed his sincere wish for them to enjoy his entire catalogue in the highest possible quality from their homes.
The rock icon framed the offer as one of "Peace and Love," stating that all music created over the last 62 years is now available to Greenlanders. The free access can be renewed indefinitely for residents, with Young expressing hope that other organisations might follow his charitable example.
Geopolitical Backdrop: Trump's Greenland Ambitions
This musical intervention follows significant international tension. On 22nd January, US President Donald Trump moderated his previous assertive stance regarding Greenland, having once insisted on claiming "right, title and ownership" of the territory. While announcing a framework for a future deal had been reached, the episode caused considerable alarm.
Trump also withdrew tariff threats against eight European nations after NATO allies deployed troops in response to his earlier threats to acquire the Arctic island by force. Young's donation appears to be a direct response to this period of instability and pressure experienced by Greenland.
Concurrent Boycott of Amazon Music
Simultaneously, Young has reaffirmed his decision to withdraw his music catalogue from Amazon's streaming service, Amazon Music. This protest is rooted in the platform's ownership and the political affiliations of its founder.
"Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, a billionaire backer of the president," Young declared this week. "The president's international policies and his support of ICE make it impossible for me to ignore his actions."
The musician strongly recommended that fans avoid using Amazon, suggesting there are numerous ways to support individual Americans and companies offering similar products. He has applied this principle to his own work, removing his streaming content from Amazon Music in October, although his physical CDs and vinyl records remain available for purchase elsewhere.
Guidance for Listeners and a History of Protest
Young advised listeners seeking his music to purchase LPs and CDs from independent record stores and to explore alternative digital platforms. This stance continues a pattern of principled withdrawals from major streaming services.
In 2022, he famously removed his music from Spotify in protest against the platform's exclusive hosting of Joe Rogan's podcast, which was accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation. Young returned to Spotify in 2024 only after Rogan's show became available on multiple other platforms, including Amazon and Apple, leaving him with few major streaming outlets.
Regarding the Amazon boycott, Young acknowledged the short-term financial harm to his record label but maintained that the message he is sending is critically important. Earlier this month, he made several posts condemning the actions of ICE, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, and criticised Trump for building instability to maintain power.
Amid these protests, Young has announced a European summer tour commencing on 17th June at the Eden Project in Cornwall, with Elvis Costello and the Imposters providing support on select dates.
