More Joe Rogan

Hi Bob, 

The problem with Joe Rogan is not that he spews subtle antisemitic tropes or false medical information or conspiracy theories. The problem with Joe Rogan is that he represents the majority of Americans…undereducated, incurious for the truth, stupid, getting off on watching other people being treated badly, "it's all about me" fu*k them I've got mine, etc.

Rogan is a symbol of America today. 

As a Jewish person, I'm particularly sensitive to subtle and blatant  comments about Jewish people. People who say these kinds of things usually dismiss as ignorant a-holes.  The bigger issue is that Rogan is a symptom of some thing much uglier. That doesn't just bother me. It makes me really scared.

Susan L. Dodes

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I'm not Jewish. I'm half-Irish, some English, some French, etc. The things Rogan is saying are despicable. He shouldn't have a platform, no matter how much money Spotify is making. However, he still has the right to speak out. It just shouldn't be amplified.
William Brody

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So sorry to read some of the stupid and misinformed responses. Most of the Billionaire class are not Jews. Most of the investment bankers are not Jews. Certainly most of the CEO'S of major corporations are not Jewish. Actually most of them are Christian. Why are there not " partially truthful stereotypes about those Christians"? Prejudice?
By the way HOW MUCH MONEY is Joe Rogan making? Is he Jewish?

Ken Seider

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Bezos
Gates
Buffet
Musk

All Goyim 

Sara Joseph

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"I am just a regular guy that is in the middle of the road"

Bullsh*t.  Dumb ass is lost in his lack of self awareness and critical thinking like the bulk of the rest of these hero worshipping dipsh*ts. They leak their actual thoughts and intentions throughout what they write, fu*king clueless.   

Bill Nelson

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You've got some pretty stupid readers. Anti-Semites who believe anti-Semitism is so part of the culture they are oblivious to it. As a Jew hard to read the comments defending Rogan of which I'm sure there are dozens. Just shows you how deep anti-Semitism is ingrained.

Mitch Tenzer

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Look at all the anti-semitic, overt or perhaps subconscious, emerging…all to back up a guy who successfully turned stoner casual conservativism into a million dollar pod, a safehaven for bitter white incels or anti-woke bigots and a few faux-free speech contrarians.  "I'm just a dummy but I do know this— Jews love money". Who the fu*k doesnt?  How many of the top CEO's in America are Jewish?   Bet they don't have the stats. 

Thanks for publishing their stained names. This country has entitled these armchair warriors to air out their inner bully, their inner bigot. 

Bending over backwards to maintain harmful stereotypes that they prob rage against when they are labeled a certain way (boomer, racist, typical white guy, trump maga dummy, old). 

Amazing the unifying effect of anti-semitism from all across the political spectrum. Fu*k em all. 

Kevin Berntson

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Just a quick point about Joe Rogan's comments. White people, and white men in particular, have been accused of the most horrible things by activists. We are guilty of the original sin of being settlers, haters, blah blah blah. Where is the outrage about this kind of racism? Somehow Rogan's comments are terrible but calling white people evil (literally) is just fine. — Tim Doyle

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So much "white man scorned" nonsense from these tough men on the right. They obviously feel threatened...as they should. White women are over them, too! 

Alison Miller

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I know many Jewish people. Married one who's dad was Jewish. That whole side of the family is freaking awesome, and certainly not cheap. The incredible generosity I've personally felt from all of the Jewish people in my life has been consistent. WTF? Did I really just have to defend that? What a stupid thing to say. What year is this? And stereotypes are rooted in reality? No, stereotypes are designed and spread to marginalize and hurt people. F'n crazy. 

Niels Schroeter

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They sure do( prove the point).

Thanks for once again shedding light on some of the darkness in our world.
David Brown

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I dumped Spotify and switched to TIDAL (so much better for so many reasons) right after Rogan's COVID nonsense. This latest attempt at comedy(?) 100% confirms my decision.

Neil Krupnick

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Wow. I am shocked at how many of your readers think actually agree w Rogan. 

Awful. I have to face the facts—I'm a Jew and people are going to hate me because of that. That's just how it is. But I've unsubscribed from Spotify and I'm going to encourage everyone I can to do so too. 

Regards,
Mark Feldman

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Also, this is good.

"Rogan's Jews - What the shock jock doesn't get about antisemitic conspiracies": https://bit.ly/3YM80Xl

Ian Schafer

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I cancelled my Spotify subscription just Uber two years ago due to Joe Rogan. Never looked back 

Thomas Meyer

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I'm in your camp. Rogan is a bigot, ignorant and not worthy of air time endorsement. 

Tony Bro

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What can you expect from a pseudo-intelligent, egotistical, alpha male, who has no common sense?

Lin Wolen
Jewish, but never anointed Princess 

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Like most American Jews, I've been hearing the "Jews & money" trope since I was a wee lad.  Almost all the time, it's in a light-hearted manner, in jokes and asides from friends, classmates, etc.  Only occasionally has it been mean-spirited.  Nonetheless, it gets under your skin.  The irony is that, in my professional life as a musician, I've been notoriously chill about money.  Almost to a fault, and often-times to my own detriment.  And I think that's due, in part, to a (barely) subconscious attempt on my part to DISPROVE the stereotype.  It's kinda ironic that, due to the stereotype that all Jews are ruthless business people, this Jew is a lousy businessperson.

- Seth Kibel

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Many of your followers are bigots, and frequently ignorant as is common trait in bigotry.  I don't know how you put up with them.  Joe Rogan found a way to become massively wealthy by playing on angry male insecurity.  Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, the mega church preachers, today's Republican Party all cash in on playing angry and getting people pissed off.  I deactivated my Spotify account years ago but there's plenty of Joe Rogan on YouTube.  You don't need Spotify to see that he's got a sharp mind/deficient morals to go with those big muscles.  He makes small minded men think they're smart.

Jeff Capshew

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I find Joe Rogan and his dumbass fans repulsive. They're like people who were born to be meatheads but they worked out how to login to wifi started flirting with the idea of applying their frontal lobes but cant fully commit cos gym. So now we have this idiot army who over simplify complex issues and dive into "reasonable debate" over topics they know nothing about, with other meatheads who know fu*k all, over-intellectualise human behaviours they can't comprehend, blame everyone else for immediately poo-pooing what they have to say and don't consider other people might already have thought/discussed the same topics at length (or maybe even have a masters degree) and have a more well rounded/less black and white understanding and aren't prepared to engage with someone whose world view is so warped and void of empathy that a discussion would be a waste of time. When people like Jordan Peterson "destroy" let's say a non binary person in an intellectual debate about let's say trans-rights- or referring to the person the way they want to be referred to- maybe that's cos Mr Peterson's complete lack of human emotion allows him to make arguments that simply cannot be argued with because they're just… hurtful. I found Joe Lozarros comment particularly troubling (soz if I got your name wrong I couldn't be fu*ked getting it right, I'm sure that won't offend you?)… 

"Words are not violence.  They can be used for calls to violence for sure, & this type of speech is not & should not be protected in any circumstance.  Uncomfortable words may cause stress & trigger offense, but they are not violence." sorry but words are violence. 

Words such as: "Certain races or cultures have more of a tendency to act in different ways in every day life".

This is literally the definition of racism. Using the word "race" in that context is violence. A "race" is a way to group people by their physical appearance. So what you're saying (intentionally or not) is that black people have a "tendency to act in different ways". Whether you like it or not your statement is racist. I'm sure you would understand that all people are born equal no matter the colour of their skin, same goes for racists- you might not hate a certain group of people but the simple act of recognising a "race" as a legitimate way to group people together is racism. You can mean well and still be racist. But racism is violence. Your "logic" is fu*ked. 

Stick to the gym you fu*king meatheads and leave the thinking to people with more frontal lobe capacity. (I know you all must love the gym cos joe Rogan goes to the gym and you listen to joe Rogan so I applied a stereotype to you cos it would be crazy not to recognise that stereotype and apply it to you).

Benjamin Carter

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"Congressman who raised issue of antisemitism on Twitter says he was bombarded with antisemitic tweets"

Joe Weinstein

https://cnn.it/3YEQx2U

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Rogan gave Alex Jones the microphone on his show October 27, 2020. 
He's a pot stirrer and has misinformed fans  hanging on his every word. 
I've been done with him since he let Jones rant. 
Neil and Joni did the right thing. 
DW Davis 

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I wonder if a lot of the "yeah, but it was just one small thing, said as a joke, taken out of context" crowd, 
also can't see why "All Lives Matter" is not an acceptable response to Black Lives Matter.

Harrison Merims

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As you and I have witnessed in our own lives, blaming the Jews never loses its charms. Thirty five years ago when my first child was born, I thought, thanks goodness he won't endure the hate that I did. Wrong. 

L'chaim, 

Jon Sinton

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Unreal. I wrote him a mean thing on Instagram not sure I saved. Dude was a total piece of sh*t EVEN BEFORE THE RACIAL STUFF.
He makes me sick thank you.

Adam Shacknai

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The amount of feedback defending Rogan and his unacceptable remarks is truly repugnant. 

And I'd wager $500 that every single person who wrote to you in his defense is a conservative-leaning straight white religious hetero male.  

I'm truly just about ready to give up on this country and abandon ship.

Mike Froedge

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The amount of idiots you have here supporting Joe Rogan is unbelievable.  The funny thing about stereotypes is that they work both ways.  So I'm not surprised that the dumb Polack and sleazy Italian responded as such.

Paul Trust

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Wow, so many of these messages prove your point indeed. So F'ing depressing to see the anti-semitic supporter comments in 2023.

Perhaps I fool myself…an entire career in music…a business where you deal with people of varying color, ethnicity and religion on a daily basis…I like to believe that is one of the unique strengths of the field we chose…somehow WE are different. 

Turns out, the embarrassing bullsh*t tropes and stereotypes that infect so much of far right and accompanying media are alive and well in music as well…

so alive in fact that they'll type it out and hit "send" without a second thought. 

Kevin Day

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Bob:  I worked for and became a managing partner of a "Jewish" owned national (NASDAQ) entertainment company for 24 years. I was the only "gentile". EVERY day was amazing and filled with opportunity and innovation.  It was a "family". It was an education not found in academia. I will simply leave it at that.

Scott Hazlewood

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"… I am way more offended by your lack of authenticity than you will ever truly be about Rogan…"

apparently you are inauthentic regarding the extermination of 6m brethren. 

they will never make the connection especially when it is 2 or 3 degrees more vague…which is the very definition of dog whistle. 

then he closes w/ ''ighten up'. 

I'm a tad ashamed that I goog every one of the crazies who offer up these inanities.  ill keep to myself about what I do/don't do w/ the data. 

Gary Mendel

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Attention and fear. The only currencies that we find monetizable in the 21st century. 

Michael Becker

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I don't take Rogan's remark as a defense of Ilhan Omar. She apologized for insensitivity, explained she was talking about AIPAC, and that's totally fair. Rogan just used it as an excuse to stereotype Jews because it's what he feels his listeners want. My background is Jewish, and I know the difference.
thanks
Joseph Henderson

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Bob, as a hard-working, right-leaning Irish Christian, I love and respect the Jews. There are good and bad of all stripes. But Jews on the whole to me at least, just seem harder working, and smarter than most people I've met. And they Never Forget.

Gerald Moore, Jr.

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Anyone using the "Rogan is a comedian" line should note the difference between describing hours of audio drivel vs. when Jon Stewart used it much more aptly to torpedo Tucker Carlson's critique of him on Crossfire in 2004. 

There's no comparison. As Stewart pointed out at the time, no one should have taken them seriously as they did a half hour of jokes with a lead-in from puppets making prank calls. No one can tell me that Joe Rogan doesn't crave being taken seriously on multiple fronts.

Matt O'Donnell

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I got about  halfway through the comments; I can't read anymore. It hurts my eyes and heart… what is wrong with people? 

It's so sad that Jews for centuries still have to fight antisemitism on a daily basis. 

It terrifies me to go to temple, a place as a child I used to feel safe at. 

What will happen to my half Jewish daughter one day? 

Sasha Dodds

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Bob,

Oof. The Rogan Stans who listen to their dumbass hero for 10-15 hours a week or whatever and can't imagine how anyone could tune in and be offended.

Nice to see you're getting it from from both of the loudest pro-Rogan-bro camps: the first being those who consider themselves intellectually superior; they hold JR up to be some kind of modern-day Socrates. The ones whose crap responses drip with "civility porn."

"Yes, kind sir. Agree to disagree with respect to this complicated, nuanced issue of anti-semitism. I only mean to gently inquire out of pure, innocent curiosity. Despite these differences of opinion, I am delighted to have been edified by the discovery of your missives and digital audio broadcasts. Good day."

That kind of thing.

Then you've got the other camp: "Go cry about it." Nice. Seems like a great time over there in the JRE-verse. Yikes.

Yeah, sure, the only people complaining are those who have not listened to a full episode. Okay. Do I need to have attended a full klan meeting before I can consider myself qualified to judge it or express an opinion? Come on. And I happen to have listened to many full episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast. He's had some great guests! Unfortunately, I had to give up just based on the sheer, cringey dumbassery of the host. And all the meathead bro bullsh*t. Which was the veneer covering the real racist sh*t. Not to mention the severe, hilarious-if-he-didn't-have-an-audience-of-millions, deficiencies in critical thinking (while proclaiming oneself to be a paragon of it!).

No wonder all the anti-vax quacks love to appear on his show. They know they can dazzle the guy with five-dollar words and their fancy charts and graphs. The modern anti-medicine supplement racket (and so many other rackets!) is strong thanks to JRE and his coterie of "independent thinkers."

Here's an episode of the wonderful Decoding The Gurus podcast, in which the hosts break down the Rogan bullsh*t pretty masterfully: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lwyOhkPW13b09RL7RMe6s?si=12e7d351679048ac

Here's the follow-up episode, in which the hosts react specifically to Rogan's non apology with regard to promoting vaccine/Covid misinformation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZsC6vDXfsButAtgLVGte1?si=944fcbf2745647a3

Thanks, Bob. I love the podcast (you just let these legends talk and tell their amazing stories without interrupting! Imagine that!) and the newsletter. I don't know how you keep it up, but I'm glad you do.

Take care. 

Matt Kollock

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I need to respond to the response of one of your readers, and I'll refrain from the predictable ad hominem response. Your nameless reader wrote:

"I grew up in Manhattan in the 80 & 90's and I can tell you, from experience, jews love money and are cheap. It's a fact. Same as they are GREAT friends, loyal as f..k and super driven / hard working."

If he knew from experience the many millions of other Jews out there in the world he wouldn't make such a small and generalized statement. 

So, here's what your reader actually meant with his statement: 

"I grew up in Manhattan in the 80 & 90's and I can tell you, from experience, that the sub-microscopically tiny amount of Jews that I personally knew and worked/interacted with out of the multiple millions of Jews that exist in the world, did love money and were cheap. It's a fact that only those very specific people that I happened to know or work/interact with were. Same as they are GREAT friends, loyal as f..k and super driven/hard working."

Noah L.

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Wow, Bob.
You're a little sick-o. Sure wish you'd step back and take a look at how ludicrous you sound.
In the midst of control measures the government has exerted over online speech (from FBI and their Twitter interference, to Hunter Biden's laptop coverup)…I am utterly amazed that you are too fragile to see the correlation to your cries for "control" of Joe Rogan! 
Your myopia has become a real joke. Has old age really fu*ked up your vision?

Jacqueline Rhinehart

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Most semites (Jews, Arabs, etc.- and dare I add Chinese, Iranians etc?) fit the stereotype of being frugal and trying to cut themselves the best deal. It goes back thousands of years. It's called survival in a harsh landscape.

Where it gets ugly in when institutions get involved. The Catholic Church demonizing Jews so that the rich landowners and the church didn't have to pay back the money they borrowed. It's when the Church tried to get all the mercenaries out of Europe by setting them on the Muslims - and allowing them to prey on Jews as well.

It's the Ford Motor Company with the truly pernicious Protocols of the Elders of Zion funded by Henry Ford - demonizing Jews around the world. Then, there's Hitler.

And today, it's the Joe Rogans and the GOP. It's such a hair-trigger world that we can't treat any anti-semitism as "just a joke". The stakes are just too high.

John Parikhal

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some of these emails are really fu*king scary...oh and by the way fu*k Joe Rogan....

Michael Rosenblatt

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Joe Rogan is a world-class fu*king a-hole

Glenn Frese

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What I find strange is not that we have a world with Joe Rogans in it, but that so many people listen to him. It seems to me that when I was a little kid in the '60's we really looked up to people that were intelligent. What I remember is worshipping the astronauts and the people in white coats who sent them up and brought them back, the doctors who came up with vaccines that saved our lives and the scientists who figured out how to make our lives better. That wasn't a perfect time, far from it, but this part of American life seems different. Now, it feels more and more like a lot of Americans worship people that are demonstrably stupid and equally demonstrably proud of it; almost like they feel some odd kinship with them. People now seem to distrust intelligence because it makes them feel stupid or even "tricked". Politicians, talk show hosts, "influencers", and yes, musicians or should I say "entertainers". I just don't get it. It's not that I'm walking around OFFENDED all the time, I'm not- I grew up in the early days of punk, it is VERY hard to offend me. I'M FU*KING BORED!!!!! Stupid is boring, I can NOT even bring myself to focus on people like Joe Rogan, I can't make my mind stay on it, it's just too boring. I can watch a documentary on ANY subject, even something I've never been interested in- if the film is done with intelligence. Why anyone would WANT to listen to that guy is completely beyond me, I just don't know how they do it. All the excuses, "he's a comedian", well then do fu*king comedy, don't give vaccine advice. I don't want to see Dr. Anthony Fauci do standup either, it's just dumb. Rogan is not nor has ever been funny…. Richard Pryor is funny. Lenny Bruce is funny. Both offensive and both REALLY fu*king funny and intelligent. Rogan just isn't. I am and always will be baffled that anyone listens to him. Gun to my head and given the choice I would honestly rather listen to Carrot Top, for real. Hell, I'M funnier than that dude. Kick Rogan off the air, don't kick him off the air,I don't give a sh*t and that's probably above my pay grade, but I remain supremely uninterested…  and fu*k yes you can use my name. 

Kevin Bowe

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I'm an old flat land Baptist. Who grew up with a Jewish family I thought of very highly. 

This has nothing to do with why I occasionally read your letter. You and I disagree over many items and I've voiced my displeasure several times in the past. I truly believe everyone has and must have the ability to voice their opinion even when I disagree. One of the reasons I spent my service time in the Marines. That is why you have the ability to send this news letter over the internet every day or so without any ramifications or extra costs. Everyone in this country has the right to have their say even though we may disagree it is a constitutional right to be able to say it.

These Jewish folks and kids felt much the same as me. Sure we had our disagreements and squabbles but in the end we stayed friends. One of the boys enlisted in the US Navy and while on leave had a car wreck. Unluckily he passed from a severe kidney infection. His father spent many hours working to raise money for a dialysis machine for the community. Being an old man this is what I remember about the group in my home town.

Even though I disagree with you I do at times agree so all is not lost and I wish you much good fortune in the future.

Ken Pratt

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I started reading and had to stop and start commenting. Probably not the way you'd want to post it, but this is more for you than anything.

Really sorry to see this kind of thing in 2023.

Comments and reflections below.

"Stereotypes are rooted in reality.:

So college students are all lazy slackers, ultra-progressive with no root in reality? 

Europeans never wear white socks? 

Middle Easterners all stink of BO?

Black people are all amazing basketball players with oversized penises who listen to rap music?

Priests are all upstanding models of unimpeachable moral and ethical authority?

Wealthy people are all greedy, narcissistic, cruel people?

I could go on. 

You'll find if you do a little digging (no, not "research" on Facebook) that there are as many exceptions as there are examples of whatever rule or stereotype you can find, which only illustrates the variety and diversity even within each community or collection of stereotypes. 

"Sorry bro."

We're all people first "bro". Humans. With our individual differences and preferences, regardless of what group you want to put people in. 

Stereotypes are rooted in ignorance and laziness. Through defining in groups and out groups and finding characteristics to simplify and paint all with the same brush, make it easy, no thinking required. I guarantee you would also resent being stereotyped based on your phenotype, geography, or an number of other characteristics.

"Certain races or cultures have more of a tendency to act in different ways in every day life.  Certain lifestyles correlate to different groups.  This is arguable, & always evolves over time. There are good, bad, & terrible historical reasons why these tendencies may exist today."

Even if this were true (doesn't matter whether it is or not), look a bit further into the background for things. Why did Jews become connected with banking? Why connected to the entertainment industry? Hint - it's not a racial, religious or other "characteristic" or "trait" reason, it's because they were kept as an "out" group by the "in" group and had to find some area where they could work and provide for themselves and their families. And as you can see - they as a group overall did quite well!

"To de-platform, or ban, certain stressful speech harms the overall discourse & society as a whole."

I think we've come to the point in society where we need to reexamine the role of overall discourse vs purposeful disinformation and propaganda.

"I grew up in Manhattan in the 80 & 90's and I can tell you, from experience, jews love money and are cheap. It's a fact. Same as they are GREAT friends, loyal as f..k and super driven / hard working." 

That certainly proves it, must be true if that's what your little corner of Manhattan was like in the 80's and 90's. Great sample size, statistically rigorous analysis, fantastic sociology research right here. /s

What you're describing here are stereotypes, and you're simply reinforcing them. I know a few girls with short hair who like girls, therefore all short haired women must be lesbian, it stands to reason! But they're great friends!

"Sorry Bob, you're way wrong. Every person that criticizes Rogan obviously never has listened to an entire show, not even once. I'm not crazy about everything he says, but he's a comedian. Have you ever listened to a whole show? Find one where you like the guest, listen start to finish, and you might learn that he's just a curious goofball who is genuinely interested in people from all walks of life. It's so tiresome that one clip of him making a tasteless joke gets thrown around the bought and sold media again, acting like he said it with bad intent or harm. Are we going to go after every single comedian that makes jokes about stereotypes? Can't we make goddamn fun of anything or anyone any more?"

That's his schtick. He's not especially intelligent, and is at best a tool, at worst a useful idiot. 

He's the human equivalent of clickbait, and has found a formula and built a brand that works really well - for him. Looking at his influence I would say the negative far outweighs any (of there is any) positive. That's just my opinion.

"Because I happen to listen to Joe Rogan, I'm inane and insane, wow, talk about a stereotype. 'Joe Rogan listeners are wrong.' No, I'm not wrong, Bob. And by the way, Rogan CAN NOT BE CANCELLED. Take him off Spotify and he'll just be independent again. Spotify needs him more than he needs them. And it drives media people crazy that he's so popular. "

Not an idiot at all. Possibly like most of us, drawn to the sensational, the bright and shiny, the big names, and blinded by it so missing out on the ultimate emptiness of the actual content and negativity perpetuated through his program. 

I've listened to several of his shows and would normally have been surprised that others don't react at the utter lack of logical thinking, understanding of history or society. Knowing human nature and the state of the education system, I'm not. Yes, I know that can sound elitist, it isn't. As Richard Dawkins once famously quipped, "it's important to have an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out." Critical reasoning has left the room, unfortunately.

"I promise you that anyone who hates Jews will not be emboldened by Joe Rogan making a joke. They were f..ked up to begin with. I hate Trump and the MAGAts more than words can express, but I pretty much hate the far left as much these days. If he was as terrible as you think, he wouldn't have MILLIONS of listeners every day. I'm just sick to death of everyone trying to take away free speech in this country."

That's like saying no one would be emboldened by Trump's rhetoric. Yet we have Charlottesville, BLM protests, a photo op in DC in front of a church, as well as the attack on the capitol on 1/6. But he didn't mean it that way! Those were completely unrelated to what he said. Right?

"Joe Rogan argued the moon landing was a fake government staged conspiracy for years before finally coming around. That's the level of person you're dealing with here." 

Joe's in it for the clicks. And the Benjamins. There's no substance there at all.

Sorry Bob, so much hate and ignorance, I had to stop here.

Totally agree with you. I'm with you.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Thor Legvold

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Thank you Bob. Your replies are a good barometer of humanity and I'm not optimistic. Please keep doing what you're doing, speak the truth. 

Matt Mach

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Wow.Some pissed off people.Everyone wants to argue.Just stop reading or listening.That post got you so worked up that you email your anger?Thanks Bob,stay well,Ted Keane

Ted Keane

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Bob. Shocking attitudes shown here by many of your correspondents. How did it get to this?

Mark Earls

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Please stop with the cancel culture.  You are what's wrong but you just don't get it.   

Kent Stewart

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I'm not a Rogan fan, but I don't dislike him either. If he has a guest on that interests me, I'll listen. That being said, this cancel/de-platform bullsh*t is nonsense. He's has a right to say it. Spotify has a right to air it.

 We need people saying ridiculous things, especially now-a-days. It's up to the individual to decipher what's true/false, appropriate/inappropriate, satire/news. Rogan is a comedian at the end of the day. It's unfortunate that so many can't think for themselves, but legislating to the lowest common denominator isn't the answer. Thanks. Love your letters.

Todd Brooks

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Hey Bob,

It's weird how a low-level personality trait in high amounts (i.e. arrogance) can be more powerful than high-level intellect (fluid intelligence or IQ)... but in your case, that often seems to be the case. Arrogance is a blinding trait... and all too often (and sadly) high IQ feeds arrogance and creates a feedback loop.

I used to find your letter to be intriguing, amusingly provocative, and even thought provoking... a good read whether I agreed with you or not... 

In recent years though, it's just become an e-bummer filled with deeply flawed ideologies wrapped in pseudo-smarts. 

Just because you're a good writer doesn't make you right. The strong writing style often serves as a camouflage for the deeper flaws.

In this recent letter, to me, you define two important things too narrowly:

1) What an artist is (or isn't)
2) Free speech

Fascinating! Also, sad.

Adam Watts

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I have followed you for years, Bob. But this thread is making me unsubscribe. If you want to preach from the soap box, you need to have a thicker skin. 

Mike Nuvo

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Dear Bob L.
Please stop with the politics. Your lane is the music industry. No one wants to hear your politics anymore than you want to hear mine.
I like your stories about the things you witnessed about the industry far more. Stick to what you know.
Thanks
Larry Litz 
Sacramento Ca.

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I'm Jewish and I love Joe.  Time to awaken.

Randy Thomas

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I find it funny that you allow even the most opposing views to get heard on here. Very diplomatic. Yet these are the same people who want to unsubscribe…

I'm a Jew and I'm very mixed about this. I think it's fvcked up for someone to be able to spew stereotypical rhetoric under the guise of being a "comedian." However, I definitely don't hate Joe Rogan either and I AM a fan of free speech. The issue and the problem is not him. It's deeper. We've NEVER agreed in this country where that line is drawn. Just because a corporation sells you junk doesn't mean you need to buy it yet consumer watchdog groups are designed protect us from their bad behavior. Rogan is a brand and a pretty big one. So why is he exempt? He can just say what he wants? Just food for thought…

Danny Jay

__________________________________

Yikes, looks like you've got a heavy hard right-wing readership going. 

L.A. Gonzalez 

__________________________________

There is one thing that you and Rogan have in common. You're both fu*king morons. 

Chris Joseph/George Peabody

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Tune in tomorrow, Saturday February 11th, to Faction Talk, channel 103, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West.

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Re-Joe Rogan

I was not going to send responses/do a mailbag on this. But I believe the comments supporting Rogan, all from non-Jews, prove my point.

_____________________

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

_____________________________________________

A despicable man 

Merck Mercuriadis

_____________________________________________

Go cry about it 

Sean Schilawski

_____________________________________________

Stereotypes are rooted in reality.  

Sorry bro.  

Richard Carlson

_____________________________________________

Dear Bob,

Stereotypes always consist of some truth, otherwise they wouldn't be a thing.  Pretending they don't exist is ridiculous.

Certain races or cultures have more of a tendency to act in different ways in every day life.  Certain lifestyles correlate to different groups.  This is arguable, & always evolves over time. There are good, bad, & terrible historical reasons why these tendencies may exist today. 


Words are not violence.  They can be used for calls to violence for sure, & this type of speech is not & should not be protected in any circumstance.  Uncomfortable words may cause stress & trigger offense, but they are not violence.  

To de-platform, or ban, certain stressful speech harms the overall discourse & society as a whole.

I'm glad I found your newsletter & find it very interesting.  

Take care,
Joe Lazzaro
Central NY

_____________________________________________

I grew up in Manhattan in the 80 & 90's and I can tell you, from experience, jews love money and are cheap. It's a fact. Same as they are GREAT friends, loyal as f..k and super driven / hard working. 

Please omit my name if you print 

(I normally don't print e-mails without names and I thought about putting this guy's name down anyway, but... This is important, because anti-Semitism frequently hides, yet today it's more prominent and out in the open than it has been in decades... What did the Charlottesville protesters say...JEWS WILL NOT REPLACE US!)

_____________________________________________

Sadly it has always been thus but today there are ways of getting anti- Semitic messages out into the world which have never previously existed. Spotify is one such example.

As a boomer child of the 50's there were many anti-Semitic moments but we just kept our heads down and pretended they didn't exist. 

My 10 year old self finding someone had scrawled the word WEJ in bold black lettering on my homework files was not unusual.
No-one knew (not even my parents) and the feeling was  "keep your down". Which we did…
Not today though. Public and influential messaging vehicles like the Rogan podcasts have to be called out.

I'm with you.

David Ravden

_____________________________________________

Bob,  it's kind of hard for me to get rid of Spotify since you made me a believer and got me hooked about ten years ago now.  Uugh.

Jim DAndrea

_____________________________________________

You are severely out of touch and the bviouy do not listen. 

Mike Chav

_____________________________________________

Sorry Bob, you're way wrong. Every person that criticizes Rogan obviously never has listened to an entire show, not even once. I'm not crazy about everything he says, but he's a comedian. Have you ever listened to a whole show? Find one where you like the guest, listen start to finish, and you might learn that he's just a curious goofball who is genuinely interested in people from all walks of life. It's so tiresome that one clip of him making a tasteless joke gets thrown around the bought and sold media again, acting like he said it with bad intent or harm. Are we going to go after every single comedian that makes jokes about stereotypes? Can't we make goddamn fun of anything or anyone any more?

Because I happen to listen to Joe Rogan, I'm inane and insane, wow, talk about a stereotype. 'Joe Rogan listeners are wrong.' No, I'm not wrong, Bob. And by the way, Rogan CAN NOT BE CANCELLED. Take him off Spotify and he'll just be independent again. Spotify needs him more than he needs them. And it drives media people crazy that he's so popular. 

I promise you that anyone who hates Jews will not be emboldened by Joe Rogan making a joke. They were f..ked up to begin with. I hate Trump and the MAGAts more than words can express, but I pretty much hate the far left as much these days. If he was as terrible as you think, he wouldn't have MILLIONS of listeners every day. I'm just sick to death of everyone trying to take away free speech in this country. 

And I'm sure glad you don't hear some of the other comedians I'm into… what they say may not be heard as much as Rogan, but it's way worse, and f..king hilarious. Cancel cancel cancel. I'm such a bad guy. I'm tired of this sh.t.

Dave Warner

_____________________________________________

Joe Rogan graduated from high school in Newton, MA. The town is at least a 1/4 Jewish so he knows better. He also continues to get well known mainstream guests, some of whom are Jewish, and yet they say nothing. 

Steve Hutter

_____________________________________________

You're spot on. 

Joe Rogan argued the moon landing was a fake government staged conspiracy for years before finally coming around. That's the level of person you're dealing with here.  

Peter Rinker

_____________________________________________

Yo Bob, I turned my kid onto Rogan when I started taking the lad out of grade school to go morel picking.
I also had turned him on to Rogan interviewing Paul Stamets .
My kid knows what's what,
The boy is 21 years old now and he knows who and what an idiot is.
Did the faith!
Andrew Parr

_____________________________________________

Joe Rogan in inexcusably stupid.  

Val Garay

_____________________________________________

Oh the irony! I honestly thought you had a financial stake in Spotify, with the amount of posts that talk them up! Cancel your Spotify membership, and encourage others to do the same. That's the only way they'll get rid of him.

Jonathan Peirce

_____________________________________________

Total clown show. 

Never thought about Spotify, will never give them a 2nd thought. 

Will Eggleston

_____________________________________________

F..k Joe Rogan

Bob Kalill

_____________________________________________

Thank you. Amen. 

Xeni Jardin

_____________________________________________

What do you mean Joe Rogan "does not have a right to say it on Spotify?" Of course he does; He has a contract with Spotify that gives him that right. 

You say that the corporate brass should exercise some restraint and stop Rogan from tarnishing their image. That seems like a double standard to me. Don't you think the violence, hate and sexism by artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop on The Chronic and its imitators is more menacing, yet it was rewarded all up and down the spectrum, including even by the Library of Congress. 

You ask the rhetorical question about real artists speaking the truth to power. It's not speaking truth to power unless the power feels threatened, like you do. The "power" wasn't threatened by Dr. Dre and Snoop." 
Most artists start outside the mainstream of allowable opinion, and the establishment disdains them for a while, until they eventually catch on. However, when Rogan speaks truth to power, he should be censored. That goes against everything I have always read in your great opinion pieces.  
Normally love your stuff, but I'm on the other side on this one.   

Gregory A. Hession J.D.

_____________________________________________

I am a liberal democrat. I have been laid up with an achilles injury for a while so I have watched many joe rogan videos on youtube this month (before this outrage he commited). I read your article and then went and watched what I believe is the short comment he made about the jewish people liking money like italians like pizza. Is there more to this story I am missing? Do I believe you wrote this entire email based on that??? In all of the interviews/shows I have watched of his I have not found anything that really rubbed me the wrong way. Sure, maybe I disagreed with some point or idea he had. But I have been around all kinds of people that constantly say far worse things on a daily basis. And you call for his cancellation!? I am just a regular guy that is in the middle of the road and I believe you may have lost your mind. This is part of our problems. Everyone is beyond sensitive and depending on what group gets worked up enough to begin a "movement" and news cycle going for the daily outrage. Yes, there ARE many issues that deserve the attention and outrage. Now, I am certainly aware of the unspeakable acts that have been done to jewish people and also continue to be done...but joe rogan isn't doing them, i'm sure he has zero desire to injure any with words or acts, and i don't think he deserves one second of this. Again, if i missed some part of what he said i apologize and please educate me further! But if the "they like money" is your breaking point...i won't be able to ever read your emails again and unsubscribe you, as this stance is unacceptable and childish. Stick with the music sir.

John Frye

_____________________________________________

Bob. Just  what we need
An anti-semetic know-it-all spreading this poison.
We need to be f..king caricatured? F..k him.

Fred Mollin

_____________________________________________

You'll be dead and forgotten to Bob. So weak. So confused at the end you seem. 

Julien Jorgensen

_____________________________________________

Bob, I agree with you 100%.  And ask: why do you still use Spotify for your playlists?  I cut ties with them 100% the same time Neil and Joni did.  My support is a drop in the bucket and I do not want my drop to be any part of either Joe nor Spotify.  You are worth at least 10,000 drops ;-p  jt

Jason Taylor

_____________________________________________

Wow. If you weren't  such a great writer about music it'd be hard not to unsubscribe right now. Rogan is as close as the world has to a totally neutral mainstream media outlet. He has guests of all political persuasions on.He speaks the truth as he sees it. Sometimes he's wrong and he apologises.

'Censor everyone who disagrees with the mainstream narrative or occasionally misspeaks. Control who gets a voice on Twitter. Never question authority.'

This is the side you're on. You have become The Man. You're on the opposite side to rock 'n' roll.

John Paterson

_____________________________________________

I couldn't agree more. 
And like you said, it's not just open season on Jews but everyone who isn't a straight white male. Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Asians, Women, Liberals, LGBTQ……
Giving Rogan a megaphone is no different than screaming fire in a crowded theater.  It's a recipe for disaster.  
Americans have always been prone to bad, unsympathetic, me first, narcissistic behavior.  It's a country club mindset: I'm in so lock the gates.  Don't let Jews, Blacks, Women, Asians join the club, live in our neighborhood or integrate our schools.  
The pendulum swings back and forth; the hateful bear hibernates but sooner or later, the dam breaks and out spews the same old ugly truth. Some think they are better than others; their rights trump other's rights and their greedy, self righteous ends justify their vicious, dehumanizing, hateful means. 
Watching Marjorie Green during the State of the Union Address was unacceptable, bad behavior exemplified. You didn't need the sound to hear the hate and know that her accusations said more about her than the speaker.  She wants to be our next VP, one step away from the most powerful position in the world. What could be more Frightening!
Bob Edwards 

_____________________________________________

You are so correct on this one. I quit Spotify and went with Tidal after the original blow-up and couldn't be happier. Always go with the artists, they actually know something.
Will Baty

_____________________________________________

Some people like Rogan some dont. Doesnt mean he should be de-platformed. I'm sure there are plenty people who Bob Lefsetz Agrees with, whom i Disagree with. Doesnt mean that person should be de-platformed. Clearly theres a very great crowd of people who enjoy his podcast and agree with him. Are they all ignorant? Or do they just have a different opinion?

He shouldn't be de-platformed. All opinions should be welcomed and ppl show buy into whatever opinion they decide to buy into. The people who dont like him, should stop crying and also stop watching him. The idea that Joe Rogan's advice has killed people, with no evidence to back up such a statement is CERTAINLY ignorant, beyond the shadow of a doubt. Along with the idea that because you disagree with or dislike someone's opinions, that person should be silenced, and the people who agree with your ideals should Stay.

Justin Brown

_____________________________________________

F..k Joe Rogan.  

Chris Nilsson

_____________________________________________

Agreed!!! Kudos to you for speaking up!

Nathan

_____________________________________________

cancel your subscription. money (probably) talks. especially if enough people do that...

rsands9

_____________________________________________

Thumbs-up!

Bob Pfeifer

_____________________________________________

You are so annoying. Can you not see clearly at all anymore? I think democrats call this a "nothing burger".

Of course Rogan won't get cancelled because to do so would be the height of petty stupidity. You need to relax, take some time off. Your life is no different since Rogan said his comments. If anything he's made you happy because you can get all excited about pointing your finger and trying to cancel someone that gets up your nose. 
For a start, what is wrong with liking money? I like money too. It's pretty good you should spend some, it's fun. Where is the offence? It's only offensive to you because you outsourced your thinking a while ago to people with an obvious agenda. I am a different race to you and during the course of my life some have had a little fun with that. Because it's funny. And laughter is quite good, kind of like money. 
You could learn a lot from Rogans popularity but you won't because they have told you he's bad news and you're on team democrat where liking Rogans is against the rules. F..k the rules. In truth you are hoping for the glorious dopamine hit that comes with cancelling an enemy. That's all, nothing more. I am way more offended by your lack of authenticity than you will ever truly be about Rogan. And what should I do, have a tantrum and get you cancelled? No because I'm not made of paper, I can handle it. It's just disappointing because I've subscribed to you for a decade. 

Neil Young was right? How exactly? No, please point out this medical information Rogan was supposedly pushing, please. Did the vaccine work? No, everyone got Covid. Has it hurt lots of people? Did young people need it? Come on now, put down your weapons and just be honest. It's what made Rogan a titan among content providers: Honesty.

Seriously Bob, lighten up. Not every little sentence is an opportunity to lose your marbles. Everyone who's ever met Rogan knows he's not actually racist, and although that probably disappoints you, it's what actually matters.

Reece Gilmore

_____________________________________________

Thumbs up! 100%

Alex Skolnick

_____________________________________________

What is wrong with being into money? And who is attacking Jews these days? 

Todd Fernandez

_____________________________________________

As someone with the last name Feldman… I have to say, "SERIOUSLY??" Spotify won't do anything?EVERYONE is into money, Bob! (As you said). Maybe some artists just need to start taking their stuff off Spotify —or perhaps we consumers need to unsubscribe. Something has to happen though, because this is some bullsh.t. 

Regards,
Mark Feldman

_____________________________________________

F..k Joe Rogan.  F..k Spotify.

Mike Donahue

_____________________________________________

So ready for the era of dumbasses with no expertise in any of the stuff they talk about to be gone.  

Turns out, maybe we do actually need to listen to people that have expertise in an area, even if they don't get high with Elon live on air.  

Nick Lawson

_____________________________________________

Thanks Bob. Rogen is unfortunately yet another  example of the degradation and expectation of the audience. Nice to hear a voice of reason in what seems to be end times. "In the bed where we both lie." 
Thanks for being one pure note. 
Don Mann

_____________________________________________

As a person who listens pretty often to JRE I'm always a little thrown off when I read such negative things about it. You've mentioned Rogan before and I had the same impression that I had this time, you must not listen to the show. I'm never a fan of anyone inciting hatred towards anyone, and as a listener I can tell you that that is the general message you would get from the show if you did listen. You're not wrong when you say that he said those words but what it ignores is that out of the thousands of hours of his show that have been aired, people have pulled a  sentence here and a sentence there of something that you say is offensive. Even your good pal Howard used to mention in the past that he would hear himself back afterwards and realize he did t say the right thing or maybe even a very wrong thing.

If the backlash was sufficient then I'm guessing Spotify would have to respond. But the fact that it's remaining silent on the matter gives me the impression that most people that listen to JRE feel it's as harmless as I do.

Dan Peligro

_____________________________________________

Well said.

Jeff Shattuck

_____________________________________________

if only the majors had balls.  If only artists cared about more than money.  Either of these could stop this.  Otherwise, it's down to the subscribers, but sadly Spotify is the place. 

Peter Burnside

_____________________________________________

You are so right. I see my son and other young men who listen to Rogan and they get caught up in his anti-vax, macho, b.s. then he throws in some antisemitic stuff for good measure. 
He has a massive audience and it is really scary the influence he has. 

Joe Fletcher

_____________________________________________

Bob your absolutely right about Rogan!! 

Doug Gillis

_____________________________________________

I strongly agree with you. I hope Rogan goes away. Trump too. But another puppet always steps up in their place. At least right now we can see the opponent clearly. 

As for the Jewish people. I have always strongly believed that as a people the Jewish community values connection, education and tradition. As a result there is great success for those in this community who would desire it. 

Keep up the information battle! 

-Candice Day

_____________________________________________

Lefsetz have you even listened to his Podcasts? 

You are clutching at very small straws here. Please produce some facts on Rogan's claims. The actual claims themselves. Here's an idea, go on his Podcast! If he'll have you that is.

You're probably jealous because you don't have his following and his ability to entertain ideas. And, speak the truth.

Something makes me think you're either on someone's payroll, not a genuine author, or actually just unable to see the wood for the trees.

T Wealey

_____________________________________________

Bob - you've got it wrong here - yes what he said was in poor taste but Rogan is not an enemy of you, or the left, or decency, etc. Please don't join the ever increasing loud-left who is overly sensitive and victimized about everything. If you've listened to any of Rogan's podcasts over the last few years, in good faith, you will see he's a left leaning, kind, and bery accepting dude — albeit not the sharpest tool but not a dummy either. Does he talk about hot button issues or say dumb things sometimes during his often 3 hour chats? Yes. So what.

Peter Verdell

_____________________________________________

Nailed it

Toby Mamis

_____________________________________________

Your obsession with cancelling Rogan is completely misguided… Period.

Funktion808

_____________________________________________

everyone loves Pizza too

Kevin Connors

_____________________________________________

I dont know if it's your age or what's going on but I find myself nearly unable to read this letter anymore. I mean how many years has it been? You've gone from an insightful (even when we disagree) wealth of fantastic antic-dotes and ideas peppered with a fire hot opinion …to a grumpy old curmudgeon fraught with woke nonsense that pushes many folks who may otherwise lean your way…the other direction.  This is completely ridiculous. I think this is where you lost me. 

Lee Miles

_____________________________________________

Bob, come on! Joe is a COMEDIAN. His podcast is a COMEDY podcast. It's never purported to be anything else. He says dumb funny things and his guests are invited to do the same. He's also broad strokes Italians — shall we go nuts about that too? When did we get so thin skinned?

The relationship of the Jewish culture to money is its heritage. Of course it's not TRUE, but it shares a connection. Stereotypes aren't right/true but they often float near a truth that can spark discussion when properly approached.  Given Rogan's reach he should just have a Jewish expert on now (we know he has freinds that are Jewish and I would say that's not enough) — it would do wonders to expand the conversation versus shut it down if he actually addressed what your pointing out. Shine line on ignorance, don't box it up! 

Last I'll say I get it though. I find Rogan's blind spots can be infuriating… (anything about culture/race or science for example!!!) especially when they go on for 3 hrs. He's just a guy though and his heart and spirit is in the right place. Things like this can become a win if we are curious and push for expansion, inclusion and truth instead of pulling out the pitchforks!

I still have hope!

Dason Johnson

_____________________________________________

Right on… and… right on!
Brad Merritt 

_____________________________________________

Thank you Bob for using the greatest word I ve learned in the music business and basically applicable in life

Wanker is perfect and I would probably use it to describe Cruella (sp) Griffin in her puffy white dress at SOTU.    And Rogan and his vibe applies also.    Well said

Chris Apostle

_____________________________________________

Cry more, Bob. Cry more.

Rick Jones

_____________________________________________

Can't wait to read the mailbag with Rogan's followers on this one. 

Remember when it was cute that Joe's character on NewsRadio was a whack job conspiracy theorist and we all thought he was acting? 

Oh yeah and you are completely right on again. 

~Bobbo

_____________________________________________

I grew up (as did you) with the saying "sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me". Sure, people often say dumb things that are not completely accurate, and are offensive, but we developed some thick skin and didn't let it bother us.  

2 points:

Today, it seems like skin depth in many of the english-speaking western cultures, is at all time thinness.  So easily offended and fragile over relatively minor issues (IMHO).

Every one of us, even you and I, make statements that are factually inaccurate and could be considered offensive to others. Joe Rogan is guilty of this, as are many of the cutting edge comedians today. BFD.

You make some similar statements when you write about republicans/conservatives. I respect your right to make these statements, even if I disagree and may personally find them bothersome or offensive. I would never seek to de-platform you or see you suffer commercially for expressing your opinions.

Too many folks live in glass houses these days, and they love to throw rocks.......

Respectfully,

John Murray

_____________________________________________

Hey Bob,
So by your logic should I, as an Italian American,  be offended by Joe's statement too? How dare he assume I'm "into pizza" because of the country my family is from!  

Do you not think Italians have been sh.t on, stomped on, and stereotyped? 

I can say I'm certainly NOT offended because they're just words. 

Furthermore, pretty much everything Joe's said about the danders of the vaccine and the efficacy of ivermectin are true!

At the end of the day, everyone in in America needs to "man" the f..k up! If words from a podcaster hurt someones "feelings" then that person needs to work on themselves.

F..k feelings, they're not FACTS! 

PS
Everyone loves money and everyone loves pizza! ??????????

James Lucente

_____________________________________________

Every time the Spotify ad comes on asking me to return to premium, I say out loud to the device, "not while you're paying that asshole Joe Rogan!" And I will never buy a product or service advertised on Spotify for the same reason. I can stand the commercials more than I can stand that jerk. I'll just keep listening for free, thanks. 

Tina Withrow

_____________________________________________

Joe Rogan grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. How ironic. 

Helaine Krysik

_____________________________________________

I'm not a Rogan fan but I'm not sure this comment or situation  is worthy of outrage. In listening,  I think he was just responding to the Benjamin's comment and said something stupid …but not terribly offensive. This wasn't some Mel Gibson moment. 

Mark Burrell

_____________________________________________

Sadly, it's always a case of "Follow the Money."

Rogan makes too much money for his sponsor and distributor.  They know if they let him go, someone will pick him up quicker than you can spell his first name.

Mike McCann

_____________________________________________

Just a reminder that both Joni and Neil are Canadians,

Bob Stevens, Toronto

_____________________________________________

I'm so with you on this!!

Mike McCready

_____________________________________________

so weird that more artists didn't take a stand and follow neil and joni's lead. it got spun as a marketing gimmick in an "ok boomer" way.   i cancelled and haven't gone back.  what a lost opportunity to claw back some leverage. 

jon ouzts 

_____________________________________________

Thank you.

Buskr

_____________________________________________

I can only think that Rep, Omar probably does not really want Joe Rogan's "help" on this issue. And while I think is possible to criticise the policies of the Israeli government without being anti-semitic, I'm amazed at how frequently folks find this hard to do. Interestingly, I was talking with a friend of mine who also grew up in the small town south. We were both raised christian but not the Southern Baptist kind so we did not fit in. The two religious categories were Baptist and other. So as a Presbyterian and a Catholic we often found ourselves at the table with the Jews. and it has shaped our perspective for the better. I agree with you that much of anti semitism comes from ignorance. Unfortunately, I think we are more silo'ed than ever and those opportunities to just know folks as folks are harder to find. It's a stark reminder at how easily evil finds a way in if we do not constantly push back. I'll keep pushing. 

Kevin Murphy

_____________________________________________

Freedom of speech is a powerful thing. Who would have thunk the boomer mouthpiece would be screaming for cancellation?

Adam Davidson

_____________________________________________

I went to HS with him. The funny thing is, he went to a mainly jewish HS outside of Boston (Newton). He was educated. Now, he was a moron in HS also. He walked around jump kicking Exit signs and vandalizing the school all the time. People don't really change.

_____________________________________________

GO GET 'EM BOB!

Wayne Forte

_____________________________________________

It's ALWAYS about the money Bob.  Spotify has looked at the impact to their profits from de-platforming Rogan and decided that it's not a financial hit they are willing to take.  And it's not at all surprising. It's what companies do. It's what online social media companies do.  

Spotify does not care about its users or its artists.  It only cares about how much profit the users and artists can bring them.  That is what drives their decisions. That is how their owner investors require them to make decisions.  So unless so many artists and users quit the platform that the financial impact of those departures is greater than the financial impact of Rogan's departure, Rogan will stay on Spotify.

Thanks for the awesome job you do Bob!!!

Fred Dewey

_____________________________________________

Thanks for shining some light on Spotify for their failure to fire Joe Rogan, who deserves it. He spreads hatred and dangerous misinformation. And speaking a little selfishly as a fan, I want to be able to hear Joni Mitchell and Neil Young on Spotify again. 

- Greg Dennis

_____________________________________________

I know you're wary of recommendations from people you don't know personally so I'll keep this brief.

If you haven't read David Baddiel's superb "Jews Don't Count" it's really worth your time - a quick treatise on the subtleties of anti-semitism in the current age. Essential reading, especially for those of us on the left who thought we were across this problem, but probably are not. The tech bros at Spotify should each be sent a copy.

A taste of how he explains his theory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehVZtVsadwA

Best regards,

Nicholas Baker

_____________________________________________

Bob, 
Big column! 

Kevin Breslin

_____________________________________________

I have never given Spotify a nickle. With all the better streaming services out there, living as a consumer without Spotify is effortless. It's not like making a sacrifice to live connection to your family members without Facebook. The public could shut down Spotify and deplatform Rogan in a New York minute.

If     it      wanted     to.

Could we? Please. 

Carl Seibert

_____________________________________________

I love Spotify. I despise racism and Joe Rogan is a giant racist. I used to enjoy listening to his podcast for innocuous speaker topics. But — no more. Joe Rogan I have  gladly and angrily cut out of my life. No one in my home will be allowed to hear his trash. 

How can a grown father and public influence set justice and the movement toward a kinder world so recklessly ??!  

Joe— when you hear your children say unkind trash , remember - you taught them how to do that. 

Edward Arguijo

_____________________________________________

It is right why
@Lefsetz
is mad at
@Spotify
and its inaction against sh.t being said on its platform.

Om Malik

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Joe Rogan

"the idea that Jewish people are not into money is ridiculous. That's like saying Italians aren't into pizza."

Turns out Neil Young was right.

Offenders continue to offend, all you need to do is give them enough rope.

And Spotify's reaction...CRICKETS!

Sweden legendarily accepted Jewish refugees during World War II, but that tradition of looking out for your brother and sister obviously hasn't trickled down to the younger generation. I mean can't you at least SUSPEND the guy?

But really, you should cut him loose.

Come on, this happens all the time. Someone offends and...

The Dodgers fired Al Campanis in 1987 for racist remarks. We're in the midst of the #MeToo era, but when it comes to Jews, it's open season, LITERALLY! People keep killing them.

And it's not only Jews, it's Asians, and Blacks, statistically anti-Semitic attacks are way up. Spotify could take a stand, but...

Come on, Alex Jones was deplatformed, why not Joe Rogan?

We want to minimize this guy's exposure. We want to make him a pariah. Because he's a serial offender, and it's not like he's busy apologizing for his words, some UFC wanker came out and defended him!

Of course if you can Rogan his fans will blow back. But isn't that the problem, his fans taking his word as gospel and running with it? Come on, this guy is a fountain of conspiracy theories, racist language and inaccurate, and dangerous, medical advice. I'm not saying he doesn't have a right to say it, but he does not have a right to say it on Spotify. We want to marginalize voices like this, not encourage them!

And it's not like there's no precedent. Back in 1990, Geffen cut ties with the Geto Boys:

"'While it is not imperative that lyrical expressions of even our own Geffen artists reflect the personal values of Geffen Records, the extent to which 'The Geto Boys' album glamorizes and possibly endorses violence, racism and misogyny compels us to encourage Def American to select a distributor with a greater affinity for this musical expression.'"

And without major distribution the Geto Boys never broke through, never gained a large audience. This is exactly what should happen to Rogan. Just because he's got a lot of listeners and makes money...

So you paid him a big advance. Is money more important than people?

Maybe if the brass at Spotify were minorities they'd understand. You don't want to be caught driving while Black. And when people hear you're Jewish... Even worse, when they don't know you're Jewish it's amazing what they'll say. And some is pure hatred, but a lot is raw IGNORANCE!

Like Mr. Rogan himself. That's his defense, he's ignorant. That doesn't absolve someone of responsibility. The action sustains.

So someone else picks up Rogan... I'm not so sure that will instantly happen, with this history. And even if they do, he'll come with his past, which will taint the new distributor, and as we can tell, it's only a matter of time before Rogan offends again.

Everybody's into money. And Jews are no different from everybody else. This fiction that all Jews are avaricious and rich is just that, a made-up falsehood. As for Jews and money... They were bankers, because the Christians wouldn't allow them to have regular jobs. And now, centuries later, people still believe this trope.

And I don't think rehab would work with Rogan, because he's buoyed by his inane insane followers. Rogan thinks he's right. Think of all the people who didn't get vaccinated based on Rogan's advice and took Ivermectin and died. They may not be Aaron Rodgers, their stories may not be heard by everyone, then again, now they're not heard at all.

As for Neil Young...

Isn't this exactly why we have artists? People outside the system who speak truth to power? Well, today when every act tries to be a brand and sells out to the man at their earliest opportunity that stance is rarely found. Everybody on the inside knows it's not about money, it's about power. Sure, money can buy power, but one artist standing up can mow down a plethora of billionaires. Assuming their heart is true and they're coming from the right place, which Neil Young most certainly is.

And Joni Mitchell followed him overboard, she too cut ties with Spotify. I'll argue the absence of Joni's music will still have an effect long after Joe Rogan is gone and forgotten. That's what great's about music, when done right it is forever. Dead Sea Scrolls. Always waiting to be rediscovered.

I mean not even a peep from Spotify? No consequences? Not even a month off? Even Soupy Sales was suspended when he crossed the line and asked kids to go into their parents' wallets and send him "those little green pieces of paper."

But we've got Elon Musk...a businessman with no sense of culture, who should have studied some of the derided liberal arts to get a sense of culture and history. Musk thinks he's above the law, above reproach, and so far he's paid no price. Musk is letting everybody back on Twitter. And it's not an issue of free speech, Twitter is a private company, it can do what it wants, and now rumors and conspiracies are rampant. And they're having an effect, on vaccine adoption and so much more. And don't tell me you think vaccines are bogus and their detriments are worse than their touted benefits. You only believe this because wankers like Rogan and Musk spread falsehoods.

God, you've got Republicans even defending 1/6. WHICH WE ALL SAW LIVE IN REAL TIME! That's how bad it's gotten, people denying what's actually happened, rewriting history, trying to clean their résumé in real time. Trump lied, so they can too. And in a world where everybody's in their own silo, many people never hear the truth.

We have few artists, thus it's incumbent on companies to stand up and do the right thing. I mean where is the line?

Rogan keeps tarnishing Spotify's image. There's much more at stake than the money they've paid him. It's the whole damn company.

Rogan is an uneducated moron who needs to be woken up. And really, Spotify is the only power that can do this.

But the company is silent.

"Joe Rogan criticized for an antisemitic trope he used in defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar": https://lat.ms/3lq56sQ


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Michael Strickland-This Week's Podcast

Michael Strickland is the Founder and Chairman of Bandit Lites. Since the advent of Covid he has been involved in getting government money in support of the touring industry. Furthermore, he is trying to get all facets of the entertainment industry aligned in the Entertainment Association, so they have a voice in Washington, D.C. and are prepared in case a catastrophe affecting entertainment occurs in the future. Listen to the story of how Michael penetrated the government to get monies released and how he formed and grew Bandit Lites.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/michael-strickland-108582462/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-strickland/id1316200737?i=1000598837066

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1nTfbWuooEboBjuuN3ozqq?si=MuFQ3KOLSQOHrfxJYNEDQw

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/406d7d92-64d8-4c95-9f26-1c8bc9e3e76d/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-michael-strickland

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast/episode/michael-strickland-211747166

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The State Of The Union

I don't watch this stuff. Life's too short. Politicians bloviating and the only people who really care are the press reporting on it.

Welcome to today, where people are in their silos and don't even realize it!

Beyoncé should boycott the Grammys! That's what Mikael Wood claimed on the front page of the "Los Angeles Times" Calendar section yesterday. Hate to tell you Mikael, but most people have already boycotted the Grammys. Sure, ratings went up a bit, but that's like saying a classic rock act got a million streams instead of 700,000. Almost nobody heard it and nobody cares! Come on, has anybody talked to you about the Grammys in the past few days? Certainly not since Monday.

You see the world has changed. It's all niche, and what happens in your niche is irrelevant to me.

Peter Paterno e-mailed me this great skit from last week's SNL:

"The Big Hollywood Quiz": https://bit.ly/3Ygq4Jf

If you watch anything this week, watch this, because it encapsulates the world we now live in. Furthermore, I don't watch SNL, because I know if anything great happens I'll hear about it, and this proves the point!

So the media keeps promoting mass, when mass is history. Which begs the question...what else are they out of touch on?

Now forget the latest political shenanigans, I NEVER watched the State of the Union address. But I am interested in the analysis, to a point anyway. And last night, hiking in the mountains, figuring the speech was over, I dialed up the news in the SiriusXM app to hear...

Sarah Huckabee Sanders giving the Republican response to Biden's speech.

It was like she was living in an alternative universe.

The first thing I wanted to ask her, the same thing I want to ask the hosts on Fox News...DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS STUFF?

I mean actors spew words they don't believe all day long, the people on Fox aren't a whole lot different.

But here's the dirty little secret... NOBODY IS WATCHING!

Sure, Fox gets better ratings than MSNBC and CNN. But add up all their viewers and you end up with a tiny fraction of the public. But the rest of the media reports what goes on there like everyone is paying attention, AND THEY'RE NOT!

As a matter of fact...

I still read the news, I want to know what is going on, but the red light is no longer flashing, I'm relaxing until 2024, because what we've got now is gridlock. The Republicans may control the House, but they can't get anything done. Oh, they can prevent stuff from being done, but isn't this why Trump got elected in the first place?

Let's call a spade a spade, Trump won primarily because people hated/didn't want Hillary Clinton. A smart woman so compromised in her public persona that she said her favorite book was the Bible and I don't know a single person who believed it. As for the Bible-thumpers, they were never going to vote for her anyway. I voted for her, I believed she'd be a good president, but I can understand why people were against her.

As for Trump... He snookered me, I never thought he was that stupid. He made his name rebuilding Wollman Rink, he had a real estate empire, he was always in the news, I didn't realize he was intellectually challenged until he took office. Offensive, maybe. But far from smart? WHO KNEW?

Now we all know.

Except for maybe 30% of the population, who have drunk the right wing kool-aid. And that number is shrinking. And that's the point.

The Republicans are on a losing streak. But instead of questioning why and adjusting, they continue to do the same old thing.

Sanders calling Biden crazy? This is like Trump embracing the term "fake news." You can criticize Biden all day long, but crazy? I think not. You see a great percentage of the public believes Trump is crazy. And Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. They might not agree with Mitch McConnell, but they don't think he's CRAZY!

Heckling Biden... Not the first time this has happened during the State of the Union, but how do you think this plays outside Georgia, outside the ever-shrinking lunatic base? People know how to behave, they know decorum. What kind of idiot behaves like this? Not someone you can get behind.

So you've got the nincompoops, who even deny what is on the record, in Greene's case saying she didn't use the term "Jewish space lasers." But you've also got a fierce right wing underground that will primary you if you don't heed their insanity. Ultimately driving you further and further from the average American.

Let's be clear... The average American cares about economics. Their income, their family. China? Maybe. Immigration? To a degree. But as they say, all politics is local. And to take it further, all politics is individual.

And all those polls about the state of the country, approval ratings... Come on, who would be thumbs-up in today's America, no matter which side you're on. Almost nothing can get done. So people don't hate Biden, they hate what is going on.

As for Biden... Can we stop debating his 2024 campaign?

He's not gonna run. But as soon as he declares this, he's a lame duck. So he's going to wait until the last possible moment. Sure, some people are sharp in their middle eighties, but too many are not, they've lost at least a step, therefore not only Republicans, but Democrats don't want Biden. But we've got all these articles about how last night's speech set Biden up for his next campaign. I mean don't you have something better to talk about?

As for all this woke stuff. Sure, it plays with some of the public. But the dirty little secret is very few people are on this train. Most Democrats don't agree. But the Democrats are a big tent party, where everyone gets a voice and everyone isn't necessarily on the same page.

Not that I'm letting the Democrats off the hook. They don't know how to set an agenda and stick to it when it comes to campaigning. The Republicans get their ducks in a row and the Democrats squirm.

So Sanders is playing the culture wars card.

That worked years ago, do you really think it will work now? And even if it works to a degree, does it work enough to get a Republican elected president in 2024.

Come on, the Republicans are the do-nothing party with no agenda. You think the average person doesn't get this? There was the McCarthy speaker fiasco... People just want to stop the insanity! As for raising the debt ceiling... Sure, most people don't realize it's about money already spent, but most people do understand the right is only hurting the economy demanding things most people don't want that the party won't get anyway.

I mean there's a spotlight on Congress every day. And now it's funny, because the Republican Party in the House is nearly powerless. As for all these investigations into Joe Biden. Yeah, Biden's a billionaire skirting tax laws... Come on, Biden and Trump have almost nothing in common other than they've both been president. Tit for tat might play with the base, but the base is not enough to win elections.

And these Republicans in Congress are confused as to who the base are. They're working people, blue collar, people who used to be Democrats. Talking about taking away or reducing entitlements doesn't play with these people. Look what happened with Obamacare, people want it. As they do Social Security! You can't serve two masters. And one thing the Democrats have reinforced is that the 2017 tax bill benefited the wealthy and increased the debt.

Yes, the Republican Party used to be about the fat cats. I'm a winner, don't penalize me, don't restrict me, everyone should lift themselves up by their bootstraps just like me. And although a lot of this wealthy money is still in play, and a lot of poor people delusionally believe they're going to be rich and don't want to have to pay taxes when they achieve this status...most people believe the rich are getting away with it, not paying their fair share.

Once again, it's not all or nothing. But in politics, a percentage point here or there makes all the difference. The Republicans are on a losing streak, the Red Wave was barely a ripple, but they continue to play the same cards expecting a different result. Isn't that the definition of insanity?

As for what Biden has done... You've got to give him credit, at least he's done SOMETHING! Beaten the gridlock. As for Ukraine... Americans are still suspicious of Russia, they understand the threat. And why should we be so concerned about China but not Russia? And the dirty little secret is all our electronics are made in China. That is changing, slowly, but... People are scared of Russia in an emotional way they are not scared of China.

Common sense? I'm all for common sense, but I wouldn't associate it with the Republican Party. Don't they get that people are laughing at them?

Then again, Democrats are too stupid to realize that the president gets to appoint Supreme Court justices, and by not having Hillary many lost abortion rights. And many are concerned about this. And as the years go by and women are forced to have babies because abortions are unavailable... They're not going to sidle up to the Republicans.

But it's not only politics. Evolve or die. Google owned search, but now with ChatGPT/AI, Bing has a fighting chance.

And speaking of fighting, the labels lost power by fighting file-trading, they thought the CD was forever... Do you even own a CD player today?

As for all this hatred of TikTok and social media... Rail all you want, but they're here to stay, they're what the public wants! They couldn't kill alcohol consumption with Prohibition, and the truth is people want to connect, and they want to go down the rabbit hole of their personal niche. But people in D.C. are so deep in their own B.S. that they don't really know what is going on in America today.

Trump proved this back in 2016. That being coarse and speaking English was no longer taboo. But that was six years ago, we've seen that movie, what movie is unspooling now?

We are truly living in a Tower of Babel society. Realize this. And know that what you see in your own little world... Might not reflect what is going on in the rest of the world.


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Re-Jack Antonoff/Mailbag

You can't get a ticket, it must be somebody's fault.

You didn't get into Harvard, even though your grades were poor. You can't buy a Mercedes-Benz, even though you don't have the cash. Why is it only with tickets that the public is irrational?

Well, unfortunately, it's not only tickets. If people are so misinformed on ticketing, it scares me to think what they believe when it comes to politics, something critical in our country and their lives.

Scalpers. They get the difference between the face price and what the fan is willing to pay. Why should the scalper get this uplift as opposed to the act, which is drawing the customer to begin with?

So, acts used to scalp their own tickets. Yes, you're shocked, positively shocked! Well, how would you feel if someone else was piggybacking on your business, taking your money out of your hands? Well, why don't the acts price the tickets at what they're worth? Obviously people are willing to pay this price. Because the act doesn't want to look bad.

So, the acts employ what was then called "platinum ticketing," or "golden circle." Selling the best seats for a premium, along with a few benefits. Maybe going to soundcheck, meeting a member of the band. But it turns out those extras were not the incentive, people just wanted good seats, so in many cases those extras faded away.

So, that took care of the best seats. But what about the medium seats, the seats you were happy to get, maybe at the front of the lower bowl? Well, the scalpers sold those too, so, the platinum ticketing of today was instituted. I.e. dynamic pricing. If demand is high, the price goes up. Because why give the spread to the scalper?

As for the crappy seats in the upper deck... The scalper doesn't bother with them. The customer is thrilled to be in the building. Caught up in the mania he or she may buy extra tickets to sell, but good luck even selling them for face value. The mania has exceeded the reality.
But how many shows are instant sellouts?

Not most. And the promoter is at risk. And the promoter must stay in business.

This is especially risky in clubs. Which are open more nights and have a plethora of developing talent. These clubs count on sellout dates to make their nut. And believe me, if you can sell out the club, you're getting a better deal.

So you can't get a good ticket and you hear it's Ticketmaster's fault. So you blame Ticketmaster too. Ignorance on parade.

As for the fees... Forget that seemingly every other industry has them, they exist because the act takes almost all of the face value on the ticket. The fees were established to create a pool of money that was not commissionable by the act.

And it's not only the hoi polloi who can't understand this, it's Congress and the President too. It'd be like having these same people weigh in on surgery. Do you think they know as much as the MDs? OF COURSE NOT! But when it comes to ticketing...

_________________________________________

Amen Harvey!

LYV's margin 5.87% (source Sep 2022 Quarterly report) 
AAPL margin 22.99% (source Sep 2022 Quarterly report)  

LET'S GET THE PITCHFORKS READY WE'RE GONNA STORM 1 INFINITE LOOP!  

Ps - Apple's typically more than 30% but supply chain issues and inability to keep up with demand are kicking their asses.

Dan Millen

_________________________________________

I agree with Harvey. As a promoter working with international artists, I can do nothing that affects the public face of the concert without the consent of the Artist's agent. And of course, via their Production and Tour managers, the Artist controls the production, marketing and organisational side of the concert as well. A foolish promoter might try to cheat the Artist in one way or another by hiding charges or cutting production and safety corners but they won't last long if they do, as it will become obvious to the Artist's team. That doesn't mean that promoters don't use various forms of 'creative accounting' to survive on versus deals that disregard the need for a promoter to cover their risk and overhead. That's another story… 

As a promoter, I propose a scaling to the Agent which the Agent approves or not. And a wise promoter will listen to the Agent anyway as the Agent has a wider experience of what prices work for that Artist and their fans. The agreed scaling might be less or more 'dynamic' - that's a discussion depending on the Promoter's judgement of the market and the Artist's line on democratic ticket pricing versus maximised income. A discussion that hopefully happens before the show is confirmed, otherwise the Promoter might find that they've offered based on a higher ticket (and possibly sponsorship) income than the Artist agrees to.

Nick Hobbs

_________________________________________

This quote says it all:

"if I can go online and buy a car and have it delivered to my house, why can't I buy a fucking ticket at the price that the artist wants it to be? So it's that simple."

WHAT!!!?  Does he understand the law of supply and demand?

Has this guy ever tried to buy a car that everybody wants?  You can't get that car because demand far outstrips supply, and when I do finally get it, I waited forever or I paid a premium. And did the manufacturer make some money off of that premium? Probably.

And don't even get me started on the false equivalencies here.

If there is one thing I have learned from reading your letter for many years, it's that this is a very complicated situation and simplistic tirades like this will just complicate the matter even further. Probably because most people think it's that simple.

I don't know what the answer is but I can guarantee you Congress can never solve it. It is way too complicated for our legislators, as I imagine a large number of them have about the same depth of understanding of this problem as Antonoff.   . 
"ignorance abounds"

Charlie Vanture

_________________________________________

Remember before dynamic pricing? The market still set the ticket price but all of the additional money went to the ticket brokers instead of the artists and hard working people who produce the concerts. 

Justin Basch

_________________________________________

From: Zach Sutton

He's wrong about the Canadian government as well. Yes there are grants - but no they don't give a sh.t. 

_________________________________________

Sounds like Jack is part of the problem. Thanks!

Brian Reiser

_________________________________________

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" - Upton Sinclair

Evan Sanchez


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