This was downright petty.
Veteran musician Neil Young has once again stepped into the political spotlight, making headlines after announcing a symbolic move aimed at President Donald Trump amid recent international tensions involving Greenland.
Young revealed that he is offering residents of Greenland a full year of free access to his paid Neil Young Archives platform, which includes decades of recorded music, live performances, and documentary material. The announcement followed heightened global attention surrounding U.S. policy discussions involving the Arctic territory.
In a public statement posted on his website, Young criticized the Trump administration’s approach to international affairs and suggested that residents of Greenland were experiencing unnecessary anxiety as a result. He framed the gesture as a cultural offering intended to promote calm during a period of diplomatic uncertainty.
Young described the move as an expression of “peace and love,” stating that he hopes his music can provide comfort to Greenlanders during what he characterized as a stressful political moment. He also encouraged other organizations to take similar actions.
The announcement came shortly after President Trump publicly clarified his administration’s position on Greenland. In late January, Trump confirmed that his administration had reached a framework for future cooperation with the territory and moved away from earlier tariff proposals involving several European nations, following increased NATO coordination in the region.
Despite the diplomatic shift, Young continued to voice opposition to Trump and to corporate leaders who support the president.
As part of that opposition, Young renewed criticism of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, citing Bezos’s financial support for Trump’s inauguration. Young announced that his music would no longer be available on Amazon Music, though physical formats such as CDs and vinyl records will remain for sale.
In his statement, Young urged fans to consider alternatives to large online retailers, arguing that consumers should support smaller American businesses whenever possible. He noted that his music remains available through other platforms.
This is not the first time Young has taken political action involving streaming services. In 2022, he removed his catalog from Spotify over concerns related to podcast content on the platform. He later returned in 2024 after similar content became available across competing services, explaining that leaving all major platforms would severely limit access to his music.
Young acknowledged that withdrawing from Amazon Music could negatively impact his record label in the short term but said he believes the broader message is necessary.
Earlier this month, Young also posted comments criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following enforcement activity in Minneapolis. In those posts, he accused President Trump of contributing to national instability, claims that the administration and its supporters strongly reject.
Despite his political activism, Young continues to focus on his music career. He recently announced a European summer tour beginning June 17 at the Eden Project in Cornwall, with Elvis Costello and the Imposters scheduled to appear on select dates.
As President Trump advances policies centered on border enforcement, economic leverage, and U.S. strategic interests abroad, cultural figures like Neil Young continue to use their platforms to publicly challenge those policies—often drawing international attention in the process.
