Question about Joe Rogan

[jmowreader]

How did he get so popular? Serious question. I don't do podcasts so I've never listened to his...but how did he get so popular and influential that Spotify would pay him what they did?

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. You may as well as how OrangeAnus got so many votes.

There are a lot of idiots in America.

[DeeNice]

2. Tell (some) people what they want to hear, give them an enemy to oppose and

they will jump into an open grave for you. Propaganda 101.

[NewHendoLib]

3. The ignorant love their idols

[lame54]

4. His audience are...

The same people he talked into eating bugs

[PatSeg]

12. Yeah, it would seem so

[FakeNoose]

5. I don't know the answer to that

But it seems like Rogan is trying to be the "next-gen Rush Limbaugh" whatever that may be.

Spotify is much bigger in Europe than here, but I can't imagine why Europeans would be interested in Joe Rogan's talk-radio show. It seems that Spotify got him onboard specifically to beef up the American audience who would otherwise be paying for Sirius. (I could be wrong though.)

I can tell you that Spotify charges $10 per month, as opposed to Sirius that charges $15 (I think) per month. Spotify offers a very large library of musical artists and range of tastes, far more than Sirius. I subscribe to Spotify but I have no interest in their talk shows. I've never listened to Joe Rogan and probably never will.

[Celerity]

22. About one third of Spotify's 400 million plus active users are here in Europe, & about one quarter

are in North America (the market shares are as of Q2 2021).

Rogan has millions of listeners over here. I think many here on DU assume he is non-stop (or mostly) politics. He is not. American media product also is vastly more penetrative (for better or worse) in the EU than you perhaps are assuming.


https://s22.q4cdn.com/540910603/files/doc_financials/2021/q2/Shareholder-Letter-Q2-2021_FINAL.pdf

[dchill]

6. Possibly the old Fear Factor TV show...

Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare game show that first aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006 and was initially hosted by comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

- Wikipedia

[Chautauquas]

7. Lots of reasons

He did the Fear Factor tv shows many years ago and also did stand-up comedy, even though he's not very funny, imo. He also did commentary for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fights, which are watched by a lot of people all over the world. His podcasts became popular because his interviews were more like conversations that went on for hours, and he frequently drank and toked while he and his guests talked, plus he had a good variety of guests on the show, from celebs to athletes to scientists to activists etc.

[Carlitos Brigante]

8. I started listening/watching for the comedian guest(s) shooting the shit

being funny. This was years ago. It also attracted me in more with the UFC guest(s) and commentary. But I've been done with him after he stopped pushing against his most toxic RW dipshits. Then there's his double standards when it came to a LW comedian obviously joking about violence and giving the guy a dressing down. Vs. laughing it up with, testicle necked, Proud Chodes founder, Gavin...whatever the fuck. There's lots of ither examples.
Anyway, I digress. I just moved on to different podcasts.

[Sympthsical]

9. He's generally non-ideological and open-minded

He'll interview just about anyone and talk with them even when he doesn't agree. It's a nice change of pace for people who are tired of everything being hyper-partisan and ideological. He'll just sit there and bullshit about things in a relaxed way.

The thing is. The people who are furious with him aren't his audience. He doesn't make his show for people forever hovering in the public sphere declaring who is and isn't on the Approved List of Acceptable People. He doesn't participate in the excommunications that are now a fundamental part of the religious nature of social media.

Right now, his problem is he lives up to the axiom, "If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out." He is just not as bright or as critical as he needs to be. So he runs into . . . well, precisely what he's run into. No one should take medical advice from this chucklehead. Then again, no one should take advice from a hell of a lot of people in the media. Doesn't really stop anyone. Oprah's still wildly popular despite the astronomical amount of pure quackery she shilled. That woman is responsible for unleashing so much harm on so many people in our society, and we still regard her as some kind of cultural high priestess.

Rogan's a dufus. But he's one Millennials like, precisely because he's not like the people currently baying for his blood.

Which people don't understand at all. The madder you get at him, the more you prove the point and reinforce why people like him. He's not like the rigid ideological actors who infest much of social and professional media.

That's why he caught on.

Note: Can't say I listen to him much. Probably less than ten times in ten years. I tune in when he has on a comedian I like. I think the last time was Bill Burr. But I have friends who enjoy him. They think he's a moron with the Covid stuff, but they still enjoy his general approach to other things.

[leftstreet]

13. +1

Nicely stated.

Needs repeating:

The thing is. The people who are furious with him aren't his audience. He doesn't make his show for people forever hovering in the public sphere declaring who is and isn't on the Approved List of Acceptable People. He doesn't participate in the excommunications that are now a fundamental part of the religious nature of social media.

A spot on description.

[Whiskeytide]

18. Sorry - meant for the post you responded to. n/t

[Whiskeytide]

19. Good post. I don't listen to his podcasts, never really watched the Man Show, ...

… and have never heard his stand up act. I really only remember him from News Radio in the late 90s (a truly underrated comedy with a very talented cast). His “Joe” was a great character.

But your thoughtful post has genuinely educated me on who/what he is and why he’s so popular. Thanks.

[VarryOn]

10. Before he went to Spotify, I used to listen some...

depending on who his guest was. The length of the podcast (2-3 hours) allowed for really in-depth interviews, and he's a pretty good interviewer. My favorite shows of his were the ones where he had other comedians. Joey Diaz, Rusell Brand, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr and Kevin Hart were all good interviews.

Prior to COVID, I never found him to be particularly right or left. His views on things run the gamut of the political spectrum. I do recall him liking Bernie Sanders. He even had him on his show once.

But now, he gives a platform to some who should have no voice. I dont listen anymore.

[tinrobot]

11. He's "Broprah" -- Oprah for "bros".

He talks to a specific demographic of men sometimes known as "bros"

Bros like to hang out watching/playing sports, drinking beer, throwing parties, etc. They usually tease each other, banter heavily, and make lots of dares. Many were in fraternities in college. Their health regimen is to lift weights, take supplements, and do keto.

I'm sure you know the type.

[OnDoutside]

14. I know plenty of young 20/30 somethings who think he's great stuff

and I find it hard to convince them what a charlatan he is.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. Rogan is an asshole and his supporters are RWNJs

I never understood why this idiot is popular.

[Celerity]

20. Simplistic broadbrush in regards to his audience, lacking in accuracy to a sufficient enough degree

to thus render it of little practical analytical use.

You did nail the 'Rogan as asshole' element though, so a hat tip is warranted for that.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

23. You are wrong yet again

Link to tweet

[Celerity]

26. No I'm (as usual) NOT wrong. There is zero proof behind that absolute ('every single one') statement

Also, even if true, that in no makes your false broad-brush statement (that I replied to) true in any way shape, or form.

You've always loved to posit opinion as fact. As a lawyer, you should know better.


Also, as Spotify is a target (rightly so IMHO) here:

The Unite the Right rally (the pic you posted) was a white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, from August 11 to 12, 2017.

YouTube was by far his main outlet then.


now, almost 3 years later..... (and it was over 3 years later when Rogan actually debuted on Spotify):

Spotify Strikes Podcast Deal With Joe Rogan (May 19th, 2020)

snip


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joe_Rogan_Experience

After the podcast became available on Spotify on September 1, 2020, people reported on social media that episodes with more controversial or far-right guests, including Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Gavin McInnes, and Chris D'Elia, among others, were missing. Episodes featuring comedian and activist Tommy Chong, comedian Joey Diaz, and Mikhaila Peterson, daughter of Jordan Peterson, were also unavailable.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. Do you ever tire of being WRONG?

Thank you for the laughs. None of your links support any sort of argument that makes sense with respect to the fact that Joe Rogan and his audience/supporters are all racists. In law school and debate there is a concept called relevance which means that a cited fact needs to make the argument being advanced more likely of being correct. None of your cites are relevant and I am not sure what you are trying to prove.

My statement is rather simple. Only racists and idiots follow Joe Rogan. The idiots in the Charlottesville protects fit the profile of typical TFG/Rogan supporters. Look even Rogan is guilty of the concept of projection (this is a term that you should look up) when Rogan made this observation about TFG supporters:

Link to tweet

Not all racists follow Rogan but all of Rogan's supporters/fans are clearly racists. Again, Rogan was projecting his sins onto TFG which is really very amusing

I do not have Spotify nor do I follow Joe Rogan. I was totally confused why Sanders tried to get this racist's endorsement and why Sanders thought that the endorsement of this racist would help him in the Democratic primaries. The key block of voters who supported Joe Biden were African American voters and white moderates. Neither group follow Rogan nor cared about Rogan's quasi endorsement of Sanders.

Once Joe got out of 90+% white states, the primary contest was over. This video which begins with some observations from some of the founders of Our Revolution/Justice Democrats and Sanders supporters still makes me smile

Link to tweet

The endorsement or quasi endorsement of a racist like Joe Rogan was of no help to Sanders when the real base of the party got to vote.

As for the real argument, it is clear that Rogan is a racist idiot and and it also clear that Rogan's audience is composed of racist idiots. Here is a good example, this video shows who Rogan is

Link to tweet

I stopped watching The Daily Show a while back, but I did appreciate how Tevor Noah dealt with Rogan

Link to tweet

Again, while not all racists are Rogan fans but all of Rogan's fans are racists.

I really enjoyed laughing at the material that you posted. Such material did not help your argument but did provide some amusement. Again, there is a concept in both debate and the law of relevance and none of the facts you posted was relevant to the concept of whether Joe Rogan and his fans are racists.

I was a day one contributor to Joe and got to meet Joe at two different fundraisers at two homes of attorneys. I had maxed out to Joe in early 2019 and worked on his voter protection efforts. I am pleased to see that Lawyers for Biden has been folded into the DNC. Joe Biden supporters are not fans of Rogan. I note that Rogan supported and endorsed TFG and was never going to support Sanders in a general election contest. Rogan and his fans are typical TFG supporters, i.e., racist idiots.

You are welcome to defend Rogan and his audience. I amused by the number of people unsubscribing to the service that picked Rogan over sane persons

Link to tweet

If you have any facts that support the position that Rogan and his audience are not racist idiots, please provide such facts.

[Celerity]

29. I am not wrong, especially when engaging with you, all your futile protestations aside

with respect to the fact that Joe Rogan and his audience/supporters are all racists.

Only racists and idiots follow Joe Rogan.

ludicrous broad-brush absolute statements

done here

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. Again, you are WRONG yet again

Do you tire of being wrong?

Rogan is a racist and only racists follow this idiot. Your attempts to disprove these facts are really amusing. Please posts some more links that are not relevant to the issue being discussed

[George II]

33. The only "followers" that are not racists are most likely those who want to keep an eye on him....

...to see what he's up to.

Before Twitter banned him, I followed the former guy, but only to get a perspective of what warped things he was saying and preaching to his true followers.

I agree that most if not all "true" followers (perhaps we should call them "admirers"?) of Joe Rogan's are racists.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. I try to keep an eye of idiots and assholes

I never followed TFG's twitter feed but I am on the Justice Democrats email list which is both very sad and very amusing at times. There is a difference between following a person and being a fan. I now that Media Matters reviewed 350 hours of Rogan progaming and found some very disturbing stuff

Link to tweet

Throughout his first full year streaming exclusively on Spotify, host Joe Rogan has repeatedly used his podcast to broadcast conspiracy theories, COVID-19 misinformation, and anti-trans rhetoric to millions of listeners across the globe. One year into his contract, it’s clear that Spotify’s $100 million paycheck to Rogan is funding increasingly dangerous and bigoted content.

Media Matters monitored over 350 hours of The Joe Rogan Experience over the past year and found that the show is grounded in misinformation and bigotry. To coincide with Spotify’s 2021 Wrapped -- an annual summary of the trends on the streaming platform -- we compiled some of the worst examples of Rogan’s sexist, racist, and harmful commentary over the past year -- all paid for by Spotify.

Rogan is a veritable megaphone of right-wing lies, and when he is called out for peddling dangerous rhetoric, he shields himself from any accountability by claiming he should not be considered a “respected source of information.” He has also repeatedly praised Spotify for being a safe space for him as the platform has refused to do anything to quell the misinformation and hate on his show; Rogan once told a guest that anti-trans attacks are acceptable on his show, saying, “You can say whatever you want. We’re on Spotify.”

The anti-trans and COVID misinformation is really bad

[Celerity]

31. fallacy of composition

when one infers that something is true of the whole from the fact that it is true of some part of the whole

'Many Rogan listeners are racists' (true in this case) does not mean all are, and you claim all are, thus falsely universalising a part to fully represent the whole.

No barrister or lawyer I know would even get caught making such an easily disproved (as it only takes one example to disprove the entire thing) absolute, universalised statement.

I know a shedload of Rogan listeners (from a plethora of different racial backgrounds) who absolutely are neither racists nor RWers in any fashion. Many of them do not give a toss about politics, or his take on politics. People compartmentalise every day on a vast multitude of things, beliefs, and actions.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. [WATCH] (Or Don't) Spotify Can Ignore ... The Rampant Racism?

You really do not tire of being WRONG. I luckily do not associate with racists and I do know anyone who admits to watching Rogan. Are you sure that your so-called friends are not racists? Why would anyone who is not a racist want to listen to Rogan where the main thing that he does is use the N-word. I was going to post the clips of Rogan repeatedly using the N-word but these clips sicken me. Here is a good article and I agree that the clips of Rogan being a racist are beyond disturbing. https://hillreporter.com/watch-or-dont-spotify-can-ignore-joe-rogans-medical-disinformation-but-how-about-the-rampant-racism-123692

Link to tweet

You should be warned before even starting that the video embedded in this story is beyond disturbing. You won’t want to play it in your workplace or in public…or, to be honest, probably at all, unless you’re super-comfortable with the n-slur. Fortunately, there’s plenty to support Rogan’s history of blatant racism without actually watching the video, if you prefer not to.

Spotify is, as you may know, under a lot of pressure to kick Joe Rogan’s podcast off the platform due to his use of it to push medical disinformation, inviting anti-vax guests and promoting ivermectin and other unsupported treatments for COVID-19 in the midst of a pandemic. Of course, those who remain skeptical of expert opinions on the pandemic also defend him on those grounds, because they believe he’s providing legitimate ‘alternative viewpoints.’

However, perhaps a bigger question is whether anyone at Spotify can defend this. (Final warning: this is the video that you probably don’t actually want to hear, and it’s a compilation of Rogan using the n-slur dozens of times. It is genuinely awful and painful to hear.)....

Even without that, there’s a lot of documented history of Rogan’s racism, including the recent podcast in which he and Jordan Peterson discussed which people are allowed to consider themselves “Black” (they decided that the identity should be reserved for people living in Africa and wearing no clothes), and more from over the years.

Then there’s this clip from 2019, in which Rogan recounts his experience of going to watch Planet of the Apes in apparently a predominantly Black neighborhood — he says, “We walked into the planet of the apes. We walked into Africa. Dude, we walked in the door and there was no white people.”

I did watch the clips contained in this article and I would not want to be friends with anyone who is a true fan of Rogan.

Media Matters has 350 hours of Rogan material that is very disturbing

Link to tweet

I was hoping that you would post some more links that were not remotely relevant to the issue being discussed. The last set of links you posted were truly amusing. Thank you for the laughs

[womanofthehills]

37. Joe Rogan's oldest daughter, Kayja Rose Rogan is a beautiful talented black girl

She is an up and coming R&B recording artist. When Joe married his wife Jessica, Joe officially adopted Kayja Rose whose father, the R&B lead singer Dino Conner, died in a tragic car accident at 28 yrs old - Kayja was 5. Joe occasionally talks about his three girls on the show and he recently said he believes Kayla Rose is one of the nicest people on the planet.


https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ksyla%20rose%20joe%20rogans%20daughter&iax=images&ia=images&iai=.


Joe Rogan’s daughters
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ksyla%20rose%20joe%20rogans%20daughter&iax=images&ia=images&iai=

[ismnotwasm]

39. So?

[betsuni]

27. #NotAllRWNJs #NotAllWhiteSupremacists

[radius777]

16. Liberals have given up the raunch sphere

and it costs us. Like it or not there are alot of people out there who enjoy (and are influenced by) 'junk food' entertainment.

In the 90s when I was growing up we had some big stars on our side (defending the Clintons) like Howard Stern, Larry Flynt, Hugh Hefner, etc. They were raunchy or un-PC when it came to sex and partying, but were committed to liberal causes, often against the wishes of their own mostly white male audience. Bill Maher sucks and was never on our side like those guys were, BTW.

Rogan fills that space that they did, but is RW leaning, and we don't have the equivalent LW leaning type to fill the space anymore. Charlamagne Tha God has become pretty big but again the typical liberal tends to tsk tsk his style.

[ibegurpard]

21. He is too open-minded

He just adopts the views of whoever he is talking to that "make sense" and lacks the critical thinking skills to evaluate them. And there are many, many people out there just like him.

[Hotler]

24. I think he started on the sitcom NewsRadio...

[Johonny]

25. I think he made a ton of money off ultimate fighting

He gambled early that it would be huge. It's got a huge male audience. The same audience that listens to his pod cast. He'd already been a successful stand up and landed on a good sit com before that. But I think it was the UFC stuff that made him so popular with young males. I believe his audience is primarily young adult males and his act it geared towards telling them what they want to hear. He's Oprah for men as I've heard him called. (More like Dr. Phil to me, though)

[Zeitghost]

34. He does multiple hour conversational interviews with interesting people

He does multiple hour conversational interviews with interesting people. He talks openly and honestly (although not always factually) to people and get's them to open up and dive deep into interesting topics. In an ADHD media landscape full of soundbites and headlines without any real meat, it's a refreshing option.

Anyone calling him right wing or racist is as wrong about Rogan as he is about vaccines and has not listened to his show for any meaningful amount of time. They prefer to take those aforementioned media soundbite clips about him as gospel because it fits their preferred narrative. Joe himself will tell you he's a moron and you shouldn't take his advice on anything outside of MMA and comedy.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

36. A response to @Spotify 's multi-million dollar spewer of the N-word (now scrubbed) on top of sprea

Link to tweet

[demmiblue]

38. Interesting reading some of the dude-bro logic on this thread. n/t

[WhiskeyGrinder]

40. He got some support when he hosted Bernie Sanders on his show.