“The Neil Young letter was one of those things where this isn’t a big deal until it becomes a big deal,” said one Spotify executive. “Part of Spotify’s proposition is get all your audio in one place—if you have big artists who aren’t available, if Drake or Taylor Swift pulls off, it’s a real problem for the proposition.”…

At a town-hall-style meeting Wednesday, Spotify executives reiterated to employees that the company acts as a platform that distributes Mr. Rogan’s show rather than a producer or publisher, according to a transcript of the meeting. Mr. Ek said in the meeting that some employees feel hurt by the content and said it was important for them to understand why the company struck a deal with Mr. Rogan—and how effective it has been for Spotify’s growth.

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is the No. 1 show in 93 markets, Mr. Ek said during the interview Wednesday. In 2021, Mr. Rogan’s show was the most-listened-to podcast every month in more than 30 markets, including in the U.S., said a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Rogan’s listeners have grown by 75% from the time he joined Spotify’s platform in September 2020 to December 2021, this person said.