The legendary songwriter opens his complete recorded legacy to Greenland, offering free access to six decades of music and film as an act of cultural solidarity and goodwill.
by Paul Cashmere
Neil Young has opened the doors to his entire creative life for the people of Greenland, offering free access to neilyoungarchives.com as a gesture of peace, solidarity and cultural connection. The move places every album, recording, concert film and archival document Young has created over the past 62 years directly into the hands of Greenland residents at no cost.
The offer includes a full year of access, with the ability to renew annually for free as long as users remain in Greenland. Young framed the gesture as an act of kindness and respect, expressing hope that his music and films might provide comfort during a period of heightened political tension and uncertainty linked to recent rhetoric from the United States government toward the Arctic nation.
Young’s archive is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive artist-run music repositories in the world. Beyond his officially released albums, the platform houses rare studio outtakes, alternative mixes, rehearsal recordings, handwritten lyrics, vintage photographs and an extensive catalogue of live performances spanning from Buffalo Springfield through Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, Crazy Horse and his long solo career. Concert films and long-form visual projects sit alongside meticulously restored high-resolution audio masters, reflecting Young’s long-standing commitment to sound quality and historical preservation.
Since launching the archive publicly in 2018, Young has positioned it as both a cultural library and a statement about artist control in the digital era. He has frequently challenged streaming services over audio compression and corporate influence, advocating for platforms that prioritise fidelity, transparency and respect for creators. Offering the archive freely to an entire nation reinforces that philosophy, using music as a form of connection rather than commerce.
Young’s relationship with political and social activism has been embedded in his work since the late 1960s. Songs such as Ohio, Southern Man, Rockin’ In The Free World and Living With War established him as an artist willing to confront power structures and speak to social conscience without compromise. His environmental advocacy has been equally consistent, reflected in projects like Greendale and The Monsanto Years, and more recently through the Love Earth banner under which his current touring activities are presented.
The Greenland initiative also reflects Young’s belief in the responsibility of artists and organisations to act with humanity during periods of stress and division. In making the offer open-ended and renewable, Young signalled a long-term commitment rather than a symbolic gesture. He also expressed hope that other organisations would follow a similar path, using culture to foster calm, understanding and shared experience.
Alongside the Greenland announcement, Young addressed broader concerns about media trust, encouraging audiences to seek deeper, independent journalism and to disengage from commentary-driven news formats. While he acknowledged the turbulence within the United States, he expressed a desire to return focus to music, creativity and meaningful connection.
As Young approaches his eighth decade, his catalogue stands as one of the most influential bodies of work in popular music history. From the introspective folk of After The Gold Rush, the raw electricity of Rust Never Sleeps, the grunge-era resurgence of Ragged Glory and Harvest Moon, through to recent releases that continue to challenge and provoke, his work has remained both personal and political. Making that legacy freely available to Greenland underscores his belief that music remains a powerful tool for empathy and resilience.
Young is also preparing to return to the stage with Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts, launching the European leg of the Love Earth World Tour this June. The performances will bring his message of environmental awareness and artistic independence directly to audiences across the continent.
Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts, Love Earth European Tour
17 June, Cornwall, Eden Project
19 June, Manchester, Heaton Park
22 June, Nîmes, Festival De Nîmes
24 June, Nancy, Open Air
27 June, Chelmsford, Hylands Park
29 June, Glasgow, Bellahouston Park
1 July, Cork, Virgin Media Park
3 July, Blenheim, Blenheim Palace Festival
5 July, Cardiff, Blackweir Fields
8 July, Weert, Evenemententerrein Weert-Noord
10 July, Zottegem, Rock Zottegem
12 July, Locarno, Moon And Stars Piazza Grande
14 July, Lucca, Lucca Summer Festival Mura Storiche
16 July, Udine, Codroipo Villa Manin
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