Artist promotion on streaming servicesLive music feedback versus algorithmic recommendationsMajor label influence on streaming platforms

Algorithms are RUINING everyone’s music tastes

Sep 11, 2024 · 1:00

Summary

Algorithms aren't ruining music taste, they're homogenizing it. That's the take from a straphanger who argues Spotify and major labels are creating a narrower pipeline that pushes their biggest cash cows. But here's the twist: he actually loves Spotify Discover and finds music recommendations from random people kind of annoying. Kareem then gets him to review a song he just wrote on the spot. The verdict? Better than Yeezus. A seven out of ten, bumped up to a perfect ten seconds later.

Topics

Full Transcript

So what's your take? Algorithms are ruining everyone's music taste? 100% disagree. They're making everyone's taste more collectively homogenized.

And when you look at the fact that the major labels are invested in platforms like Spotify, the pen of artists that they're going to be pushing to you the most is just going to get smaller and smaller to their biggest cash cows. I like Spotify Discover. That's how I discover music.

I don't really want to go to some guy and hear a bunch of "you should listen to this" because that's kind of—if that is gay, I'm the gayest man on the planet. I want a live review of a song that I just wrote. Okay, I'm down.

I'm feeling like myself. I like that you're bringing back like those early to mid-2000s block party vibes. That's good.

Listen, it's better than Yeezus by Kanye West, so I'm going to give it a seven. Seven? Give it a seven?

Let's go, baby! Actually, I give it a 10. 100% disagree. 10.

⇄ Transfer at this station