Mood Machine by Liz Pelly

12/03/2025 37 min
Mood Machine by Liz Pelly

Listen "Mood Machine by Liz Pelly"

Episode Synopsis

Joel Goodman and Ron Bronson delve into Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. They discuss the book's exploration of Spotify's impact on the music industry, focusing on historical parallels, algorithmic control, and the creation of 'fake' artists.



The conversation includes personal reflections on the evolution of music consumption, streaming services, and the nostalgia of early music platforms and blog eras. Throughout, they emphasize the moral and existential implications of Spotify's practices for both artists and listeners.



Chapters




00:00 - Synopsis and Initial Impressions of 'Mood Machine'



00:36 - Historical Context and Surprising Elements



01:37 - Algorithmic Control and Fake Artists



02:34 - The Evolution of Music Streaming



04:40 - The Impact of Algorithmic Playlists



07:11 - The Role of Human Curation in Music Discovery



10:17 - The Decline of Music's Artistic Value



11:43 - The Dangers of Algorithmic Influence



14:03 - Nostalgia and the Value of Craft



26:35 - Supporting Artists in the Streaming Era



31:18 - Nostalgia and the Blog Era of Music



36:24 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts






Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. Buy on Bookshop.org

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