New Spotify exposé is streaming free on Spotify: Analysis
A new explosive Spotify exposé is streaming free as an audiobook on Spotify: our analysis of the “Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist” by Liz Pelly.
New Spotify exposé is streaming free on Spotify: Analysis
The new book, “Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist” by Liz Pelly carefully examines the many ways that Spotify and streaming music affects listeners, artists and the music industry.
Pelly’s writing is influenced by an admittedly strong indie ethos, making “Mood Machine” a strong must read (or listen) for anyone who really cares about music.
Her unflattering account is available to stream free as an audiobook for all Spotify Premium subscribers, with an excerpt available for ad-supported users.
No Spotify Denial
Unlike other instances where Spotify thinks its been wronged, the streamer has so far been silent about “Mood Machine” or contradicted the findings of the investigation.
Perfect Fit Content, Discovery Mode & More
Much of the early attention to “Mood Machine” has focused on Pelly’s investigation into Spotify’s secret Perfect Fit Content (PFC) program and public Discovery Mode offering. PFC places tracks on playlists for which Spotify pays little or no royalties, elbowing out legitimate musicians. Pelly describes Discovery Mode as a “payola-like program whereby artists accept a lower royalty rate in exchange for algorithmic promotion.”
But “Mood Machine” digs much deeper into the roots and ongoing effects of Spotify’s dominance of 30% of the U.S. streaming music market.
A “Broken Industry”
“In the story of Spotify, is the story of a broken (recorded music) industry desperate to keep existing after the era of digital enabled file sharing,” writes Pelly.
The three major music companies, UMG, Sony and WMG, needed Spotify. But since they collectively control up to 70% of the recorded music market, Spotify needed them too. So they used – and continue to use – their influence to shape the streamer to meet their needs rather than the needs of artists.
Spotify’s other masters, investors, demanded profits which continue to motivate a series of reinventions including as a social network, human curation, algorithms and costly non-music expansions into podcasting, audiobooks, and now video.
Then there’s the recent change spearheaded by UMG that reclassifies millions of artists as ineligible to earn royalties.
Almost all of this made it harder for 99% of musicians grow a fanbase or earn a living. In fact, Pelly argues that streaming help usher in an era where musicians now are forced to think of themselves as “creators” instead artists.
What’s Next?
While “Mood Machine” is unlikely to change how Spotify, its corporate partners and peers do business, it provides much needed fuel for an essential discussion that began gathering steam last year.
In a world where streaming pays pennies and income from live performances in threatened, how will artists and artistry survive in 2025 and beyond?
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, founder of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.
