Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist

"Both listeners and musicians are trapped in an abusive relationship with Spotify, the streaming service that has reshaped the modern music landscape. It has dramatically skewed the way we listen, making the experience more passive and the act of creating less tenable. Mood Machine masterfully interrogates this new paradigm. Part origin story, part investigation and part call to action, it creates a panoramic view of a flawed Spotify infrastructure that’s rapidly devaluing musical labor and engagement. Written by a fierce advocate for artists’ rights and one of the streaming economy’s most dogged critics, this rousing industry probe has the tenacity to challenge algorithmic hegemony and the conviction to imagine a more sustainable future."