To Spotify or Not?

[Multicore]

Anthony Fantano of the needle drop music discussion/review site highlights the Spotify issues

This is good, thanks for sharing. I wasn't aware of Daniel Ek's relationship with Helsing.

I don't entirely agree with Jamie Stewart's arguments about how streaming devalues music. I think it does but not in the way he describes. Streaming allows me to listen seriously and carefully just like any other medium at the same time as allowing me to browse. I can explore freely. For example, the name Doug McKechnie was new to me this month but now I listened to all of Volume 1. No way would I have bought that before listening through. And I might not want to listen to it again. The fact that I can move on after a few seconds doesn't mean that I always do. It's up to me.

Streaming devalues music quite literally and directly by saying "all this with unlimited listening is worth only $10/month." And by saying "music is worth a few pennies per thousand copies".

 

[Jokke]

As Spotify is now more expensive then Tidal, for me it is a no brainer to subscribe to Tidal.

 

[Somafunk]

This is good, thanks for sharing. I wasn't aware of Daniel Ek's relationship with Helsing.

I have a number of mates (or more accurately acquaintances/folk I know due to friends) in the industry who are actively attempting to remove all their music from Spotify as the recent actions of the company over the previous few years are coming to a head with Ek’s recent behaviour and attitude so I often get thrown down the Spotify rabbit hole with vids and outbursts being shared.

That’s probably why I’ve often railed against Spotify on here (and often been told to shut up )

Here’s another couple of vids exposing Spotify

 

[Multicore]

I have a number of mates (or more accurately acquaintances/folk I know due to friends) in the industry who are actively attempting to remove all their music from Spotify as the recent actions of the company over the previous few years are coming to a head with Ek’s recent behaviour and attitude so I often get thrown down the Spotify rabbit hole with vids and outbursts being shared.

That’s probably why I’ve often railed against Spotify on here (and often been told to shut up )

Here’s another couple of vids exposing Spotify

Thanks. I was a conscientious objector to Spotify until early this year when I finally yielded. Unfortunately I find it spectacularly convent so I'm bummed that I now need to quit again. In terms of convenience it's superb. The first of the two videos you shared includes a deeply groan-making reminder of just what a pita managing a collection really is. (I also don't understand how switching to YouTube Music is quitting streaming.) Oh Providence, Mother Manny and Jeromy, I really don't want to have to go through another digital reorg. But I have to. :<

 

[mermayer]

I left Spotify and switched to Apple Music. Not because of the price, but I hate the AI-generated music on Spotify.

 

[Subob]

I've never 'boycotted' Spotify per se. For me it was just that once I first discovered streaming, like I do with most things, I looked for lesser known alternatives to the most popular as in my experience such services are usually better all round. Most people are fed what they're given, consequently, they never take the time to look at the back of the food cupboard where most of the gems are hidden.

Once I started using streaming it was a revelation. It was like having a record shop in your own front room! Most nights I listen to late night BBC Radio 3, and the amount of artists and albums I've discovered off of there is phenomenal. I can just click the Deezer version of Shazam whilst a track I like is playing, then if it's on Deezer (it isn't always, but mostly is) I can then listen to the album and decide if want to buy it or not. I don't have unlimited funds, so blind buying albums isn't really an option.

This info about the arms link of the Spotify founder is bad enough, but in the murky world of venture Capitalists and multinational companies, I've honestly no idea if Deezer is any cleaner. What I do know is that I like how Deezer works as a service, and the fact that it's always been in lossless.

 

[Multicore]

I left Spotify and switched to Apple Music. Not because of the price, but I hate the AI-generated music on Spotify.

Why did you listen to it?

 

[PristineSound]

I left Spotify and switched to Apple Music. Not because of the price, but I hate the AI-generated music on Spotify.

Cam you elaborate more what you mean by AI generated music? Do you mean AI generated playlist or the actual music?

 

[mermayer]

Cam you elaborate more what you mean by AI generated music? Do you mean AI generated playlist or the actual music?

Watch the videos: #106
It's about the music.

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

Cam you elaborate more what you mean by AI generated music? Do you mean AI generated playlist or the actual music?

For years, I was using the "weekly discovery" tailored playlist to discover new artists. It became my Monday morning routine. While not perfect, it allowed me to discover many artists I now enjoy a lot.
For the past few months, AI generated music and fake artists started to pop up on this playlist.
Currently, at least 10 tracks in this weekly playlist are AI generated.
Such a pain !
At first, it was very easy (picture/name/music) to spot them.
But it starts to get more sophisticated (fake bio, many followers, more real pictures).
To the point that I sometimes need to google to be sure that new discoveries are not AI fake artists/bands.
I can't stand that anymore.
To the point that as soon qobuz connect will be supported by bluesound devices, I will leave Spotify, despite being a happy user up to now.
The recent prices increase (22€/month for family plan) makes Spotify not interesting any more.

 

[Sal1950]

Blah blah blah, Spotify is such a mean, hostile environment I can't deal with it.
OK fine, I can't oppose your position, I've no use for Spotify due to their years of lying to the market with promises of lossless,
etc etc. But how mean and hostile is the situation where you post your music and then get paid, no matter how little.
What a world of wimps we live in.

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

Blah blah blah, Spotify is such a mean, hostile environment I can't deal with it.

Unnecessary sarcasm ...
I was only talking about the wave of AI tracks and fake AI artists on that streaming service. And if I had to use a qualifier for that I would use "inconvenience". Nothing else.

What a world of wimps we live in.

You must have had a very bad day to come up with such an aggressive and sarcastic response.

You don't like this streaming service that indeed is not the one remunerating artists the best. Fine.

But not a reason for taking the piss of my simple post about AI stuff.

Anyway hoping you'll have a better end of the day

 

[PristineSound]

No one ever talks about demand. If an artist is in demand, their pay reflects that. Taylor Swift.

If an artist isn't in demand, their pay reflects that, your local, no body bands that makes great music.

Yes, there is an element of marketing and being at the right place at the right time.

Yes, we do want to pay these artists a living wage, so they can keep doing what they are doing for their fans.

But all of these issues is somehow all the doing of record companies and streaming services and bad old capitalism and free market.

Anyway, I along with the 276 million Spotify subscribers are doing just fine.

 

[Somafunk]

Blah blah blah, Spotify is such a mean, hostile environment I can't deal with it.
OK fine, I can't oppose your position, I've no use for Spotify due to their years of lying to the market with promises of lossless,
etc etc. But how mean and hostile is the situation where you post your music and then get paid, no matter how little.
What a world of wimps we live in.

You ok hun?

 

[xanalog]

I was a conscientious objector to Spotify until early this year when I finally yielded. Unfortunately I find it spectacularly convent so I'm bummed that I now need to quit again. In terms of convenience it's superb.

Great topic!
I think the devaluation that JamieS is talking about is the fact that there is more value to the music that you have to forage for... rather than having it delivered to you with doorDash!

Not that the same (re: Convenience) cannot be said of exploring for your music needs via FM or youtube or any other avenue (SXM, cable, used CDs, OP, etc.).
imo: Music delivery by algorithmic-curation leaves something on the table in exchange for the paid convenience of streaming.

 

[PristineSound]

Bam!

Spotify HD, here I come. TAKE MY MONEY!!!

Spotify Finally Launches HD Lossless Audio for Premium Subscribers

Spotify is finally rolling out HD lossless audio to Premium subscribers in select markets, catching up to rivals like Apple Music and Amazon Music.

variety.com

 

[chelgrian]

Bam!

Spotify HD, here I come. TAKE MY MONEY!!!

Spotify Finally Launches HD Lossless Audio for Premium Subscribers

Spotify is finally rolling out HD lossless audio to Premium subscribers in select markets, catching up to rivals like Apple Music and Amazon Music.

variety.com

Except while they have announced the roll out and advertised it in the app it’s still not actually available to most people, the weasel words seem to be it could be the end of October before all premium subscribers in all eligible markets are enabled.

Also it seems that only a few recent Spotify connect devices support it…

 

[DVinylfan]

Not. Put simply, there are better alternatives that don't involve complicity in genocide when enjoying your music.

Spotify boycott: Artists leave 'garbage hole' platform after CEO invests in AI weapons

Daniel Ek's investments in AI dronemaker Helsing have unnerved artists. One called Spotify a "violent armageddon portal."

www.latimes.com

 

[PristineSound]

You should also boycott Microsoft, and all the weapons manufacturers and while you're at it, boycott the retirement funds who holds stock in these companies.

You should also boycott the companies who sells office furnitures to these offending companies.

By the time you're done, you'll be living in the stone ages.

 

[Axo1989]

You should also boycott Microsoft, and all the weapons manufacturers and while you're at it, boycott the retirement funds who holds stock in these companies.

You should also boycott the companies who sells office furnitures to these offending companies.

By the time you're done, you'll be living in the stone ages.

The tired old 'stone age' furphy.

There's no need to insist on the perfect—it being the enemy of the good, as apt aphorism goes. But I yes personally did give most of our Microsoft licenses the flick, and downgraded the few I can't get rid of yet to avoid their 'AI' upgrades following the MS 'AI' and Azure deployment targeting Palestinians reveal a while back. It isn't that hard to avoid things as they come up, if you give any semblance of a f*ck.

While you are there, can you run my office chair due diligence for me and check out whether Flokk are equipping IDF or AFRF offices perhaps? And why would choosing an ethical superannuation fund be beyond the pale? And so on ...