Khruangbin, again? I quit Spotify for a month to escape samey algorithms this is what I learned

"A decade ago, Spotify favoured human-curated playlists made by artists, celebrities and music aficionados. But in 2021, the streaming company pivoted towards machine learning, feeding nearly half a trillion events into computer models every day."

"Advocates argue this is a chance to democratise music promotion, neatly matching artists with their audiences. Critics suggest this ultra-subjective experience limits musical discovery to the already familiar."

Spotify's algorithmically generated playlists cater to users' moods and preferences, but often recycle familiar songs, limiting music discovery. This change from human-curated playlists to machine-driven ones started in 2021. Critics argue this model restricts exposure to new artists and narrows music taste, while advocates believe it helps artists connect with their audiences. A personal experiment of quitting Spotify for a month revealed the importance of diverse music exploration, inspired by the experiences of previous generations who engaged with music more diversely.

Read at www.theguardian.com