Lizzo Says Algorithms Have Left Music Industry "In Shambles," Killed the "Song of the Summer"

"In the 3.5-minute clip, the multiple Grammy Award winner begins by saying the industry is in "complete shambles right now." Lizzo then goes on to explain that after years of working under an "algorithmic model," the industry has lost control to a certain extent. As such, "no one can serve the masses anymore," and that inevitably means something like the much-coveted Song of the Summer (where disparate groups can rally around one artist in a showcase of true cultural significance) is no longer possible."

"For her part, Lizzo says that the breakdown of the algorithm and loss of creative authorship/control has altered the way in which artists manage their careers. Whereas musicians were previously "servicing songs out to certain channels and radio stations," an increasingly congested "internet space" meant there's no "clear channel out for people to put their music out and serve the masses.""

Lizzo released a mixtape titled My Face Hurts from Smiling and criticized the music industry on TikTok, calling it "complete shambles." She said years of an "algorithmic model" have diminished industry control, preventing artists from serving mass audiences and undermining prospects for a unified Song of the Summer. A Wired piece titled "The Song of the Summer Is Dead" attributes fragmentation to streaming platforms replacing radio and TikTok replacing music videos, noting eclectic listener preferences, an "authenticity crisis" from AI-generated content, and political forces contributing to new monocultural dynamics. Lizzo said the breakdown altered how artists manage careers and distribute music.

Read at Consequence