Author: Liz Pelly
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Hardback
Burley Fisher Books of the Year 2025
Enya says… If you haven’t had enough reason to delete Spotify this year then music journalist Liz Pelly’s book will finally do the job. It’s an extremely well researched and depressing read on the shady dealings between streaming apps and major labels, the proliferation of AI music (and investment of AI music by such platforms), union busting, and investment in war. More than a call to delete Spotify, Pelly’s book calls into question our relationship with music consumption as a whole. It demonstrates that Spotify does not care about music exploration, creativity and genuine discovery but is a model solely based on profit with the aim for passive music to be played out in the background 24/7. See this book as a call to arms to engage with music like you do books, not just clicking passively onto things which match your ‘mood’ but by actively searching for sounds that alter your mood, and challenge your tastes! There’s so much out there!