Life and Art from FT Weekend cover image

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Our critics’ best advice for how to discover new music

Nov 8, 2024
Ludo Hunter-Tilney, FT's pop critic known for his insightful music reviews, and Arwa Haider, a talented music and culture writer, share their expert advice on discovering new music. They discuss the struggle against algorithm-driven uniformity and emphasize personal curation and human connections. The duo showcases emerging artists, sparks conversations between generations, and highlights sustainable initiatives in the music industry. Expect fresh recommendations and tips to enhance your listening journey!
22:47

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • To break free from algorithmic recommendations, listeners should adopt conscious listening practices to explore diverse musical experiences.
  • Human curation of playlists and personal music sharing fosters deeper connections and enriches the overall music listening experience.

Deep dives

The Paradox of Plenty in Music Discovery

The overwhelming abundance of music available today creates a paradox where listeners feel their tastes have narrowed rather than expanded. While there is access to an immense variety of genres and artists from around the world, algorithms often channel listeners into a limited selection of familiar songs, hindering exploration. Critics express that this tendency to consume based on algorithmic recommendations results in a laziness among listeners, leading them to miss out on diverse musical experiences. Consequently, there's a growing need for conscious listening practices to break out of these artificial boundaries and embrace a wider range of musical options.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode