Factually! with Adam Conover Spotify Is Even Worse Than You Think with Liz Pelly
24 snips
Jul 30, 2025 
Liz Pelly, a music writer and author of 'Mood Machine,' dives into the dark side of Spotify's impact on the music industry. She discusses how the platform's algorithm favors stock music and ghost artists, misleading listeners and compromising artistic integrity. Pelly unpacks the issues of poor pay for artists and the flattening of music discovery, raising concerns about listener identity. The conversation urges a cultural shift toward valuing diverse musical expression and supporting independent musicians in this digital age.
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Hidden Costs of Streaming Music
- Streaming services offer unbeatable value to listeners but come with hidden costs for artists and listeners alike.
- Artists face pressure to think like content creators, constantly chasing stats instead of focusing on art.
Spotify's Ghost Artists Program
- Spotify fills popular playlists with "ghost artists" who are actually stock music creations.
- This deceives listeners and undermines authentic musicianship on the platform.
Deceptive Editorial Playlists
- Spotify pays less for stock music in playlists but hides this from listeners, presenting it as editorial content.
- This deceptive practice misleads listeners about the nature and origins of the music they hear.
