Is AI ruining music?

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Here’s to this week Galaxy Brainhost Charlie Warzel delves into the state of the music industry, where streaming economics, algorithmic discovery and generative AI are changing the way music is distributed and what it means to make music in this environment. The episode traces how playlists and opaque recommendation systems have left many artists feeling like they’re fighting an algorithm. AI-generated songs are now flooding platforms and in one case even landing on one billboard The episode explores how automation, impersonation, and synthetic “diet music” are intruding on a system already burdened by low payoffs and creative burnout.

Charlie is joined by Stu Mackenzie, frontman of prolific Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, to talk about making music in the algorithmic age. Mackenzie explains how the band tried to combat piracy and get their catalog off Spotify.