Your Listening History Is Not the Same as Your Taste
Spotify now lets parents exclude children’s music from recommendations and Wrapped. The change reveals why listening history does not always represent personal taste.
When Streaming Gives a Song Its Story Back
Spotify’s new Genius partnership brings performances and lyric explanations closer to the music. It points towards a more contextual future for streaming discovery.
When a Playlist Becomes a Place
Spotify’s first standalone RNB X concert turns an editorial playlist into a live gathering. The shift could make music discovery more memorable—and playlist brands more powerful.
Music Education Should Meet Young Creators Where They Are
New UK research suggests many people would have engaged more deeply with school music if production and DJing had been treated as real forms of musicianship.
Why the CD Revival Matters for Independent Artists
New RIAA figures show CD revenue surging in 2026. For independent artists, the format may offer a practical bridge between streaming discovery and tangible fan support.
SoundCloud’s Zero-Commission Music Sales Could Give Independent Artists a New Revenue Stream
SoundCloud is testing zero-commission music downloads, giving independent artists a new direct-to-fan revenue option alongside streaming.
Should AI-Generated Music Be Allowed on the Charts?
Artificial intelligence has already changed how music can be created. Now the music industry is confronting a more difficult question: when should AI-generated music be allowed to compete alongside human artists? Australia has just provided one of the clearest answers so far. The Australian Recording Industry Association, better known as ARIA, has changed its chart …
Read more “Should AI-Generated Music Be Allowed on the Charts?”
Is the Song of the Summer Disappearing? How Streaming Fragmented Music Culture
There was a time when the “song of the summer” felt almost unavoidable. The same track followed you from the radio to the beach, into shops, bars, cars and television. Even if you did not particularly like it, by the end of August you probably knew the chorus. That idea has not disappeared. Spotify still …
Read more “Is the Song of the Summer Disappearing? How Streaming Fragmented Music Culture”
Spotify Running Mode: Why BPM-Based Running Music Could Change How We Train
For years, runners have built playlists around a simple idea: find music that feels right, press play and start moving. Spotify is now making the relationship between music and running considerably more deliberate. On July 30, 2026, Spotify introduced Running Mode, a personalized experience that transforms playlists into running sessions based on workout goals, musical …
Read more “Spotify Running Mode: Why BPM-Based Running Music Could Change How We Train”
Sleep Music in 2026: How Ambient Sound Is Becoming Part of the Night
Sleep music used to be easy to define. Slow piano. Gentle melodies. Perhaps the sound of rain in the background. Today, the boundaries are considerably harder to draw. Open the sleep section of a major streaming platform and you can move from minimalist ambient music to brown noise, distant thunderstorms, atmospheric drones, binaural beats, classical …
Read more “Sleep Music in 2026: How Ambient Sound Is Becoming Part of the Night”