Music: An Algorithmic Burial of Human Artists?

Music: An Algorithmic Burial of Human Artists?

Author: Gareth King November 15, 2025 Duration: 46:12
Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
TechnologyScienceSociety & Culture

The internet promised to empower artists and give listeners infinite choice. But has it instead turned music into a disposable commodity - replacing human curation with algorithms, and making it virtually impossible for most artists to earn a sustainable living?

We're joined by Charlie Hooper-Williams - critically acclaimed composer, pianist, creative coder, and one of the developers behind music identification app Shazam - whose new album The Book of Fixed Stars is out now on The Way Beyond Music. He's seen the music industry's digital transformation from both sides, and understands better than most what's been lost and what's still possible.

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly.

Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/

Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/

Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow

In this episode we investigate how streaming platforms devalued music while promising to democratise it, examine the TikTokification of music and what it's doing to artistic ambition, explore the role of algorithms in deciding what gets heard and what disappears, and ask whether AI is the final chapter in the story of music's commodification - or the beginning of something genuinely new.

00:00 - Introduction to Charlie's musical journey and digital transformation

01:31 - How digital technology changed everything about the music industry

02:33 - The TikTokification of music: what it means for artists and listeners

04:17 - The devaluation of music as an art form in a streaming world

05:32 - Streaming platforms: exposure versus earnings, and who really wins

08:06 - Spotify's role in reshaping the music industry

08:51 - The challenges of discoverability when algorithms control what gets heard

12:17 - How the artist-fan relationship has evolved, and what's been lost

17:52 - Technology's role in music creation and distribution today

20:04 - Navigating the modern music landscape as an independent artist

22:56 - Live performance in the age of technology: what still can't be replicated

25:46 - The role of algorithms and AI in music: creative tool or existential threat?

34:50 - The future of music in a digital age

40:46 - Advice for aspiring musicians trying to survive the internet economy

Guest links - Charlie Hooper-Williams

Website: http://charliehooperwilliams.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliehooperwilliams

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieHooperWilliams


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

Official website RSS
youtubespotifydeezer
Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Podcast Episodes
Job Security: Optimised for Our Own Obsolescence? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:19
It promised to make us more productive, more employable, and more economically secure. But as AI begins replacing not just tasks but entire professional roles - including ones that took many years to reach - is technolog…
Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
The internet promised to bring the world's stores directly to us. But in chasing convenience over everything, has it killed the high street, gutted retailers, and replaced the experience of shopping with a transaction?We…
Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
The internet promised us connection that never sleeps. But has it also been sabotaging our rest - leaving us locked in a nightly battle with a digital world that refuses to turn off?Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - t…
Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
When it comes to empowering ourselves, we were told the internet would give us back control. But instead, has it simply delivered a more efficient way for us to become products, and successfully rebranded objectification…
Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic human need for shelter into a frantic, dehumanising battle with technology - where algorithms, platf…
Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:41
The internet promised to make self-improvement accessible to everyone. But has it instead turned it into a spectator sport - replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than actually bu…
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around - delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable alternative to the old ways. But did the revolution simply replace one system with an unstable, exploitative gig e…
Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:50
The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Cap…
Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we'd ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other?Welco…
Ayahuasca: From Ancient Ritual to Instagram Aesthetic? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever - bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, fuelling a rise in unqu…

123»