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?
Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.
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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.
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
Key takeaways:
• Rental Model Value Drain: Shifting from physical ownership to streaming devalues music, creating severe economic inequality by locking independent creators into fractions-of-a-cent payouts controlled by tech giants.
• Algorithmic Cultural Flattening: Streaming algorithms prioritise safe, generic background music to maximise user retention - systematically squeezing out complex, avant-garde, and challenging artistic expressions.
• Dismantling the Creative Middle Class: Centralised platforms heavily amplify the top 1% of globally recognised artists, destroying the local and mid-tier touring circuits that historically supported sustainable professional careers.
• Reclaiming Autonomy Through Physical Formats: Artists are bypassing corporate tech gatekeepers by returning to vinyl, self-managed platforms like Bandcamp, and intimate live performances to foster genuine consumer relationships.
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Guest links - Charlie Hooper-Williams
Website: http://charliehooperwilliams.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliehooperwilliams
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieHooperWilliams
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