iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Peretsky @peretsky.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Off to the shtetl today for Unsound to teach a field recording and sample packing class and for a live @criticallistening.bsky.social taping. If you in Warsaw and wanna hang come find me.

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

suno says its new "v6-wild" model makes user generations more "weird" & "wild". what could that mean? unpacking it in our new headlines ep. they also claim v6 is the first licensed model made after the Warner deal... but that it happens to also be trained on user "creations" made w the old model

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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Real talk about the real music industry

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

New Headlines episode is out for subscribers at patreon.com/criticallistening, part of our subscriber-bonus series where Max and Liz each bring a story from across the music-tech and biz press to summarize, contextualize and discuss.

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Peretsky @peretsky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I’ll be in Warsaw this weekend through mid next week for Unsound, will be teaching a field recording class and doing a live taping of @criticallistening.bsky.social as part of the festival’s discourse programming. If you in the old country hit me up let’s chill. www.unsound.pl/en/2026/wars...

unsound.pl

Max Alper | Unsound

Max Alper is a composer, educator, and music technologist based in New York. He holds an MFA in the Sonic Arts from the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, where he studied under Morton Subotni...

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

ok follow up correction to my prev post. music blogs still exist!! sweeping promises recommended some great ones after this convo and they are listed in the show notes 😎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

podcasts.apple.com

Episode 24: Sweeping Promises

Podcast Episode · Critical Listening · September 18 · 57m

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

For Listening Habits, our series where we talk to musicians about how they actually listen to music on an everyday basis, we’re joined by Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug of the Lawrence, Kansas group Sweeping Promises. Available wherever you get your podcasts besides you know where.

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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

pierces the bubble of the music industry every time but never indulges in the simple put down subscribe and listen!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Our August 2026 Headlines episode is now available for subscribers, head over to patreon.com/criticallistening to sign up for all Headlines eps, as well as bonus clips and access to our discord server.

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Patreon subscribers can now also hear a bonus segment where Taja and Max discuss the makeshift basement venue they used to run together in Brooklyn, and how participating in DIY scenes has shaped Taja’s approach to music and curation. Find that at patreon.com/criticallistening. Thanks for listening!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

** episode 22 with L'Rain is out now ** we talk with Taja Cheek about her new album, what it means to challenge listeners, her personal listening habits (the second installment of our new series), how she discovers music, her relationship w music tech, and more www.patreon.com/CriticalList...

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Episode 22: L'Rain | Critical Listening

For Episode 22, we spoke with songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and curator Taja Cheek, on the brink of her group L’Rain’s fourth

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

July 2026 Headlines episode is out now for subscribers at Patreon.com/criticallistening. We dive into the Kalshi power-users who recently learned that streaming is, in fact, not a meritocracy. We also are unpacking the news that SoundCloud has just acquired Nina Protocol. Sign up today!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

episode 20 with Panda Bear & Sonic Boom: on why their new album is not streaming, how they got their label on board with that, the differences between gen-ai software and sampling, and more. thanks noah and Peter! out everywhere except spotify www.patreon.com/CriticalList...

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

June 2026 Headlines ep is online now for subscribers at patreon.com/criticallistening We look into a new tool created by the French streaming platform Deezer that shows users how many gen-AI tracks are already on their own playlists. Then we look to the role lawsuits are playing in that equation.

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Our May 2026 headlines episode is up for subscribers at Patreon.com/criticallistening We discuss the acquisition of Native Instruments by InMusic, as well as the new details regarding the proprietary genAI tools made in partnership with Spotify and UMG. Thanks for subscribing and enjoy the episode!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

For Episode 17, Peter McLaughlin and Scott Mohler the Maine Music Alliance explain how a coalition of local musicians in Portland, Maine successfully stopped Live Nation from opening a 3300-cap venue in their town. Available now on all platforms besides you know where.

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

it's here: Critical Listening ep 15 w/ @wendyeisenberg.bsky.social! we have a looong chat with Wendy about their new album, teaching practice & more, plus debut a new series called "Listening Habits" where we talk to musickers about how they actually listen to music www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

patreon.com

Episode 15: Wendy Eisenberg | Critical Listening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Catch the Critical Listening crew in convo with @joeyquits.bsky.social this Saturday at Georgetown

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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

You’ll learn more about the state of Spotify payments from this than from any of their own press releases or the music business publications that repeat them

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

and for episode 14 we're back with more headlines! digging into UMG CEO Lucian Grainge's recent appearance at NVIDIA's "Super Bowl of AI" conference plus the 2026 "Loud and Clear" report, Spotify's annual crisis PR campaign disguised as royalty "transparency" effort>> www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

patreon.com

Episode 14: March 2026 Headlines | Critical Listening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

a bit behind on the bluesky postings! icymi for episode 13 we spoke with Dutch reporter Henk Willem Smits of the investigative outlet Follow the Money. Henk covers tax avoidance by multinationals and wealthy musicians, & the intersections of private equity & music. www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

patreon.com

Episode 13: Following the Money with Henk Willem Smits | Critical Listening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Feb. headlines episode out now! We read the transcript of Spotify's 2025 q4 earnings call so you don't have to, and dove into what it revealed about the company's current AI aspirations. And we spoke w/ @jillmapes.bsky.social about her essay on the Wasserman exodus podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

podcasts.apple.com

Episode 12: February 2026 Headlines

Podcast Episode · Critical Listening · March 6 · 54m

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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Great info in this episode of @criticallistening.bsky.social about Spotify’s plans for use of generative AI

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

feb headlines ep of @criticallistening.bsky.social is live! we discuss spotify's recent update to shareholders (aka I read the spotify q4 earnings call transcript so you don't have to) & also chat with @jillmapes.bsky.social about her essay on the wasserman exodus-- www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

patreon.com

Episode 12: February 2026 Headlines | Critical Listening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Subscribe and support the show at patreon.com/criticallistening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Episode 11: Live from Groningen is now available wherever you get your podcasts besides you know where. Did we automate or die trying? Tune in to find out! Remember to support the show for bonus episodes and access to our discord by subscribing at patreon.com/criticallistening

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

I have questions. Firstly, what cut is Spotify keeping when someone buys a book through bookshop.org via its platform? The announcement says this "will directly support bookshops & the authors" but noticeably not that they will pass on 100% from purchases newsroom.spotify.com/2026-02-05/b...

newsroom.spotify.com

Spotify Partners With Bookshop.org and Debuts Page Match Feature to Bridge Physical, E-book, and Audio Formats — Spotify

Since bringing audiobooks to Spotify in 2022, we’ve helped listeners discover thousands of new favorite titles and authors while driving growth in the publishing industry. Today, we’re turning the pag...

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

WE’RE BACK. Today we start the year with a dispatch from what some may call the front lines: a bunch of AI-related panels at a European music biz trade conference. It’s also our first episode recorded in person! Listen at patreon.com/criticallistening

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

is "meaningful control of the algorithm" in the room with us right now

screenshot of a block of text from a Spotify blog post about its "prompted playlist" feature:

We believe that technology is only as good as the humans behind it. That’s why we created Prompted Playlist, which lets you describe exactly what you want to listen to using your own words, then generates a playlist informed by your listening history and what’s happening in music right now. It’s a new way to put meaningful control of the algorithm directly in your hands, with your ideas, your logic, and your creativity. Think of it more as collaboration, not automation: You set the rules, and Spotify works from there.

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I think it would be really helpful if everyone posting their very cool takes on the state of music journalism this week would also encourage people to subscribe to worker-owned outlets & support independent writers trying to make new things happen

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Do you want the Critical Listening team to do a live taping at your school, venue, record shop, conference, or general hang? Shoot us an email at criticallisteningpod@gmail.com and let’s chat!

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

heading to the Netherlands tomorrow where @peretsky.bsky.social and I will be hosting @criticallistening.bsky.social live at a music industry event but more importantly we will be learning about how AI-powered workflows can unlock new value chains and empower artist-preneurs to attract investments

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

The season 1 finale of Critical Listening is now live for patrons and with us to send off the year we have none other than the internet’s busiest music nerd himself: Anthony Fantano. Subscribe and hear in full at patreon.com/criticallistening, see you in 2026!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Episode 9 is now available on all platforms besides the Swedish app, with a bonus episode from the live taping now available for patrons only, sign up at patreon.com/criticallistening to hear all bonus eps and catch up on Season 1 of Critical Listening before the finale at the end of the month!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Episode 9 LIVE at Purchase College is available now for all patrons and will be available on all major platforms besides the Swedish app next week alongside some Patreon-exclusive bonus content! www.patreon.com/posts/145104...

patreon.com

Episode 9: November 2025 Headlines LIVE at Purchase College | Critical Listening

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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

episode 8 of @criticallistening.bsky.social w/ Amirtha Kidambi of Elder Ones & Neti-Neti — on music in an era of mass dehumanization, using the show space as an organizing space, and a lot more. available now for subscribers & will be out everywhere else next week www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

patreon.com

Episode 8: Amirtha Kidambi | Critical Listening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

For Episode 8 we have composer, educator, curator, and activist Amirtha Kidambi stopping by. We discuss the inseparability of politics from pedagogy as teaching artists, the importance of solidarity amongst working artists of all backgrounds and styles, and the need for us to Do-It-Together.

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Peretsky @peretsky.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Support the pod so @lizpelly.bsky.social and I can make more!

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Episode 7: October 2025 Headlines is now available wherever you get your podcasts besides the Swedish app! If you want to get more critical media at the intersection of music, tech, and culture industry hell, consider supporting the show by signing up for the Patreon at patreon.com/criticallistening

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

EPISODE 7 a new headlines episode of critical listening is live. this time we are unpacking the major label deals w/ gen-ai companies and what they mean for music writ large. also, ek stepping down from his role as ceo at Spotify. hear it now by becoming a subscriber: www.patreon.com/c/CriticalLi...

patreon.com

a podcast about music, technology & culture industry hell

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

<fundraising telethon voice> new critical listening headlines ep posting imminently for patrons... and we’re only 11 paid subscribers away from 100, can you help us get there? patreon.com/criticallist... your support helps us make more episodes! thanks!

patreon.com

a podcast about music, technology & culture industry hell

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Peretsky @peretsky.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Critical media in music tech requires your support in order to keep the lights on, many thanks to all that have signed up for the Patreon so far! Join us at Patreon.com/criticallistening where you’ll get a bonus episode from this interview and much more.

patreon.com

a podcast about music, technology & culture industry hell

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Episode 6: WHY SOUND MATTERS w/ Damon Krukowski @dadadrummer.bsky.social is now available on all platforms besides the Swedish one. We are done calling GenAI music slop, from here on out we’re calling it BIOHAZARDOUS SONIC WASTE PRODUCT. ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊

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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

My book Why Sound Matters is out this week! @lizpelly.bsky.social & @peretsky.bsky.social invited me to talk about it on their excellent podcast @criticallistening.bsky.social, available now wherever you get your podcasts, with one exception (you guessed it!) dadadrummer.substack.com/p/critical-l...

dadadrummer.substack.com

Critical Listening

A conversation with Liz Pelly and Max Alper about Why Sound Matters

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Critical Listening @criticallistening.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Now available wherever you get your pods minus the Swedish app. Sign up for bonus content on the Patreon at Patreon.com/criticallistening

patreon.com

a podcast about music, technology & culture industry hell

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