In this thought-provoking segment, the crew tackles two seismic shifts shaping today’s music industry. First, they respond to Lizzo’s viral TikTok where she exposes a hard truth: the algorithm, not artistry, now dictates who breaks through. They unpack how platforms like TikTok, Spotify, and YouTube reward engagement over quality, leaving even established artists fighting to be seen. For independents, it raises the question—how do you play the algorithm’s game without compromising your creativity?The conversation then pivots to Spotify’s controversial new Terms of Service, which may allow the platform to use artists’ uploads to train AI models. This sparks a deeper debate about ownership, consent, and whether indie creators are unknowingly providing free labor to tools designed to replace them. Together, these discussions highlight a new reality: independent artists are not just competing with each other, but with invisible systems—algorithms and AI—that shape their reach, revenue, and relevance.
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