Industry Insights: Escape the Soundscape
As hand-picked playlists continue to frame the way we consume music, it’s time to step back and wonder: what’s the danger of losing perspective?
Written by Deborah Hill
Image courtesy of Spotify
The investment in ultra-personalized algorithms by multimedia industrial giants such as Netflix, Youtube, and Spotify can admittedly be alluring to content consumers. In the midst of day-to-day work, school, and general existence, decision fatigue is all too real, making the relief of choice when it comes to movies or music instantaneously gratifying. However, in a time when calculated filter bubbles continue to feed us exactly what we want, how does the deviance from diversified musical experiences change us?
In January 2020, an article published by Spotify R&D’s engineering team discussed the research behind the dominating music-streaming service, helping break down the science behind what music does and doesn't make it to your home page. They say to think of it like a unique bookcase: Each shelf displays artists, songs, and albums based on what you’ve enjoyed in the past and — subsequently — what you could enjoy in the future. A number of factors go into curating the ideal personalized selection, taking “listening history, musical choices, duration of play, and willingness to act on recommendations” into consideration.
The niche, more customized playlists Spotify launched in 2019 work the same way. Individualized playlists can vary from a Driving Mix, Wednesday Mix, and Anti Anxiety Mix to an Evil Mix (whatever that means). These are the products of years-long data collection on personal musical preferences, and every listener’s is sure to look different. Thus, we settle ourselves into the comfort of our perceived tastes, becoming another one of the 456 million different versions of the platform.
Other streaming services — like Apple Music — adopt the same driving power. According to the iPhone user guide, the preferences you select upon first interaction with the “Listen Now” tab also influence your personalized recommendations. However, you aren’t necessarily tied to these choices. Turning off the listening history in the app settings effectively blocks Apple’s ability to track the artists, songs, and playlists you’re rotating through most. It’s a step in the right direction, but as your favorited artists and liked genres remain the reference point, it’s not full proof.
Though these customized landscapes can be intriguing — and even helpful — there’s a risk of getting caught in the noise of our seemingly handpicked soundscapes. The lack of exposure to different voices, perspectives, and musical genres buries a chance for connection in an increasingly polarized world. Tunnel-vision versions of our preferences strip away the potential for discovery and wane us off from curiosity — leaving us in an unending loop of convenience.
Art, especially music, is subjective for a reason. Thought-provoking in nature, it beckons to be interpreted by countless individuals and their viewpoints. Creativity is put in jeopardy without the prospect of revelation, so we must choose to resist its erasure.
Thankfully, artist and genre exposure is not impossible. Revitalized from the brink of total extinction, vinyl record collecting shows us that investing in music can enhance our listening experience. Record stores house archived albums alongside the newborn projects of our time. They stand as a space for intrigue, influencing us to browse in the aisles labeled “Old Funk” even when we’ve been obsessed with “Modern Pop.”
Moreover, radio stations and apps still exist to shuffle through the buried hits of past decades and the newest releases on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Opening up a point of entry into the past allows us the opportunity to hear one-offs long forgotten but are still worth appreciating. In this way, we can connect transgenerationally, understanding the soundtracks of our parents and even grandparents.
Whatever breaks you from the cycle of your curated taste, you’re sure to find something that urges wonder. Whether it’s an entire album or a single song, dare yourself to find a different dimension of music. Digest it, discuss it, and delve into it again and again.