episodes 1-5 of @criticallistening.bsky.social, the podcast i co-host with @peretsky.bsky.social, are avail everywhere but spotify. we’re starting work on eps 6-10 this week. if you would like to support this work pls subscribe here! www.patreon.com/criticallist... tysm

The book exists. First copy hand delivered by my editor at Yale, who was on his way to see Pulp in Boston! Thank you super blurb crew Jarvis Julia Heba Jeff Stephin @lizpelly.bsky.social & @simonreynolds.bsky.social PREORDER LINK: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

Our own @adlan.bsky.social will be moderating a panel on DIY music and print media in the digital age between GUNK, Secret Riso Club, and @lizpelly.bsky.social. Tomorrow evening! Come on through!

i love this beautiful song. talking is freee lilykngsbrg.bandcamp.com/track/talk-t...

off to NZ & AUS soon for book events. here's all of them! if you know anyone there let them know? aug 26- auckland @ whammy bar aug 28- melbourne @ wheeler centre aug 29- sydney @ soft centre festival aug 31- brisbane @ ima sept 1- perth @ 459 bar rosemount hotel sept 2- perth @ blue room theatre

Unlike other tech giants, many music-streaming services like Spotify are not currently taking steps to label AI-generated content. But experts say more transparency is key.

been saying this a lot in interviews lately, but i really think convincing ppl to offload putting any thought into what they want to listen to via chatbot-style prompts is as corrosive to culture as the existence of the velvet sundown or whatever (from spotify blog post)

very excited to be participating in a bunch of book festivals this fall including the Chippewa Valley Book Festival in Eau Claire oct 25! volumeone.org/articles/202...

not very good at keeping this updated this year but trying www.buymusic.club/list/liz_pel...

Perth folks, chatting with @lizpelly.bsky.social on 2 September :) events.humanitix.com/mood-machine...

YES !!! new ava luna avaluna.bandcamp.com/track/frame-...

We're raising funds for The Sameer Project, a donations based aid initiative run by Palestinians in the diaspora currently focused on the distribution of food, water, and tents in South Gaza as the Israeli blockade continues. Visit topshelfrecords.com/gaza to double your donation and learn more.

“Why Sound Matters convincingly argues that issues of music and creative labor today are rooted in a general misunderstanding of the value of sound—a vital contribution to the conversation on where music and audio culture goes from here.” — @lizpelly.bsky.social yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

congrats friends at @thebaffler.com. everyone working anywhere should have a union.

Really grateful for this project rn “the first installment of what we’re calling “Headlines,” diving into a few stories from across the music and tech biz press this month.” 🔥 @criticallistening.bsky.social Episode 3: July 2025 Headlines | Patreon

Bluesky posters of Brisbane, Australia: i'll be in town on August 31, 2pm at the IMA in conversation with Nicholas Carah! www.ima.org.au/ima-events/i...

We’re back with the first installment of what we’re calling Headlines, diving into a few stories from across the music and tech biz press this month. For July, there were some headlines that just seemed impossible to ignore. Listen to the episode in full at patreon.com/criticallistening

when i press play on a new record and my gut reaction is "this is so bad" and three minutes later i'm thinking "this is amazing" that's the true sign

Why are so many artists struggling in a booming music industry? New for @moreperfectunion.bsky.social youtu.be/I8zBkQFDpsg?...

Episode 3 of your favorite podcast ever by @lizpelly.bsky.social and myself is now live for Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/criticallistening and will be available on public platforms (minus the Swedish one) at the end of the month.

Excellent new video from @moreperfectunion.bsky.social and @lizpelly.bsky.social youtu.be/I8zBkQFDpsg

Why are so many artists struggling in a booming music industry? New for @moreperfectunion.bsky.social youtu.be/I8zBkQFDpsg?...

😎

attn bluesky posters of auckland, new zealand

july 29 the NYC local of AFM is hosting this virtual conversation on musicians & generative AI, and inviting all independent musicians; union membership not required local802afm.org/july29 www.instagram.com/p/DMN--N0OoG...

At Creative Time for a talk btw Kamala Sankaram and @lizpelly.bsky.social re: Liz’s ✨ book, Mood Machine, on Spotify + algorithmic listening. As we consider algorithmic vibey micro-genres, I’m thinking abt Other Music, which once existed *a block* from here + thrived on esoteric niche genres :)

writing emails teaching other music journalists how to spot gen-ai music just 2025 things

beware i have told my twin sister that the next time she gets a request for an interview about her spotify book she should just say yes and do the interview

i have two mood machine-related events in nyc next week that i am really looking forward to! tues july 15 @ prime produce co-op w/ @artcoop.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/art-worlds... weds july 16 @ creative time for w/ @kamalasankaram.bsky.social hq.creativetime.org/calendar/opp...

Please join me a week from today in NYC at Prime Produce Cooperative for a book reading of “Mood Machine” by @lizpelly.bsky.social and community discussion of how we built the (art) worlds we want in the shell of this dystopic moment for culture workers! RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/art-worlds...

New Dig: @socialists.nyc co-chairs Gustavo Gordillo & Grace Mausser on how DSA & @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social campaign won this historic victory. A behind scenes look at how DSA built most powerful socialist org in USA—and how we replicate the victory everywhere. www.thedigradio.com/podcast/how-...

I loved making this latest episode of the Organized Money podcast with Liz Pelly, author of Mood Machine: The Rise Of Spotify And The Cost Of The Perfect Playlist, about how Spotify changed how we listen to music and even what music gets made: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

found in the archives ... was really on one in 2019

thinking of every person i canvassed and said "eric adams won by 7000 votes and this race will be even CLOSER!" sorry we were wrong lol🫶

in my last hours canvassing yesterday i met a woman in a rent stabilized apartment whose daughters are bus drivers. she was learning about zohran for the first time. then i talked to the building's landlord, who wanted to walk me thru the numbers on how a rent freeze would impact his profit margins

a new poll out today shows zohran ahead in the final round of ranked choice voting. he's ahead with NYers who voted early. but cuomo still has a strong lead among voters planning to turn out tomorrow, on election day. PLEASE make sure to vote tomorrow if you haven't yet www.vote.nyc/page/find-yo...

finally editing this clip i have of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social speaking to our living room fundraiser show in december, ends with him proclaiming "c list rappers of the world unite, we have nothing to lose but our streams!" nyc we must make him mayor

Great Read | No way did I know that I wanted 12k(!) words about Katie Crutchfield and Waxahatchee, but there’s personal layers to this @jennpelly.bsky.social on-the-bus profile that I’ve not read in a magazine music story in a decade, probably longer. They just don’t write them like this any more.

ICYMI i started a podcast with @peretsky.bsky.social called @criticallistening.bsky.social and episode 2 is with @umaw.bsky.social ! our conversation spans the group's history, major campaigns and wins so far, the state of the living wage for musicians act and more www.patreon.com/c/CriticalLi...

Episode 2 of the Critical Listening podcast is now on all public platforms besides you know who. Support the show as we grow it out at patreon.com/criticallistening

heading to australia for the first time at the end of august for a few book events! two of them were announced today. couple more tk. aug 28 at the wheeler centre in melbourne: www.wheelercentre.com/events-ticke... aug 29 at soft centre festival in sydney: www.softcentre.com.au/program

An exciting housekeeping note from yours truly!

I am so proud to receive the #1 endorsment of @thenation.com. “Mamdani’s disciplined focus on cost-of-living issues demonstrates a commitment to making New York a city that all its residents can thrive in, afford, and even enjoy.”

In this feature, @jennpelly.bsky.social spends six days on tour with Waxahatchee from Alabama until Texas, where Katie Crutchfield recorded 2024’s "Tigers Blood." Read it here: shorturl.at/uiMh1

Thread!

icymi a clip from episode 1 of @criticallistening.bsky.social w/ @deerhoof.bsky.social patreon.com/criticallistening

On Dada Drummer Almanach, a conversation with Liz Pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social dadadrummer.substack.com/p/music-is-t...

An urgent message from The Wire magazine Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...