The music industry is engineering artist popularity

The music industry is facing criticism for manipulating artist popularity through various tactics, particularly on streaming platforms like Spotify. Fans have expressed frustration over repetitive song recommendations, leading to conspiracy theories about artists being "industry plants." This perception is fueled by practices reminiscent of payola, where record labels pay for increased exposure. The introduction of Spotify's "discovery mode" allows artists to sacrifice a portion of their royalties for enhanced visibility in algorithm-driven playlists, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. While Spotify claims that artists see significant increases in engagement metrics, the actual financial benefits remain unclear. This situation has created a disconnect between perceived and actual popularity, as evidenced by the disparity between media attention and chart performance for certain artists. Industry insiders are hesitant to speak out against Spotify due to fears of retaliation, leaving many users uncertain about the authenticity of their music recommendations. The promise of direct artist-to-fan connections through the internet has instead led to a more complex and opaque system, where listeners are left questioning the nature of their music consumption. Overall, the lack of clarity surrounding these practices has left fans feeling manipulated and disillusioned with the music they love.