As an active Spotify user since it launched, I was excited to peel back the current on the mood machine. This book is meticulously researched and tells a very deep story about Spotify as a tech company, not just a music company. I was blown away by some of the manipulation of users … even though I shouldn’t be because I work in marketing tech!

It was really interesting to learn about the playlist methodology and vision, as well as about the company’s approach to background music. “We’re competing against silence” is the truest competitive statement I’ve ever read.

Now excuse me while I pull up an “ambient music for sleep” playlist and go to bed.

Thank you for the early copy!

It is very interesting and well-researched. It is a bit dry at times, but for those who are big into music and the music industry, it will probably be a page-turner.

This book offers a detailed and well-researched history of Spotify, shedding light on its role in the music industry and its impact on how we consume music. While some parts may feel repetitive, the author effectively provides historical context and encourages readers to think critically about their use of the platform. It's a valuable read for anyone who uses Spotify and wants to understand its broader implications.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

WOW!!! What a great book!! This one had me hooked from page 1! This was a first for me from this author and I will not be my last! This one was a win for me!

An excellent, clear, and thoroughly researched history of Spotify and its primary product: music as a vehicle for advertisements, personal data collection, and upholder of the unjust, inequitable status quo within the music industry. The middle chapters were somewhat repetitive but I especially appreciated how Pelly incorporates so much history and context about music's role in twentieth and twenty-first century American culture. Any consumer of Spotify, which is most of us, ought to understand this history as thoroughly as the author presents it in this book. So glad this book is coming to market and more people can reconsider how they engage with Spotify, along with reconsidering how they engage with music in their everyday lives.

This is a really well-researched and well-told history of the rise of Spotify, which at this point feels ubiquitous. I admire the book, but I feel like nothing really surprising or revolutionary was revealed? I think if you use the service and pay attention to the general trends of capitalism and the music industry, it’s mostly a more detailed investigation into what feels obvious.

3.5 stars rounded up. I think there is definitely an audience for this! I just felt like a lot of it was stuff I already knew or assumed.