Why I see keeping track of music I'm listening to and highlighting my favorite albums on my website as a way of paying-it-forward to artists.

Streaming platforms solved access to music by making almost every piece ever recorded available within a few clicks. And then, to help us navigate their ever-growing catalogs, introduced AI recommendation algorithms acting as our “personal” curators. They influenced on what music we listen to but also how we listen to it and while we vibed with autoplay on, Spotify got away with more than Napster ever did.

It conflicts me deeply to participate in a system that deprives musicians of their livelihoods, but this is an old story. Changing streaming service feels like a band-aid solution. Whatever platform offers the best royalties now will eventually face the wave of “enshitification.”

Music streaming is effectively free, but artists have paid the price. Perhaps the solution lies in sticking with what we already have. I wonder if being more selective about the records we buy and intentional with what we listen to counts as “doing the homework” now that everything is reduced to “content”?

My music collection has always been treasured but small, more so since I left my records behind when I moved continents, but I’ve been slowly re-owning my grooves and because I’m a listener firs (as opposed to a consumer), taking it as an opportunity to give albums my full attention, treat them as the art pieces they are.

I think this is why whenever I find a great record, I try to be loud about it on my website. It’s my way of paying-it-forward, I guess. Is there any use in doing this? Perhaps VC-funded AI “vibe playlists” are the new standard for music consumption.

Back in Colombia, there was a lot of friction when it came to accessing music. There were few record stores, international shipping fees were high, and I could only afford records I absolutely loved. These days, I go to a few shows a year and often visit record stores in Warsaw. I try to give back, but I know it’s peanuts. If somebody came across these pages and supported the art (or artist), then it’s worth it.

Thank you for reading! This entry was drafted long ago, in an attempt to get back to blogging I updated its references and published it. Any comments, suggestions or corrections are welcome. Reach out however you chat with other humans online.