From The Atlantic.
On this week’s “Galaxy Brain,” host Charlie Warzel dives into the state of the music industry, where streaming economics, algorithmic discovery, and generative AI are reshaping how music is distributed, as well as what it means to make music in this environment. The episode traces how playlists and opaque recommendation systems have left many artists feeling like they’re battling an algorithm. With AI-generated songs now flooding platforms, and even in one case landing on a “Billboard” chart, the episode examines how automation, impersonation, and synthetic “diet music” are crowding into a system already strained by low payouts and creative burnout.
Charlie is joined by Stu Mackenzie, the front man of the prolific Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, to talk about making music in the algorithmic age. From embracing bootleggers to pulling its catalog from Spotify, Mackenzie explains how the band has tried to protect its creative core while the industry transforms around it. Charlie and Stu explore whether we’re witnessing a normal technological shift or something more existential—an era where music is treated as pure commodity.
This episode of “Galaxy Brain” was produced by Renee Klahr and edited by Dave Shaw. It was engineered by Dave Grein. Our theme is by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic Audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor.
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00:00 Introduction to the Music Industry’s Challenges
02:10 Generative AI and Its Impact on Music
03:30 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Stand
06:11 Interview with Stu McKenzie
11:41 The Bootlegger Movement and Community Building
16:28 Navigating the Music Industry Ecosystem
20:08 The Dark Side of Spotify for Artists
23:24 Algorithmic Discovery and Creative Burnout
25:14 AI and the Future of Music
27:41 Leaving Spotify: The Aftermath
32:04 The Human Element in Music Creation
37:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
