Algorithms ruined the promise of web1. I remember the narrative being about the lone artist finding his audience. Now we all listen to the same music. AI will only make this worse.

some know-nothing will inevitably call this Old Man Rants at Clouds. After all, what are you going to do about all this technology? Outlaw it?

Don't subscribe to Spotify, for a start.

Devil's Advocate:

The Music Business today, even when adjusted for inflation, is the largest it's ever been. You would think if the product were getting worse then sales would be declining, yet the opposite is true.

I understand what Rick is saying, to me music is largely worse today than it was when I was a kid (I'm only a couple years younger than Rick). But that's subjective. Looking at sales is one way to keep it objective and the sales are telling another story.

So yes, I agree with Rick that music is getting worse, but it seems not a lot of other people agree with us, based off sales.

> You would think if the product were getting worse then sales would be declining

No, you wouldn't, unless you think sales are the only measure of quality. There is no "objective" measure of quality.

Is the music business the largest it’s ever been, even when you allow for the size of the possible market? (Number of well-off people in the world)

The amount of sales is a poor indicator of product quality, generally speaking.

"food is the best it's ever been!"

Judging by food consumption.