July 2026 Headlines episode is out now for subscribers at Patreon.com/criticallistening. We dive into the Kalshi power-users who recently learned that streaming is, in fact, not a meritocracy. We also are unpacking the news that SoundCloud has just acquired Nina Protocol. Sign up today!

episode 20 with Panda Bear & Sonic Boom: on why their new album is not streaming, how they got their label on board with that, the differences between gen-ai software and sampling, and more. thanks noah and Peter! out everywhere except spotify www.patreon.com/CriticalList...

June 2026 Headlines ep is online now for subscribers at patreon.com/criticallistening We look into a new tool created by the French streaming platform Deezer that shows users how many gen-AI tracks are already on their own playlists. Then we look to the role lawsuits are playing in that equation.

Our May 2026 headlines episode is up for subscribers at Patreon.com/criticallistening We discuss the acquisition of Native Instruments by InMusic, as well as the new details regarding the proprietary genAI tools made in partnership with Spotify and UMG. Thanks for subscribing and enjoy the episode!

For Episode 17, Peter McLaughlin and Scott Mohler the Maine Music Alliance explain how a coalition of local musicians in Portland, Maine successfully stopped Live Nation from opening a 3300-cap venue in their town. Available now on all platforms besides you know where.

Subscribe and support the show at patreon.com/criticallistening

Episode 11: Live from Groningen is now available wherever you get your podcasts besides you know where. Did we automate or die trying? Tune in to find out! Remember to support the show for bonus episodes and access to our discord by subscribing at patreon.com/criticallistening

WE’RE BACK. Today we start the year with a dispatch from what some may call the front lines: a bunch of AI-related panels at a European music biz trade conference. It’s also our first episode recorded in person! Listen at patreon.com/criticallistening

The season 1 finale of Critical Listening is now live for patrons and with us to send off the year we have none other than the internet’s busiest music nerd himself: Anthony Fantano. Subscribe and hear in full at patreon.com/criticallistening, see you in 2026!

Episode 9 is now available on all platforms besides the Swedish app, with a bonus episode from the live taping now available for patrons only, sign up at patreon.com/criticallistening to hear all bonus eps and catch up on Season 1 of Critical Listening before the finale at the end of the month!

For Episode 8 we have composer, educator, curator, and activist Amirtha Kidambi stopping by. We discuss the inseparability of politics from pedagogy as teaching artists, the importance of solidarity amongst working artists of all backgrounds and styles, and the need for us to Do-It-Together.

Episode 7: October 2025 Headlines is now available wherever you get your podcasts besides the Swedish app! If you want to get more critical media at the intersection of music, tech, and culture industry hell, consider supporting the show by signing up for the Patreon at patreon.com/criticallistening

Episode 6: WHY SOUND MATTERS w/ Damon Krukowski @dadadrummer.bsky.social is now available on all platforms besides the Swedish one. We are done calling GenAI music slop, from here on out we’re calling it BIOHAZARDOUS SONIC WASTE PRODUCT. ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊 ☣️ 🔊

EPISODE 5: AUG 2025 HEADLINES Max & Liz return for another installment of their series diving into some intriguing headlines from across the music, tech and business hellscape. Never fear, we’ve got a bloomscroll in there too. Check it out and support the show at patreon.com/criticallistening

Episode 4: QUITTING STREAMING w/ Andy Cush is now live for patrons and available on all platforms besides the Swedish app next week! Andy is a writer, musician, and co-founder of the worker owned music publication @hearingthingsco.bsky.social Support the show at Patreon.com/criticallistening

Episode 3: July 2025 Headlines is now available on all podcast platforms besides the Swedish app. If you’d like early access to future episodes where we discuss everything related to music tech culture hell, please consider subscribing for $5 a month a patreon.com/criticallistening.

We’re back with the first installment of what we’re calling Headlines, diving into a few stories from across the music and tech biz press this month. For July, there were some headlines that just seemed impossible to ignore. Listen to the episode in full at patreon.com/criticallistening

Episode 2 is now available wherever you get your podcasts (besides the Swedish app). Many thanks to Joey La Neve Defranceso and Spencer Peppet for providing such a great overview of the @umaw.bsky.social organization for our listeners. Catch you on the flip side!

Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/criticallistening to support the show directly so that we can continue to have these crucial conversations regarding music, technology, and their effects on society at large.

EPISODE 1: We’re chatting with Greg Saunier of @deerhoof.bsky.social about Noble and Godlike in Ruin, the group’s new record for @joyfulnoiserecs.bsky.social , resisting the AI slop machine & much more! Listen: apple.co/4irnN76 Support us & hear a bonus segment: patreon.com/criticallistening

Critical Listening is now available wherever you get your podcasts, besides the Swedish app. Sign up for early access and community perks and directly support us as we build out the show at Patreon.com/criticallistening

Here’s another clip:

Critical Listening Episode 0 is available now on whatever app you listen to podcasts on (except the Swedish one). Subscribe now at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

🚨Introducing Critical Listening, a new podcast from Liz Pelly and Max Alper🚨 Head over to patreon.com/criticallistening to hear episode zero, a short introduction to the show.