deploying familiar sounds in a randomized, nonsensical fashion, the resulting compositions were able to bypass copyright filters designed to block infringement of existing works. By targeting a style of music that often appears in sleep-oriented playlists,
. The trajectory of the platform’s shift from user-created playlists to in-house editorial playlists to personalized, algorithmic “Discover” playlists makes this clear. The business model only works if Spotify’s users can be persuaded to see listening as a passive, solitary activity rather than an active, social one
Active and social may mean active and social discovery. But does this make it a stronger business?
