“Hey Spotify, tell me what music I like”: the dark side of music streaming
Everyone loves Spotify. For a small fee it gives us access to all the music we could want and it knows our tastes better than any friend. It’s also great for musicians – it gives us the possibility to live off our art and be discovered by millions of users. But is it all that it seems? In this talk, little-known details about Spotify’s functionalities, ambitions and business model will be revealed, raising questions about its actual benefits for listeners and musicians. Who or what is actually driving Spotify’s recommendations? Are our personalised playlists actually tailored to us? Why does Spotify want to generate new music using AI? And in the end, do we actually exercise free will when deciding what songs to play next?
Bio
Dr Fabio Morreale is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Music at the University of Auckland. He is formally trained in computer science and has a PhD in human-computer interaction. His research investigates the ethical and political issues of technology, specifically AI and music and streaming. He is also an active composer, specialising in algorithmic music, experimental electronic music and audiovisual live coding. He has designed several installations and musical instruments.
Event
6:30pm @The Tuning Fork, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland 1010
Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Karen Fisher
