Has the internet ruined Music? – Charlie Hooper-Williams
It promised to empower artists and give listeners infinite choice.
Instead, it’s turned music into a disposable commodity, replaced human curation with algorithms, and made it impossible for most artists to earn a sustainable living.
To help us explore the new world of music, we’re joined by Charlie Hooper-Williams, a critically-acclaimed composer, pianist & creative coder, and one of the developers behindmusic-identification app Shazam.
His new album ‘The Book of Fixed Stars’ is out now on The Way Beyond Music.
http://charliehooperwilliams.com
https://www.instagram.com/charliehooperwilliams
https://www.youtube.com/@CharlieHooperWilliams
In this episode, Charlie joins us to discuss his journey as a composer and pianist, the impact of digital technology on the music industry, and the challenges and opportunities presented by streaming platforms.
We also look at the changing landscape of music consumption, the role of algorithms in discoverability, the influence of AI on music creation, as well as advice for aspiring musicians and the future of music in a technology-driven world.
00:00 Introduction to Charlie's Musical Journey
01:31 The Impact of Digital Transformation on Music
02:33 The TikTokification of Music
04:17 The Devaluation of Music as an Art Form
05:32 Streaming Platforms: Exposure vs. Earnings
08:06 The Role of Spotify in the Music Industry
08:51 The Challenges of Discoverability in the Digital Age
12:17 The Evolution of Artist-Fan Relationships
17:52 Technology's Role in Music Creation and Distribution
20:04 Navigating the Modern Music Landscape
22:56 The Art of Live Performance and Technology
25:46 The Role of Algorithms and AI in Music
34:50 The Future of Music in a Digital Age
40:46 Advice for Aspiring Musicians and Creators
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Charlie Hooper-Williams
Composer/Pianist/Creative Coder
American-British composer and pianist Charlie Hooper-Williams is one of the developers of the app Shazam and a prizewinner at the International Shostakovich Piano Competition. He performs alongside a bespoke live projections system he has coded, creating real time visuals in response to each performance. He has attracted critical and popular acclaim; described as "inverse film scoring", this “lovely, special, immersive show” (Elizabeth Alker, BBC Radio 3) combines intricate, virtuosic textures with moving and accessible melodies. Originally from the pine woods of Minnesota’s Iron Range, he grew up near Chicago, studied at the University of Cambridge Centre for Music and Science, and now makes his home in Bath.