Spotify has cultivated an image as a platform that supports artists by creating an environment where music can be discovered easily and fairly. However, recent insights suggest a different narrative, pointing towards a focus on profit maximization over artistic integrity. This perspective is detailed in Liz Pelly’s upcoming book, Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, where she discusses the platform’s Perfect Fit Content (PFC) initiative.
Pelly’s research, presented in Harper’s Magazine, uncovers how Spotify integrates low-cost, royalty-free music tracks into its widely followed playlists. These tracks are crafted by what Pelly describes as “ghost artists,” who produce music under assumed names. The strategy’s primary goal is to cut down on royalty expenses, significantly benefiting Spotify’s financial interests.
Initiated in the 2010s, the PFC program has reportedly spread across numerous playlists. Artists involved in this program receive upfront payments, but Spotify and its collaborators maintain complete rights over the music, allowing them to capitalize on the widespread distribution of these tracks.
This approach has broader implications beyond the immediate impact on the artists involved. Once regarded as a means to discover new music, playlists have transformed into a mechanism for reducing costs. Consequently, musicians striving to earn a sustainable income find themselves overshadowed by inexpensive, easily replaceable content.
The revelations about the PFC program resonate with previous issues related to Spotify’s “Discovery Mode” initiative, where musicians accept lower royalty payments in exchange for enhanced algorithmic exposure. Both programs highlight Spotify’s strategic manipulation of its ecosystem to prioritize corporate profits over the needs of artists.
Pelly articulates a growing disillusionment with Spotify’s claim of fostering a platform for artistic discovery, questioning the excitement in uncovering generic music. The PFC program, she argues, undermines the foundational belief that streaming represents a true meritocracy, where listener preferences determine success.