In the United States, vinyl generated $1.04 billion in wholesale revenue during 2025, up 9.3% from the previous year. Unit shipments also increased, rising from 43.4 million to 46.8 million records.

The UK recorded an even stronger percentage increase. BPI reported that vinyl revenue rose 19.9% in 2025 to £174.7 million, its highest level in more than 30 years.

Vinyl Serves a Different Role From Streaming

The growth of records is occurring alongside, rather than in opposition to, a much larger streaming market.

RIAA data shows that streaming generated $9.47 billion in U.S. revenue in 2025, with paid subscriptions contributing $5.88 billion. In the UK, streaming revenue reached £1.07 billion and represented 67.7% of recorded-music revenue, according to BPI.

Those figures place vinyl in a fundamentally different position. Streaming is built around immediate access to large catalogs, while buying a record involves acquiring a physical product that can be played, stored and collected.

For listeners, the distinction extends beyond the delivery method. Playing a record requires selecting the album, handling the disc, placing it on a turntable and eventually turning it over. That process can make listening a more deliberate activity rather than simply another form of background consumption.

The Listening Experience Extends Beyond Sound

Vinyl’s continued growth also complicates a comparison based solely on audio specifications.

Modern digital services can provide lossless and high-resolution audio, allowing suitably equipped listeners to access detailed digital playback without physical media. As digital audio quality has improved, the technical argument for choosing vinyl over streaming has therefore become less straightforward.

The appeal of records can instead involve the complete listening experience. The physical format establishes a dedicated interaction with an album, from handling the sleeve to selecting a side and following the sequence of tracks.

That does not establish vinyl as objectively superior in sound quality. Rather, it highlights that the two formats can satisfy different priorities.

Album Artwork Adds Value to the Physical Format

A record also turns an album into a larger physical object.

The format provides substantially more space for cover artwork, photography and design than a typical digital interface. Special editions can further include colored records, booklets, posters and other physical material, making individual releases more suited to collecting.

That physical presentation has commercial value for labels and artists because it creates products that can be sold as premium versions of releases already available digitally.

Vinyl therefore functions not only as an audio carrier but also as a tangible form of music ownership.

Contemporary Releases Are Driving Demand

The resurgence is also not limited to older listeners or catalog titles.

BPI reported strong vinyl performance from contemporary releases in the UK during 2025. Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl sold more than 147,000 vinyl albums in Britain during the year, the highest annual vinyl total for a new album in the country this century, according to the trade group.

Other leading releases included albums by Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and Sam Fender.

The sales pattern indicates that vinyl remains part of the current release market rather than functioning exclusively as a format for reissues and older catalogs.

Vinyl’s Share of Physical Music Is Rising

The growing contribution from new releases is significant because it shows how the physical market itself is changing.

In the UK, vinyl accounted for 62.9% of physical-music revenue in 2025, compared with 59.1% in 2024. In the United States, vinyl revenue rose 9.3% while CD revenue declined 7.8%; total physical-music revenue nevertheless increased 5%.

The contrasting performance suggests that vinyl is increasingly carrying the physical side of the recorded-music market, even as streaming remains the industry’s dominant revenue source overall.

A Premium Physical Format

The economics of the two formats are also fundamentally different.

Streaming distributes access across a large catalog through recurring subscriptions, while physical music generates revenue through individual product sales. Records can therefore support higher-value purchases involving packaging, special editions and collectible elements that are not part of a standard streaming subscription.

This helps explain why vinyl can continue growing without challenging streaming for overall market dominance.

A listener may use streaming for discovery and convenience while purchasing a physical copy of an album that has particular personal or collecting value. The two formats can consequently participate in the same consumer journey rather than serving as mutually exclusive choices.

Vinyl’s Resurgence Has Become Established

The duration of the growth is another important part of the trend.

According to the RIAA, U.S. vinyl sales have recorded 19 consecutive years of growth. The format exceeded $1 billion in U.S. revenue in 2025, while the broader physical-music market also recorded growth.

The UK market provides a similar indication of sustained demand, with vinyl revenue reaching its highest point in more than three decades after another substantial annual increase.

The data does not suggest that vinyl is displacing streaming. Instead, it points to a durable role for physical records within a recorded-music market overwhelmingly organized around digital access.

Two Formats, Different Listening Priorities

Streaming and vinyl ultimately address different aspects of music consumption.

Streaming emphasizes breadth, immediacy and convenience. Vinyl emphasizes physical ownership, album presentation, collecting and a more deliberate interaction with recorded music.

For Hi-Fi listeners, that distinction is important because the choice of format is not necessarily a straightforward assessment of which technology delivers the highest technical specifications. It can also reflect how listeners want to engage with music and with the equipment used to reproduce it.

The continued rise in vinyl sales suggests that those physical and experiential qualities retain measurable commercial value.

Vinyl’s significance today is therefore less about defeating streaming than about occupying a part of the listening experience that streaming was never designed to replace. Its growth alongside increasingly capable digital audio demonstrates that convenience and physical ownership can remain complementary parts of modern music consumption.

Reporting Credit: Recording Industry Association of America; British Phonographic Industry.

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The company announced the change Aug. 11 as part of its broader Artist Identity & Trust initiative. Spotify said the policy responds to concerns from listeners who may initially believe an artist profile represents a human before discovering that the identity is artificially generated.

The new system focuses on artist identity, not whether artificial intelligence was used to create the music. Spotify said artists can continue using AI in songwriting, production and other creative processes without automatically being classified as AI Personas.

AI Persona profiles will be excluded from recommendations

Spotify said music from profiles designated as AI Personas will not be included in its editorial or algorithmic recommendations by default.

However, listeners who already follow an AI Persona may continue to receive its music. Spotify said the approach is intended to prioritize what it describes as authentic artists while still allowing artists flexibility in how they create and present their work.

The company did not say that AI Persona music would be removed from Spotify. Instead, the main change concerns how that music is surfaced through discovery and recommendation systems.

Spotify will combine disclosure with profile reviews

Artists can disclose through Spotify for Artists that their profile represents an AI Persona. Spotify said it hopes artists will provide the information voluntarily but will also conduct its own reviews.

The company plans to examine profiles whose names, images or other public-facing elements appear to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. Spotify said its initial reviews will focus on profiles that meet certain audience thresholds.

Beginning in mid-September, the badge is expected to appear in several areas, including artist profile banners, About sections, Search and track rows within playlists.

Listeners who select the badge will be able to see whether the artist disclosed the AI Persona status or whether Spotify identified the profile through its own review.

Artists whose profiles receive a badge after a Spotify review will be notified. They will have an opportunity to disclose their status or appeal the decision.

Spotify also plans to introduce a reporting system that will allow listeners to flag profiles they believe represent AI Personas for review.

AI-assisted music remains a separate issue

Spotify is drawing a clear line between who an artist appears to be and how a song was created.

An artist can use AI for elements such as vocals, lyrics, instrumentation or production without becoming an AI Persona. Spotify has previously introduced AI Credits to give artists and rights holders a way to disclose AI’s role in individual recordings.

That distinction is important because AI use in music has become increasingly broad. Spotify has said its goal is not to treat all AI-assisted music as inherently deceptive or to penalize artists for using AI responsibly.

Instead, the AI Persona system addresses cases where the artist identity itself may mislead listeners about whether a real person is behind the profile.

New policy builds on Spotify’s identity system

The AI Persona badge follows other identity and transparency measures Spotify introduced this year.

In April, Spotify launched Verified by Spotify, a badge for artist profiles that meet its standards for authenticity and trust. The company said its initial verification effort was designed to cover more than 99% of the artists that listeners actively search for, representing hundreds of thousands of artists.

Spotify has also introduced Artist Profile Protection and additional artist information intended to give listeners more context about the people behind the music. The company has separately developed SongDNA and AI Credits to provide greater information about contributors and the production process.

The company has also been developing systems to combat impersonation and music spam. Spotify said in 2025 that it was strengthening protections against unauthorized AI voice impersonation and developing systems to identify and limit spam and low-quality mass-uploaded content.

Together, the measures point toward a broader effort to distinguish authentic artist identities from synthetic or misleading profiles while allowing legitimate use of AI as a creative tool.

Spotify said its approach will continue to evolve as AI changes the music industry and as it receives feedback from artists, listeners and industry partners.

Reporting credit: Spotify Newsroom.

This JournosNews report is based on information released by Spotify as part of its Artist Identity & Trust initiative, supplemented by Spotify’s earlier public disclosures on artist verification and AI transparency.

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A bold new study is shaking up the world of headphone tuning — or at least trying to. Audio tech startup PEQdB claims it’s cracked the code on how headphones should sound, using machine learning and a mountain of data. But critics argue the research comes up short, lacks peer review, and reads more like a takedown than a breakthrough.

Let’s break down what this is all about — and why the headphone world is so divided.

PEQdB vs. Harman: The Big Audio Showdown

If you’ve ever adjusted your headphone EQ or read headphone reviews, chances are you’ve come across the Harman target curves. Developed by Dr. Sean Olive at Harman International, these curves — one for over-ear (2018) and one for in-ear headphones (2019) — are based on extensive listener research and have become something of a gold standard in audio.

But PEQdB, a Stanford-based company, says it’s time for a new standard. In a self-published white paper, the company argues that Harman’s approach is outdated, overly simplistic, and doesn’t reflect how people really hear.

Their answer? An algorithm-driven tuning model based on 266 headphone models, built using a wider dataset and modern machine learning techniques. They claim it solves the flaws in Harman’s system — and gives listeners more accurate sound.

Competing Methods, Conflicting Results

So how exactly does PEQdB’s method differ?

• Measurement Devices: PEQdB rejects Harman’s use of the GRAS 45CA flat-plate fixture, saying it lacks realistic human anatomy. Instead, they use a diffuse-field head-related transfer function (HRTF) modeled on the eardrum responses of 47 real people.
• Testing Conditions: Their trials involved A/B tests using the song “Inner Cell” by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — chosen for its complex, high-resolution sound.
• Adjustment Options: PEQdB let users adjust nine parameters across three EQ filters. Harman’s method? Just two filters for bass and treble.

The underlying idea is that PEQdB’s more flexible and data-rich approach better matches human hearing — especially in an age where machine learning can dig through piles of data in ways traditional studies couldn’t.

But What Does the Data Actually Say?

PEQdB’s central claim is that its curve works equally well for both over-ear and in-ear headphones — challenging Harman’s belief that each type needs its own tuning. They also say their curve addresses common complaints about Harman’s sound: “shouty” mids, “veiled” highs, and “thin” bass.

But not everyone agrees. In fact, Harman’s own recent study from 2024 showed that 72% of listeners still preferred the Harman in-ear curve (or something very close to it). Even among those who didn’t, preferences still fell within familiar boundaries:

• Most preferred fuller bass with balanced highs
• A minority (often older listeners) liked less bass and more treble

So PEQdB may be trying to fix something that isn’t broken — or at least not broken for most people.

Critics Raise Red Flags

While PEQdB’s research makes bold claims, it’s sparked plenty of skepticism for a few key reasons:

1. No Peer Review

Their white paper is self-published and not peer-reviewed. That alone doesn’t disqualify it, but it does raise questions — especially when paired with a lack of statistical analysis (no error bars, confidence intervals, or in-depth comparisons).

2. Uncontrolled Testing

Anyone can use the PEQdB tool from home, which makes it accessible — but also problematic. Listening conditions vary wildly, and the tool doesn’t account for things like mismatched headphone pairs or IEM eartips, which can greatly alter sound perception.

3. Short Listening Clips

Tests use 20-second A/B comparisons. That might be enough for first impressions, but not for judging long-term listening comfort or fatigue — a major factor in real-world preference.

4. Aggressive Tone

Instead of positioning its work as a complement or evolution of existing research, PEQdB takes a combative stance — dismissing Harman’s work with statements like “the most statistically optimal headphone target curves ever created.” Critics see that as arrogant and unscientific.

The Community Reacts: Mixed at Best

The headphone community’s response has been split. Some early adopters say PEQdB’s tool helped improve their listening experience. But many others find the results either underwhelming or too similar to Harman’s curve to justify the hype.

A common complaint: too much ear gain around 3kHz, which can make music sound harsh or fatiguing. Others say the tuning is too safe — lacking enough bass or sparkle to be truly exciting.

More broadly, some listeners suspect this is less about advancing audio science and more about grabbing attention. That skepticism only grows when you consider the figure behind the research.

The “Sharur” Factor

The lead author of the PEQdB paper goes by “Sharur” online — a polarizing personality known for stirring up debates in audio forums. While past controversies shouldn’t discredit research on their own, they certainly haven’t helped PEQdB’s case.

Some users worry that the research is more about disrupting the status quo than building a better standard.

Final Thoughts

PEQdB’s challenge to Harman’s headphone tuning legacy is bold, ambitious, and rooted in some compelling ideas. More data? More flexibility? Machine learning? It all sounds promising on paper.

But without peer review, detailed analysis, or real-world validation across controlled environments, it’s hard to take the conclusions at face value — especially when delivered with such heavy-handed criticism of long-established science.

For now, the Harman curve still holds up — not because it’s perfect, but because it’s been tested, retested, and refined through rigorous research and listener feedback. PEQdB might be onto something — but it’ll take more than a flashy dataset and a bold tone to convince the audiophile world.

Source: Headphonesty – This New Research Claims Headphones Have Been Tuned Wrong for Decades, but Critics Aren’t Buying It

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Spotify used to feel like your personal music companion — feeding you fresh tracks, hidden gems, and artists you didn’t know you loved yet. But lately, something’s changed. Instead of exciting new releases, your playlists might be filled with the soothing sounds of rain, white noise, or lo-fi ambient hums.

It’s not a glitch. It’s part of a bigger strategy.

Users Are Noticing: Playlists Feel Broken

Long-time users have started voicing frustration: personalized playlists like Release Radar and Discover Weekly no longer seem, well… personal.

“I used to discover new artists every week,” one user said. “Now I get ambient noise and music I’ve already played.”

Spotify’s once-celebrated recommendation engine feels off. Instead of surfacing emerging artists or tracks based on listener taste, it often suggests repetitive filler — nature sounds, instrumental loops, or what many call “AI garbage.” Some even report fake artist tracks slipping into curated playlists.

And listeners aren’t imagining it.

Insiders Reveal: It’s All About the Bottom Line

Former Spotify executives are now confirming what users have suspected: this shift is deliberate.

Doug Ford, who led Spotify’s editorial curation team from 2013 to 2018, says the platform began phasing out human curation in favor of automation — especially in the lead-up to its 2018 IPO.

“That mix of algorithm and human touch used to make the product magical,” Ford said. “But as Spotify moved to prove its profitability, the human side was cut back.”

By 2023, Spotify had laid off much of its editorial team, reducing staff to a fraction of what it once was. Meanwhile, the algorithmic curation team grew.

Glenn McDonald, another ex-Spotify insider who helped develop its genre system, revealed that the old human-guided system was replaced with machine learning models that scan playlist titles and descriptions — a system he bluntly called “objectively worse.”

The Financial Strategy Behind Ambient Noise

So why flood playlists with rainstorms and brown noise?

Simple: it saves money.

Streaming popular music means paying out royalties to major labels and artists. But filler tracks — like royalty-light ambient sounds or content from little-known sources — cost far less.

Even better for Spotify’s business model, this content keeps users streaming longer. “Chill” and “focus” playlists are popular for background listening, boosting engagement metrics without increasing licensing costs.

It’s a win for the company’s bottom line. But a loss for the listener.

Artists Are Losing Out

As Spotify prioritizes cheap, generic content, smaller artists are being squeezed out. Playlists that once introduced indie musicians to global audiences are now packed with algorithm-generated filler.

With real discovery pushed aside, musicians are competing with rain noises and anonymous lo-fi beats — all designed to keep listeners engaged without paying much in royalties.

It’s changing the music ecosystem far beyond Spotify.

Discovery Is Happening Elsewhere

While Spotify focuses on keeping costs down, platforms like TikTok have stepped in to drive music discovery. Songs often go viral there first, then make their way to Spotify playlists — flipping the dynamic of how music gets heard.

Spotify, once a tastemaker, is now following trends instead of setting them.

A Profitable Shift — But At What Cost?

Spotify’s strategy is working from a financial standpoint. Investor reports highlight rising revenue, increased user hours, and growing subscriber numbers. But those metrics don’t reflect growing dissatisfaction from listeners or artists.

As the world’s biggest streaming platform leans further into automation and cost-cutting, the magic of discovering music that truly resonates is fading — replaced by an efficient but soulless listening machine.

Source: Headphonesty – Spotify Is Playing You Cheaper Music on Purpose, Says Former Exec

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Spotify is facing a serious problem — dozens of fake podcasts are popping up on the platform, promoting illegal online pharmacies that sell prescription drugs without a prescription.

A simple search for “Adderall” on Spotify’s podcast page reveals a mix of legitimate shows about ADHD, addiction recovery, and even comedy, but also dozens of suspicious pages disguised as podcasts. These shady channels link to sites claiming to sell drugs like Adderall, Oxycodone, Vicodin, and more — often without a prescription, which is illegal in the U.S.

A CNN review found dozens of these fake podcasts, with names like “My Adderall Store,” showing up within the first 50 search results. The podcasts promote various medications, from Methadone to Ambien, often advertising “delivery without prescription,” putting users at serious risk.

Spotify’s Response: Rapid Removal But Ongoing Challenge

After CNN alerted Spotify with a list of 26 offending podcasts, the platform swiftly removed them — but new ones quickly appeared. A Spotify spokesperson told CNN, “We are constantly working to detect and remove violating content across our service.” They emphasized that such content violates Spotify’s policies against illegal and spam content.

Still, these podcasts keep resurfacing, exposing gaps in Spotify’s moderation system — especially as AI and text-to-speech tools make it easier to churn out fake, spammy content quickly.

Dangerous Consequences and Growing Pressure

This issue isn’t just about platform rules — it’s a public health concern. Parents and safety advocates have urged tech companies to clamp down on counterfeit and illicit drug sales targeting young people. Multiple teens have died after overdosing on pills purchased from online sources promoted through digital platforms.

U.S. government agencies have repeatedly warned that buying prescription drugs online from unverified sources can be illegal and dangerous. Google faced a $500 million fine in 2011 for running ads promoting illegal online pharmacies, and the FDA has called on tech platforms like Facebook and Twitter (now X) to stop illegal opioid sales on their sites.

However, tech platforms often face little legal accountability because federal law protects them from what users post. “There’s no regulations,” says Katie Paul of the Tech Transparency Project. “That’s the reality.”

Examples of Fake Podcasts and How They Work

Some of these podcasts are eerily short, featuring computerized voices reading out drug ads. For example:

• Xtrapharma.com posted eight episodes under 10 seconds long, promoting drugs like Xanax and Oxycontin with claims of “FDA-approved delivery without prescription.”
• Order Xanax 2 mg Online Big Deal On Christmas Season offered a 26-second automated ad promising “Government approved medicine delivered to your doorstep.”

Other podcasts used the same website links across multiple fake shows, including one called “John Elizabeth,” which featured dozens of episodes with computer-generated voices pushing online pharmacy links.

The Scale of the Problem

Searches on Spotify revealed dozens of these fake podcasts in top search results:

• Seven of the first 100 podcasts for “Adderall” were ads for online pharmacies.
• 20 of the first 60 results for “Xanax” pushed illegal drug sales.
• Podcasts advertising drugs like Vyvanse, Codeine, and Percocet also appeared.

Most of these podcasts had no user ratings or reviews, so it’s unclear how many listeners encountered them or placed orders.

Spotify’s Content Rules and Moderation Efforts

Spotify allows anyone to create and distribute podcasts but prohibits illegal, hateful, sexually explicit, and spam content, including podcasts created solely to promote products or services. The company uses automated systems and human reviewers to enforce its rules.

Following past controversies — like backlash over Joe Rogan’s podcast spreading false COVID-19 information — Spotify has increased moderation efforts. It created a Safety Advisory Council and acquired Kinzen, a machine learning startup to help monitor audio content.

Experts Say More Must Be Done

Despite these efforts, experts say fake podcasts selling drugs expose how much more Spotify needs to do to protect users.

Sarah Gardner, CEO of the Heat Initiative, a nonprofit advocating child safety online, says, “Anywhere people can post user-generated content, you will find people selling drugs. It’s about what companies do to combat it.”

Bottom Line

Spotify’s fight against fake podcasts pushing illegal drug sales is ongoing, reflecting a broader challenge faced by all digital platforms hosting user-generated content. As AI tools make it easier to flood platforms with spam, companies must double down on moderation — especially when public health is at stake.

Source: CNN – Spotify is scrambling to remove dozens of podcasts promoting online prescription drug sales

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The future of high-resolution music streaming has arrived — but it comes with a premium price tag.

Audiophiles chasing the perfect sound experience may have just found their new obsession. Pure Audio Streaming, a fresh face in the high-fidelity streaming world, is preparing to launch a platform that promises truly uncompressed, immersive audio that surrounds listeners from every direction.

The goal? To push home audio systems far beyond what streaming giants like Tidal and Qobuz have achieved, delivering a rich, three-dimensional sound experience that feels alive.

What Sets Pure Audio Streaming Apart

While Tidal and Qobuz have long offered high-resolution stereo streaming, Pure Audio Streaming claims to be the first service delivering genuine lossless immersive audio. It uses advanced AURO-3D technology to create a soundscape that goes beyond traditional surround sound.

“Our aim is to bring music to life like never before,” says Stefan Bock, founder of the Pure Audio Blu-ray disc format.

Instead of compressing multi-channel audio — the usual approach — Pure Audio Streaming delivers up to 96kHz PCM in 7.1.4 channels. If you prefer headphones, the platform also offers binaural audio, simulating that 3D sound environment without needing a full speaker setup.

Imagine sound not only coming from all around you but also floating above you, creating what the company calls a “cocoon of life-like sound.”

At launch, the platform will feature over 300 audiophile-favorite recordings, including Grammy-winning albums like LUX by 2L Records. Plus, users can access tracks up to 192kHz PCM and binaural audio at 48kHz PCM for even higher fidelity.

What You’ll Need to Listen

To enjoy Pure Audio Streaming’s immersive audio, your setup needs to go beyond the usual streaming gear. Here’s the basics:

• A fast, reliable internet connection
• An HDMI input and monitor for the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
• An AV receiver compatible with immersive audio — 5.1, 7.1.4 (recommended), or even up to 9.1.6

Right now, immersive audio streaming works with select devices: NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro, Amazon Fire Stick 4K (2023 model), and computers running Google Chrome connected via HDMI to an AV receiver.

Support for Amazon Fire Cube is on the way.

The platform also includes “AC Connect” technology to make pairing with home theater gear easier, though full device compatibility details are still coming.

Early Access Comes at a Cost

Pure Audio Streaming will launch with two subscription plans:

• Stereo Plan: High-resolution stereo up to 192kHz PCM and binaural audio at 48kHz PCM
• Premium Immersive Plan: 5.1 surround sound and 7.1.4 channel audio at 96kHz

Before its public debut, the company has opened an Early Adopter Program—but spots are limited and come with a steep entry fee.

According to the website, “To ensure only the most dedicated audiophiles join, an entry fee applies.”

Here’s the deal: for $500, early adopters get first access to all content, a full year of streaming, an NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro device, and a chance to help shape the platform’s development. If you already own a compatible SHIELD TV Pro, there’s a discounted $300 option.

However, participants must agree to keep all pre-launch details confidential — no public chatter about bugs or issues. This suggests the platform is still polishing its final features.

Key Dates

Applications for the Early Adopter Program close on May 18. Those accepted will gain access starting May 25, well ahead of the official launch planned for July 25.

Bottom line: If you’re an audiophile eager to experience the next level of immersive sound and don’t mind investing upfront, Pure Audio Streaming might just be the game changer you’ve been waiting for.

Source: Headphonesty –

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One of them became famous for flipping the entire idea of jazz on its head.

Let’s be honest—when someone mentions jazz, you might think of smoky clubs, tangled solos, and music made for experts with encyclopedic playlists. But that image barely scratches the surface.

Jazz isn’t just one thing. It’s a whole universe of sound that’s constantly reinventing itself. From smooth vocals and bold horns to genre-bending fusions with hip-hop, R&B, and electronic beats—there’s a version of jazz that could surprise you. In fact, the right artist might completely change how you feel about the genre.

Here are 20 boundary-pushing jazz icons—past and present—who prove that jazz isn’t just for jazz lovers.

1. Louis Armstrong

The joyful sound that made jazz global
Trumpet genius. Gravelly voice. Boundless charm. Armstrong didn’t just play jazz—he transformed it. He helped make the trumpet a leading instrument and turned jazz into a worldwide phenomenon. Tracks like What a Wonderful World and Hello, Dolly! are feel-good classics that even jazz skeptics can’t resist.

2. Duke Ellington

The composer who made jazz majestic
With a career spanning over 50 years, Ellington took jazz to new heights. He wrote pieces tailored to his band members, creating music that felt personal and grand. Want a taste? Start with Take the ‘A’ Train or Mood Indigo.

3. Charlie Parker

The fast-flying pioneer of bebop
Nicknamed “Bird,” Parker rewrote the rules with lightning-fast sax runs and bold new harmonies. Even if bebop sounds too wild, start with Now’s the Time—it’s bluesy, punchy, and easier to follow than you’d expect.

4. Miles Davis

The cool innovator who never stopped evolving
From the soothing tones of Kind of Blue to the psychedelic fusion of Bitches Brew, Davis didn’t just follow trends—he made them. So What is a perfect entry point: sleek, spacious, and endlessly chill.

5. John Coltrane

The spiritual explorer of jazz
Coltrane turned improvisation into a form of meditation. A Love Supreme is transcendent, but if you’re easing in, try My Favorite Things—a familiar melody turned inside out in the best way.

6. Billie Holiday

The voice of raw, emotional truth
Holiday’s music feels like a soul-to-soul conversation. Songs like God Bless the Child and What a Little Moonlight Can Do carry deep emotion without ever trying too hard.

7. Ella Fitzgerald

The voice that danced across melodies
Flawless technique meets playful joy. Whether she’s singing Cheek to Cheek with Louis Armstrong or improvising forgotten lyrics mid-performance (Mack the Knife in Berlin), Ella’s music always lands.

8. Nat King Cole

The velvet voice that crossed every line
Singer, pianist, trailblazer. Cole blended jazz with pop in a way that felt effortless. Unforgettable and L-O-V-E still sound smooth as silk today.

9. Wynton Marsalis

The tradition keeper with modern flair
Marsalis respects the roots while still finding fresh ways to grow them. His trumpet tone is rich, warm, and emotionally accessible—check out When It’s Sleepytime Down South for proof.

10. Kamasi Washington

The epic storyteller of modern jazz
Think jazz meets hip-hop meets cinematic soundtrack. Kamasi’s album The Epic lives up to its name, but start with Truth—a shorter track that still packs spiritual weight.

11. Esperanza Spalding

The genre-bender with a bass and a voice
She sings. She plays upright bass. Often at the same time. Her music mixes jazz, R&B, and Brazilian vibes—I Know You Know is catchy, funky, and totally mesmerizing.

12. Robert Glasper

The bridge between jazz and neo-soul
Glasper makes jazz feel like part of today’s playlist. His Black Radio albums blend smooth jazz harmonies with hip-hop and R&B grooves. Check out Cherish the Day for something soulful and fresh.

13. Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott)

The trumpet rebel with a global vision
With custom-made horns and genre-defying beats, Adjuah is reshaping what jazz can sound like. Start with Stretch Music for a taste of his cross-cultural soundscape.

14. Nubya Garcia

The London sax queen reinventing the scene
Garcia’s music flows like a river of jazz, Afrobeat, dub, and soul. Her debut album Source is emotionally rich and rhythmically bold. Try Lost Kingdoms for a quick hit.

15. Ezra Collective

The UK jazz group bringing the party
This energetic five-piece fuses jazz with grime, Afrobeat, and hip-hop. Victory Dance is full of bounce, and Reason in Disguise (with Jorja Smith) proves jazz can be danceable and smooth at the same time.

16. Brad Mehldau

The piano poet of pop and jazz fusion
Mehldau turns Radiohead into jazz and makes it beautiful. His version of Exit Music (For a Film) keeps the song’s sadness while weaving in haunting improvisation.

17. Makaya McCraven

The beat scientist changing jazz production
McCraven records live jam sessions, then edits them like hip-hop producers do. The result? Groove-heavy, spontaneous, and layered. Try In the Moment to hear what jazz sounds like in the remix age.

18. Count Basie

The swing master of dance-floor jazz
Basie’s big band was built to make you move. One O’Clock Jump and April in Paris are full of feel-good swing and toe-tapping rhythms. This is jazz you don’t just hear—you feel.

19. Dave Brubeck

The time signature rebel who made odd rhythms fun
Take Five is in 5/4 time, but it still swings hard. Brubeck’s music combined complex ideas with catchy melodies, offering the perfect intro for curious ears.

20. Nina Simone

The fearless voice of jazz, soul, and protest
Simone didn’t stick to any one genre—she created her own. Feeling Good is defiant and emotional. Her music tackled social issues head-on, yet remained deeply personal.

Final Note:

Jazz isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about breaking it. Whether you like R&B, rock, hip-hop, soul, or global beats, there’s a jazz artist out there who speaks your musical language. And once you find them, you’ll realize jazz has always been more than what you thought.

Source: Headphonesty – 20 Jazz Artists Who’ll Blow Your Mind, Even if You Don’t Like Jazz

The post Think You Don’t Like Jazz? These 20 Artists Might Prove You Wrong appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Streaming services didn’t kill piracy. They may have accidentally brought it back.

Just a decade ago, music piracy seemed like a fading memory. Services like Spotify and Apple Music gave millions easy, affordable access to nearly every song imaginable. Why risk viruses or lawsuits when you could stream legally for $10 a month?

But in 2025, piracy is back—and it’s thriving.

From Reddit threads to Facebook groups, there’s a growing conversation among listeners frustrated with the current state of streaming. The reasons are complex but familiar: rising costs, missing content, and the feeling that music lovers are getting less while paying more.

Here are six major reasons why piracy is once again gaining traction.

1. Streaming Prices Have Skyrocketed

What was once a budget-friendly $9.99 is now pushing $12 or more per month—and that’s just for a basic plan. Want lossless audio or family sharing? You’re looking at additional fees.

With music now competing for wallet space alongside Netflix, game subscriptions, and cloud storage, even loyal users are questioning the value. For students and younger fans—who often have the deepest connection to music—piracy is increasingly seen as the only affordable option.

2. People Want to Own Their Music Again

Streaming gives the illusion of access, but not ownership. One day your favorite song is there—next day, it’s gone due to licensing changes.

Unlike the days of ripped CDs and MP3 libraries, today’s listeners are locked into apps. Even premium subscribers can’t download files for real use. DJs, producers, and collectors especially feel the limitations.

Piracy offers a solution: downloadable, permanent files you can organize, backup, and use however you want. For many, it’s not about being cheap—it’s about control.

3. Major Gaps in Streaming Libraries

Think streaming covers everything? Think again. Many albums are incomplete, some artists are missing entirely, and international or underground music is often unavailable due to regional restrictions.

Looking for a rare B-side or a niche genre? Legal platforms rarely deliver. So fans turn to piracy—not because they want to, but because it’s the only place to find what they love.

4. Pirated Music Often Sounds Better

Ironically, pirates are beating streaming services at their own game: sound quality.

While some platforms now offer hi-res or lossless audio, it often depends on your connection or device. Meanwhile, pirated files come in pristine FLAC, WAV, or 24-bit formats ready for any sound system.

And unlike streaming, these files are yours to keep, edit, or mix—no strings (or DRM) attached.

5. Streaming Has Become Less User-Friendly

Streaming used to solve all the music industry’s problems. Now, it’s repeating them.

Fragmented catalogs, disappearing tracks, rising costs, and tighter restrictions have made once-beloved platforms feel clunky and limited.

Piracy in 2025 doesn’t mean sketchy torrents—it means sleek apps, YouTube rippers, and invite-only communities that mimic Spotify, only better. These platforms are fast, easy to use, and often more functional than the legal alternatives.

When piracy becomes the smoother experience, it’s not hard to see why users drift back.

6. Piracy Helps Fans Discover Rare Music

Streaming algorithms are built to feed you hits, not hidden gems. If you’re into obscure B-sides, bootlegs, or rare international releases, good luck finding them legally.

That’s where piracy shines.

Private trackers and online music forums act like digital archives, curating unreleased demos, out-of-print vinyl rips, and long-lost albums. For collectors and curators, it’s not about stealing—it’s about preserving and sharing what might otherwise be lost forever.

In a world where music is increasingly rented, not owned, piracy sometimes feels more like a cultural service than a crime.

A Final Note: Support the Artists

We do not endorse music piracy. Artists deserve to be paid for their work. This article is meant to explore why piracy has resurfaced—not to promote it.

If you love music, support it through legal and ethical channels. Buy albums, attend shows, and subscribe when you can. But also understand: the return of piracy says less about people being cheap—and more about an industry that’s lost touch with its listeners.

Source: Headphonesty – 6 Reasons Why Music Piracy Is Making a Comeback in 2025

The post 6 Reasons People Are Downloading Music Illegally Again appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Spotify users in Europe and Latin America are about to face a familiar yet frustrating sight on their monthly bills: a price increase. But this time, it comes without any noticeable improvements to the service. As the streaming giant hikes its prices again, audiophiles are asking the big question—why pay more for the same old service when there are better-sounding options out there?

The Price Hike: What’s Changing (And What’s Not)

Starting this summer, Spotify is raising its subscription prices across Europe and Latin America, following similar hikes in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

• In the Netherlands, individual Premium subscriptions will jump 18%, from €10.99 to €12.99. Family plans will rise by 22% to €21.99, and Duo plans will see a 20% increase to €17.99.
• Belgium will see more modest hikes: 9% for individual plans and 17% for family plans.

New users will still get a three-month free trial, but long-time subscribers are getting hit with the higher prices and the same old service. Meanwhile, U.S. users are spared—for now.

No Real Upgrades, Just Higher Prices

What stings the most is that these price hikes come without any tangible improvements to the service. Spotify Premium still offers a max bitrate of 320kbps, which was fine years ago but now feels outdated, especially when competitors like Tidal and Qobuz are offering true high-resolution audio. Apple Music is also ahead of the curve, offering lossless and Dolby Atmos sound for similar or even lower prices.

Spotify has promised a change in the form of a new “Deluxe” tier, expected to launch around $17–$18/month. CEO Daniel Ek has hinted that it will offer HiFi audio, AI-powered playlists, headphone optimization, enhanced library tools, and audiobook hours. But after years of waiting for a HiFi upgrade, users are understandably skeptical—will this new tier be worth the price, or just another distraction?

The Business Side: Why Spotify is Raising Prices

Spotify’s price hikes aren’t just about improving service—they’re about fixing the company’s bottom line.

Music streaming prices have barely kept up with inflation. While Netflix’s U.S. Standard plan now costs $17.99 after years of gradual price increases, Spotify’s U.S. Premium plan has only moved twice in nearly ten years, now sitting at $11.99. And while Netflix earns about $0.207 per hour of content streamed, Spotify pulls in just $0.089 per hour—less than half.

The freemium model, where many users stick to the free tier, is a big part of the issue. Free users generate much less revenue, dragging down Spotify’s earnings and limiting resources for product improvements.

That said, Spotify has made some progress. In 2024, the company posted an operating profit of €1.4 billion, a huge turnaround after a €466 million loss in 2023. This growth has come thanks to tighter cost control, rising subscription revenue, and a 16% increase in annual revenue.

But long-term growth may require more than just price hikes. Spotify could eventually:

• Charge free users a small monthly fee, similar to Netflix’s ad-supported plan.
• Limit free access, nudging users toward paid subscriptions.
• Raise Premium prices again, but only if significant upgrades, like HiFi audio, are included.
• Cap free listening hours each month, boosting revenue but risking alienation of loyal users.

Spotify’s challenge is clear: how to boost earnings without losing the listeners who helped make it a giant.

Should You Stay or Switch?

If you’re paying more and still waiting for that promised upgrade, it might be time to consider your options. Here are some alternatives already offering what Spotify still hasn’t:

• Tidal: Offers lossless FLAC and HiRes FLAC audio, plus Dolby Atmos support, all in one plan with no confusing tiers.
• Qobuz: Provides 24-bit FLAC streaming up to 192 kHz, with a massive library tailored to audiophiles.
• Apple Music: Includes lossless audio and Dolby Atmos spatial sound with no hidden fees or extra steps.

Before you make the switch, consider these key factors:

• Will your gear actually make the difference? (If so, it’s worth it.)
• Do your devices support the audio formats? (Check compatibility with your phone, laptop, car, and smart speakers.)
• Are there any student, family, or annual discounts? (Most platforms offer these.)
• Does the service offer a free trial? (Usually, yes.)

While Spotify still leads in playlist curation and algorithmic discovery—areas where its competitors struggle—it’s falling behind in terms of raw sound quality. If audio quality is your top priority, competitors are currently pulling ahead.

With the Deluxe tier still in development, users are left in limbo. Some will stick it out, hoping for a future upgrade, but many are already packing up their playlists and heading elsewhere.

The choice is yours: pay more for the same, or explore the growing list of services offering superior sound at competitive prices.

Source: Headphonesty – Spotify’s New Strategy: Pay More, Get… Exactly the Same

The post Spotify’s Price Hike: What You’re Paying For (And What You’re Not) appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Streaming made music feel infinite—millions of songs, always available at the tap of a screen. But when Spotify crashed in April 2025, that illusion shattered. The sudden silence hit harder than anyone expected.

Playlists disappeared. Downloads failed. Daily routines fell apart. And suddenly, a growing number of people started wondering: maybe those folks still spinning CDs and flipping vinyl had a point after all.

Streaming is incredibly convenient—until it’s not. And when it breaks, it reminds us just how little of it we truly own.

On April 16, 2025, Spotify went down for millions of users around the world. What started as scattered complaints quickly escalated into one of the platform’s worst outages in recent years.

According to Downdetector, nearly 50,000 users in the U.S. and over 17,000 in the U.K. reported being affected. People couldn’t log in. Playlists became inaccessible. Even downloaded tracks refused to play. Both the app and web player crashed for hours.

While Spotify managed to restore service later that morning, frustrations lingered. Some users even faced repeated glitches throughout the day.

And this wasn’t a one-time fluke. It’s just the latest in a series of major Spotify disruptions over the past five years:

• March 2022: A massive outage logged out over 175,000 users.
• April 2023: A three-hour service disruption took down streaming and smart speaker integration.
• August 2024: Playback loops, app crashes, and a broken web player left users stranded without explanation.

Each outage chips away at Spotify’s once-untouchable image as a reliable, always-on music source—and forces a sobering question:

What happens when your entire music collection lives on a single app, and that app goes dark?

For many, the answer is clear: streaming isn’t just convenient—it’s fragile. And that fragility has reignited an old argument:

Maybe CD and vinyl collectors were right all along.

For years, CD and vinyl collectors were seen as nostalgic holdouts—clinging to an outdated past while the rest of the world moved on.

But when Spotify went silent, collectors kept listening. Their music lives on shelves, not servers. No crashes. No glitches. No buffering. Just music.

That’s the real divide:
Streaming offers convenience. Physical media offers ownership.

Here’s what physical formats bring to the table:

• Ownership: The music is truly yours—not rented or licensed.
• Durability: No digital rights management (DRM). No disappearing albums.
• Audio Quality: Full-fidelity, lossless sound—no compression needed.
• Independence: No reliance on servers, ads, or algorithms.

Vinyl, in particular, has experienced a major revival. In 2022 alone, more than 5.5 million vinyl records were sold in the U.K., according to SAE. Beyond the warm analog sound, vinyl offers something else: ritual. Dropping the needle feels intentional—an act of connection with the music.

As sociologists Bartmanski and Woodward put it, vinyl helps listeners “crystallize a sense of self with a history stretching back in time.”

And while vinyl gets most of the buzz, CDs are quietly making a comeback too—especially among audiophiles and younger fans seeking more control over their collections.

Compact discs offer their own advantages: digital clarity, consistent playback, and the comforting certainty that your music won’t disappear because of a server hiccup.

Streaming platforms like Spotify offer access to millions of songs. But that’s the key word: access, not ownership.

Research from Sinclair and Tinson highlights how the so-called “post-ownership economy” tricks users into feeling like they have control. You can create playlists, rack up listening stats, and share your Spotify Wrapped—but none of it is truly yours.

Albums can be pulled. Accounts can be locked. Entire libraries can vanish overnight.

Spotify Wrapped may make it feel like you’re building a personal archive—but it’s really just a marketing campaign. You can’t hand it down. You can’t resell it. You can’t even touch it.

When the platform crashes, your carefully curated listening identity disappears with it.

And beyond the user experience, there’s also the issue of artist support.
Under Spotify’s pro rata payout model, your subscription fee gets pooled and divided based on overall market share—not your individual listening habits. Meaning even if you spend a month streaming only indie artists, most of your money may end up supporting the biggest names.

When you buy a physical album, it’s a direct investment in an artist’s work—you own the sound, and you support the creator in a tangible way.

Collectors have long understood something that streaming culture tends to forget:
Music isn’t just content—it’s connection, memory, and identity.

Owning a physical album—whether it’s the weight of a vinyl record or the snap of a CD case—means having something permanent. Something no glitch or outage can erase.

So what were CD and vinyl collectors right about?

• That music is more than just a file—it’s a personal memory, a possession.
• That convenience can’t replace real emotional and material connection.
• That when platforms fail, your own collection still stands.

In an era where access is often mistaken for ownership, physical formats offer something increasingly rare: certainty.

When your music lives on a shelf, no server crash can ever take it away.

Source: Headphonesty – One Spotify Outage Was All It Took to Prove CD and Vinyl Collectors Were Right All Along

The post Spotify’s Outage Proves Why CDs and Vinyl Still Matter appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.