Liz Pelly: Mood Machine

In the age of algorithms, music is under constant pressure to respond to mood, brand and data.

In this sharp and insightful exploration, music journalist and cultural critic Liz Pelly offers a searing critique of how streaming platforms have revolutionised our relationship with music. She explores the shift from art to algorithm-driven content, turning music into a commodified experience and listeners into mere data points.

Drawing from years of investigative reporting culminating in her bold exposé Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, Pelly uncovers how the economics of streaming are reshaping the music industry, and what this seismic change means for artists, listeners and cultural production at large.

Hosted by Lauren Taylor, this event will explore ways to reclaim that human connection in music and fight for a more meaningful future in the age of corporate playlists and mood marketing.