Your essential guide to accelerating change in music—through stories, insights, and inspiration. Powered by Donne.

Wednesday, 8 January, 2025. Click here to subscribe.

As we step into a brand-new year, we’re excited to bring you fresh perspectives, important stories, and thought-provoking conversations about the music industry and beyond. Here’s to a 2025 filled with discovery, creativity, and meaningful connections. 
Thank you for being part of our community!

Now, let’s dive into the first feature of the year: an eye-opening look at Spotify’s “ghost artists” and what it means for the future of music.

The Ghosts in the Machine: What Spotify’s "Ghost Artists" Controversy Means for Music
If you’ve ever zoned out to a Spotify playlist while studying or relaxing, you might not have noticed a hidden transformation happening right under your nose. Liz Pelly’s The Ghosts in the Machine reveals a troubling trend in the music industry: Spotify is quietly replacing real musicians with anonymous, low-cost tracks to save money—at the expense of independent artists and music culture itself.

Ghost artists are anonymous musicians or stock-music creators whose tracks fill Spotify’s most popular playlists, such as “Deep Focus,” “Ambient Relaxation,” and “Chill Vibes.” These tracks often come from production companies like Epidemic Sound and lack any real connection to the artists behind them. The musicians creating this content are often paid flat fees or low royalties, and their music is essentially stripped of identity or credit.

The controversy centers on Spotify’s Perfect Fit Content (PFC) program, which pushes these tracks into playlists because they cost less to license. For Spotify, this improves profit margins—but for real artists, it’s a major blow.

Spotify justifies the use of ghost tracks by claiming that playlists like these are meant for background music—listeners aren’t focused on the artist, so it doesn’t matter who makes the music. But here’s the problem:

Displacement of Independent Artists
By prioritising cheap, stock-like tracks, Spotify removes opportunities for independent musicians to get their work featured. Playlists have become a crucial source of revenue and exposure for artists, so losing out to ghost tracks can be devastating.

Devaluation of Music
The rise of these anonymous tracks treats music as a utility—just background noise for studying or sleeping—rather than an art form. This devalues the hard work and creativity of real musicians, reducing their role to mere playlist fillers.

A Dark Future?
With the growing potential of AI-generated music, Spotify and similar platforms may continue down this path. This could further erode connections between artists and listeners, replacing human creativity with algorithm-driven, low-cost alternatives.

This isn’t just about Spotify—it’s about how music is treated in the streaming era. Spotify markets itself as a platform for discovery, but initiatives like PFC undermine that promise. For artists, it’s a fight for survival in a system increasingly rigged against them. For listeners, it’s a wake-up call about how streaming services manipulate what we hear—and why.

As music lovers, we have the power to shape what these platforms prioritise. Supporting independent artists by actively seeking out their music, sharing it, and attending live shows makes a difference. Raising awareness about programs like PFC ensures we keep these conversations alive.
 

Liz Pelly’s article is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of music. It sheds light on a system where profits come before artistry, but it also reminds us of the importance of valuing real, human creativity. 
 

“All this points to a disconcerting context 
collapse for musicians - to the way in which being 
an artist and the business of background music are 
increasingly entwined, and the distinctions of purpose increasingly blurred.” Liz Pelly

 

The Keychange Talent Leadership Programme (TLP) is a six-month training for women and gender-diverse individuals ready to lead change in the music industry.
 

This programme equips future leaders with the tools to drive diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility (DIEA). Through workshops, mentoring, and hands-on projects, participants gain practical skills, fresh insights, and the confidence to inspire change locally and globally.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 13 2025 
5pm EST/ 10 pm GMT/ 11pm CET

APPLY HERE

The »Females Featured« competition puts women composers on center stage.

The competition committee cordially invites female composers from all over the

world to submit works in one or more of the following three categories: female

vocal ensemble (equal voices), youth choir and chamber choir (each with mixed

voices). Prizes will be awarded for the three best pieces in each category.

The prize-winning works will be performed on October 18th, 2025 as a part of the

“Tübinger Motette” (Sacred Evening Music) concert series. The central theme of

this year’s competition is „Anima(l): Spirit – Species – Creation“.

 

Networking can sometimes feel forced or intimidating, especially for women in music. But it doesn’t have to be. Think of networking as building genuine collaborations rather than transactional exchanges. Here’s how to make it work for you:

Networking isn’t about asking for favors—it’s about creating meaningful relationships that empower everyone involved. Who’s one woman in music you admire? Reach out this week and start a conversation—you might just spark something amazing!

A Modern Reveal: Songs and Stories of Women Composers is an online resource dedicated to promoting the vocal works and stories of historical female composers who have been overlooked for centuries.

Research about women composers is not a new field of study. Bold strides were made beginning in the 1970s by a group of dedicated historians and we owe tremendous gratitude to each and every musicologist and writer who has added valuable resources and helped us access the music and stories available on this website.

We encourage you to use the resources here to learn about the women that paved the way for future composers and performers of all genders. 

We hope you will explore, read, listen, learn, and sing this wonderful music often.

🔗 Learn more  

How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music
Drawn from NPR Music’s acclaimed, groundbreaking series Turning the Tables, the definitive book on the vital role of Women in Music—from Beyoncé to Odetta, Taylor Swift to Joan Baez, Joan Jett to Dolly Parton—featuring archival interviews, essays, photographs, and illustrations.

 

🔗 Find it here

The BIG LIST of Women Composers is an ever-growing resource featuring more than 5,000 composers—from pre-medieval pioneers to 21st-century singer-songwriters. Pick a country, a century, a music genre—you’ll find incredible women represented. But this is just the beginning!

💬 We want to hear from you!

If you’re a composer, know someone who should be on the list, or have additional information about a featured composer, we’d love to include your voice in this incredible project.

JOIN HERE
 

Did you know? When you buy one of our products you're doing more than acquiring a beautiful item — you're helping to change the music industry.
 

Every purchase supports our mission to amplify women’s voices and help to build a more equitable, vibrant creative world.
 

🛒 Shop now. Celebrate creativity. Make an impact.
 

Music can transform learning experiences! This poster features 16 influential women composers throughout music history. Perfect for music educators, schools, or anyone passionate about celebrating creativity and diversity in education. 

Do you know a school that needs this poster? Forward this email to them today :-)

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