Music Streaming Has Created an Echo Chamber for Personal Taste. How Can We Get Out?

The algorithm is haunting us again.

An image of music streaming apps. (Image owned by pocket-lint.com)

As a Gen-Z baby, I’ve watched as my daily life has been “upgraded,” “improved,” and “revamped” through technology at light speed. While the generations before me watched this happen firsthand as well, I grew up with the “latest” and “hottest” technology that emerged yearly. It was like clockwork; each year Apple released a new iPhone in near-tandem with my birthday. Computers changed to laptops that got faster each year, earbuds changed to AirPods, and our cars, fridges, and toasters changed to “smart” devices themselves.

Our social media platforms were created to share images with friends and family; now they’ve gotten smarter, too. Every platform has an algorithm. DoorDash, Instacart, Google, Instagram, TikTok, and even music-streaming platforms have an algorithm built to understand what you love and what you hate. This is all in an attempt to best serve you.

In theory, this is great. You can pick any song in your Apple Music library, turn on “AutoPlay,” and receive an auto-generated “up next” selection. The app’s algorithm takes your personal tastes into account and plays songs you love and suggests things based on the original song you selected.

A screenshot of Apple’s “AutoPlay” function (Image taken & owned by me)

Spotify, YouTube Music, and Pandora all use an algorithmic suggestion AI to curate playlists, queue songs, and suggest new artists. Pandora was somewhat an originator of this, as it acted like a taste-based radio platform. Instead of turning on the radio to broaden your listening experience, you can curate a personal station by interacting with the “random” songs that come on.

Moving away from radio for consuming music is also great, in theory, but it begins to create an echo chamber of sameness.

When Your Own Taste Gets Tiring

The easy access I have to Harry Styles 4-album discography, Taylor Swift’s 294-song catalog, and Beyoncé’s genre-bending collection puts my taste at a standstill. Why would I branch out when I can press play on “Fine Line,” “Folklore,” or “Cowboy Carter”?

Of course, I spin my favorite artists’ new records when they come out. If you explore my blog besides this article, you’d find I haven’t been able to stop listening to, talking about, or writing pieces on “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” by Harry Styles.

I was probably in the first 10k listeners to “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter last year, and I’m eagerly awaiting Ariana Grande’s “Petal” (out July 31!).

I love the artists I love, and I’m forever thankful that I live in an era that brings my favorite music to my fingertips. I’m also old enough to remember the days that I’d record my favorite songs on my mom’s phone since it was near-impossible to buy singles and the entire internet wasn’t in my pocket.

That being said, the constant access to music isn’t always great. Stellar albums can turn stale quickly if listened to without a buffer. Half the time, I’ve overplayed an album’s lead single to the point that I’ve created a “skip” for myself before the full work’s release date. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started “Man’s Best Friend” at “My Man on Willpower” due to my overplay of “Manchild” and “Tears.”

Though I begin to bore myself through over-playing music, I don’t tend to branch out to new artists. Often, it’s from my lack of research or the limited places to be introduced to new songs.

Where to Look for New Artists

One way I work to get out of my personal echo chamber is by checking out Apple Music’s “new” page.

Seems simple enough, but a lot of that page is also based on my algorithmic action. However, that’s where I found Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” back in 2020, and Doechii’s “Alligator Bites Never Heal” in 2024.

I also love getting recommendations from friends, family, and even coworkers. There’s no better conversation to be had than one over favorite artists or best songs.

My love for Sabrina Carpenter actually stemmed from my pop music-loving husband. I turn on P!NK every so often because of my mom. I play Kendrick Lamar’s music on long car rides because of my dad. I listen to Gracie Abrams because of one of my coworkers.

It’s easier to branch out if you have personal connections with the music before even pressing play.

The last way I typically break out of monotonous music spells is by artist references. Sometimes, artists will post Instagram story promotions for another artist. I’m also always sure to arrive in time for opening acts.

Without opening acts, I may not have discovered Chappell Roan or Olivia Dean as early as I had. I was fortunate to see Wet Leg AND Shania Twain open for Harry Styles on two separate tours.

[embed]Shania Twain at the Together, Together Tour

In a time when every aspect of our day is curated to our tastes and what we engage with, it’s important to break out of our regularly-scheduled streaming in pursuit of something new.

How do you break the monotony of your streaming experience?