DEEP DIVE: The people breaking up with Spotify episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 15 MIN

DEEP DIVE: The people breaking up with Spotify

from Hack · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

It's Hottest 100 day today, and all over Australia, people are getting around their favourite music discoveries.But one of the main platforms that helps people find new tracks is having a bumpy ride, with users boycotting Spotify because of AI, algorithms and the investments of the company's CEO.So what is the boycott Spotify movement about?And what does it tell us about the state of music in general?In the deep dive today, we look at the global music streaming sector's big whale, and ask why some artists and fans are seeking out alternatives.Guests: Dr Sophie Freeman, researcher of music streaming and algorithmic recommendation, the University of MelbourneGet the whole story from hack:Follow us on Instagram and TikTokSubscribe to the hack podcastListen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

It's Hottest 100 day today, and all over Australia, people are getting around their favourite music discoveries. But one of the main platforms that helps people find new tracks is having a bumpy ride, with users boycotting Spotify because of AI, algorithms and the investments of the company's CEO. So what is the boycott Spotify movement about? And what does it tell us about the state of music in general? In the deep dive today, we look at the global music streaming sector's big whale, and ask why some artists and fans are seeking out alternatives. Guests:  Dr Sophie Freeman, researcher of music streaming and algorithmic recommendation, the University of Melbourne Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

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DEEP DIVE: The people breaking up with Spotify

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Undo – How history's outliers got stuff done Mark Steadman An investigation into how history’s oddballs, outliers, and overachievers built systems to help them do their best work.Each episode unearths a so-called productivity hack from history to help you separate the brilliant from the bullshit, so you can build a methodology that works for you.Productivity isn’t about getting more done to feed a money-seeking monster with an ever-growing appetite. It’s about clearing the clutter so you can focus on what you do best.Because if Edison can invent the lightbulb without Inbox Zero, you can probably survive without 10x-ing your toothbrush routine. Tim Ferriss "The 4-Hour Body": Meet the Author iTunes Join Tim Ferriss as he discusses his new book, "The 4-Hour Body." The result of an obsessive quest to hack the human body, it contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. The best-selling author of "The 4-Hour Workweek" fixated on one life-changing question: For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results? Stop, Hack, and Roll Podcast James and Brandon Stop, Hack, and Roll is a podcast about pushing pen and paper games to their limits. Life Kit: Parenting Raising awesome kids takes help. NPR has science and experts to get you through the toughest parenting moments. Updated every time we have Life Kit episodes on parenting.Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks an exclusive sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit

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This episode was published on January 23, 2026.

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It's Hottest 100 day today, and all over Australia, people are getting around their favourite music discoveries.But one of the main platforms that helps people find new tracks is having a bumpy ride, with users boycotting Spotify because of AI,...

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