EPISODE · Feb 16, 2026 · 25 MIN
How We Stole Music: Episode 3: Spotify Kinda Sucks
from High Fidelity: a Music History Podcast · host MCMT Audio
This is the story of how we stole music. Nowadays, for a simple monthly subscription we get access to every song we could possibly want at the cost of our favourite artists making a living. But how did we get here? In this series, we trace the routes of music streaming, to the online piracy craze of the 90s and 00s, to a major development in music technology. In the final episode, we look at how music piracy led to the creation of Spotify. We take a deeper look at how Spotify pays its artists and the final ways in which we stole music. Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod
What this episode covers
This is the story of how we stole music. Nowadays, for a simple monthly subscription we get access to every song we could possibly want at the cost of our favourite artists making a living. But how did we get here? In this series, we trace the routes of music streaming, to the online piracy craze of the 90s and 00s, to a major development in music technology. In the final episode, we look at how music piracy led to the creation of Spotify. We take a deeper look at how Spotify pays its artists and the final ways in which we stole music. Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod
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How We Stole Music: Episode 3: Spotify Kinda Sucks
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