In the age of unlimited access, music has become ubiquitous. What once represented an intimate and spaced-out experience is now transformed into an incessant stream of releases, playlists and notifications. This saturation, driven by the dynamics of the streaming and the digital cultureaffects both those who create and those who listen.
Artists under pressure: burnout and changes in music production
Artists who in past decades worked under creative cycles of one to three years between albums or EPs, today face increasing pressure to release singles every quarter or even a full album every year. Platforms such as Spotify and TikTok value consistency and immediacy, which alters not only production times, but also the nature of the content: longer albumsThe songs are designed to grab attention in seconds, and the relationship with the public is based on constant visibility.
The return of vinyl and cassettes: signs of more conscious listening
Meanwhile, listeners also feel the wear and tear. Too much choice generates a form of aural exhaustion, where the music loses emotional weight and becomes background noise. In response, many consumers are rediscovering the physical: vinyl, cassettes and analogue equipment are gaining ground as more intentional forms of listening. Global sales of stickers already exceeds USD 2 billion and could reach more than USD 5 billion by 2032, while the number of cassette collectors continues to increase from 2021.
Spotify Syndrome" and the emotional disconnection with music
This phenomenon reveals a deeper problem: it is not just about the volume of music available, but about how today's platforms deform the link between artist and audience. Many musicians face exhaustion and financial stress in trying to stay relevant, in a system where artistic development is relegated in favour of continuous production. As an article in The New Yorker, ¿Is there a way out of "Spotify Syndrome"?
This term, known as "Spotify Syndrome", refers to a music consumption experience marked by passivity and saturation. Exposed to a constant stream of algorithmic recommendations and personalised playlists, listeners lose their emotional connection to the music. The platform prioritises the number of plays over deep discovery, which generates a functional relationship with songs: they are listened to to accompany routines, but rarely internalised.
This musical fatigue arises not from the music itself, but from the context that surrounds it: a structure based on oversupply, immediacy and emotional disconnection. Today, the real challenge does not seem to be discovering new music, but learning to listen again.