Book
Ways of Listening : Building a Deeper Relationship with Music in the Streaming Era.
In 'Ways of Listening', Rollie Pemberton explores how the internet has transformed music consumption and creation. It is a love letter to music, analyzing the current cultural landscape, the impact of streaming platforms, and the challenges faced by artists in the digital age. Pemberton grew up in Edmonton, AB, and now lives in Hamilton, ON. From the author of 'Bedroom Rapper'.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780771016042
- Physical Description: 224 pages ; 1 x 15 cm
- Publisher: Canada : McClelland & Stewart, 2026.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | CO |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition Note: | Library Bound Incorporated |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Rap & Hip Hop MUSIC / History & Criticism |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookstown Branch | ON ORDER | pr08285734 | NONFIC | On order | - |
- Random House, Inc.
How has the internet changed the way we listen to, and love, the music that shapes our lives? Award-winning musician Rollie Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) interrogates our current musical landscape.
Ways of Listening is a love letter to music, a sharp analysis of our current cultural reality, and a joyful celebration of the artists who keep creating against all odds.
Music occupies a curious place in modern life, somehow omnipresent and disposable at the same time. Computers have democratized song creation. There is more music being produced now than at any point in human history and streaming platforms are the ultimate distribution model for this vast bounty. Â
But streaming relies on an algorithmic discovery system that guides the userâs choices and encourages them to listen passively to the companyâs curation, while also dissuading the listener from searching for music and developing their own taste. Streamers offer meagre royalties to artists on their platforms, largely devaluing music in the public sphere. As Chappell Roan said at the 2025 Grammys, artists can barely afford to live, let alone create. And social media companies have made a whole generation of young listeners perceive music as merely background noise for content. Â
It all adds up to a bleak landscape for the true fan, but thereâs another way. Pemberton delves deep into his own discovery process to present a gentle reminder of another path for the contemporary music lover. He interrogates the obsession with the âmysterious artistâ archetype, the magic of demo recordings, the racial disparity in the remastering of music, AIâs struggle to understand Italo discoâs strange balance of classic and cringe, what someone really means when they say they donât like the Beatles, and more.
