When we think of global tech innovation, we tend to think of the U.S.—Silicon Valley, venture capital, billion-dollar unicorns. But when it comes to music streaming, some of the most influential platforms didn’t sprout up in California—they were born in Europe.
Comparing Apple’s and Amazon’s top-of-the-line smart speakers goes beyond just sound quality. It’s also about ecosystem lock-in, AI smarts, voice control, and design philosophy.
You're not alone—millions of people are quietly craving a voice assistant that actually understands music the way humans do. Not just matching artist names or album titles, but really grasping mood, emotion, tempo, genre hybrids, and cultural context.
You imagined asking Alexa or Google Assistant to play “a peaceful piano piece that sounds like Erik Satie,” or “Van Halen’s Jump” . The reality? Clunky commands, misunderstood artists, bizarre remixes from unknown YouTubers, or—if you were lucky—Alexa saying “I’m sorry, I can’t find that.”
There’s a quiet joy in stumbling upon the perfect playlist: it feels like someone out there gets you. Not just the algorithm—a real person with taste, mood, and intention. So why is it still so hard to make friends through music in the streaming era?
Streaming has revolutionized how we listen to music—but can it also change how we experience it in person? With live music making a comeback and fans hungry for in-the-flesh connection, the question is more relevant than ever
In the past, breaking into the music industry meant grinding through open mics, mailing demo tapes, or praying a label rep happened to be in the bar the night you gave the performance of your life. But the streaming age has rewritten the rules.
There’s a persistent myth in the audio world: that studio monitors are only for mixing, mastering, and music production—tools for the studio, not the casual listener. But that idea is both outdated and limiting.
A Deep Dive Into the Divide Between Studio and Hi-Fi Speakers Editor's note: Psst...gave Adam Audio speakers a listen and was highly impressed. Most of us don’t think too much about our speakers. If they sound good, they’re good—right? But anyone who’s dipped
What are the best speakers for streaming? Something that balances convenience, high fidelity, and a modern lifestyle?
n the era of ubiquitous smartphones, it’s easy to forget that streaming music doesn’t have to be tethered to your phone. For those who crave distraction-free listening — free from notifications, calls, and doomscrolling — a quiet revolution of portable, dedicated streaming devices has emerged.
Editor's choice and comment: can you name one recent pop song you've heard that doesn't use algorithms of some sort? I. The Music of the Spheres: Ethics, Harmony, and the Algorithmic Future When the Greek philosopher Pythagoras studied the ratios of string lengths on