John Gilhooly speech: How to Save Music

[RichardB]

I doubt all the algorithms work that way

I should have said, more precisely, that algorithms like the ones used by Spotify "deliver suggestions based on behaviour or characteristics - yours or those of others - that have been tracked by the system." The results may indeed be unexpected, but vast amounts of material goes completely under the radar. There are many sites and blogs which instruct would-be top streaming musicians how to tap into Spotify's algorithms. One of them I read recently contained the words "I can hear the gripes already: 'I’m not changing my music to please an algorithm!' I think that perspective is flawed. Here’s why: The algorithm IS your audience." It is naïve to think that this feature isn't being exploited to the maximum degree by labels with the resources to do so. The same commercial hegemony still applies as in the old days of selling records and CDs, but nowadays many people aren't even aware that it's going on.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I should have said, more precisely, that algorithms like the ones used by Spotify "deliver suggestions based on behaviour or characteristics - yours or those of others - that have been tracked by the system." The results may indeed be unexpected, but vast amounts of material goes completely under the radar. There are many sites and blogs which instruct would-be top streaming musicians how to tap into Spotify's algorithms. One of them I read recently contained the words "I can hear the gripes already: 'I’m not changing my music to please an algorithm!' I think that perspective is flawed. Here’s why: The algorithm IS your audience." It is naïve to think that this feature isn't being exploited to the maximum degree by labels with the resources to do so. The same commercial hegemony still applies as in the old days of selling records and CDs, but nowadays many people aren't even aware that it's going on.

Not sure how it works now but in the days of a limited number of free plays new music lost out because of the limited number of recordings . As a friend of mine said there’s millions of Beethoven 5 recordings but very few Donnerstag aus Lichts.

Ps . Your top hit on YouTube at the moment is Tract. Also offered to me in the side bar is Victor Borge . Did he ever play it ? I think there’s something up with the algorithm!

[RichardB]

Not sure how it works now but in the days of a limited number of free plays new music lost out because of the limited number of recordings . As a friend of mine said there’s millions of Beethoven 5 recordings but very few Donnerstag aus Lichts.

There you go.

I'm sure Victor Borge could have brought out some unexpected sides to that piece, but sadly it was not to be.

[Ein Heldenleben]

There you go.

I'm sure Victor Borge could have brought out some unexpected sides to that piece, but sadly it was not to be.

Also in the side bar are Lupu / Perahia playing Mozart (fair enough ) , a short film on Honda cycle gear sets , the history of the pipe organ , a music theory film on cycle of fifths , a biog of Debussy . It’s clearly sponsored content isn’t it ?

[RichardB]

It’s clearly sponsored content isn’t it ?

Obviously I can't force you to believe what I'm saying, but I can assure you it's backed up by people far more in the know than I am!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Obviously I can't force you to believe what I'm saying, but I can assure you it's backed up by people far more in the know than I am!

I don’t doubt that they use algorithms. All I would say is that they are a bit offbeam .Also in the proffered content is an hour long doc on “complex “ composers including you and Finissy . But most of the other content bears no relation at all . Also there Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue and the Adolf Wiklund Piano Concerto.

[kernelbogey]

Radio Four Tuesday 7 March:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jsk8

The Next Generation
Rethinking Music

In a three-part series, Soweto Kinch looks at music education across the UK and assesses how its de-prioritisation over the years is playing out.

[alywin]

You're asking for trouble, inserting a definite article before Wigmore Hall' like that. The management don't like it.

Tough. The Wigmore Hall, the South Bank Centre, the Royal Albert Hall (I did forgive 1970s-era Barry Manilow on that, though), the Barbican. Anything else is just grammatically incorrect in British English :)

[oddoneout]

Radio Four Tuesday 7 March:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jsk8

The Next Generation
Rethinking Music

In a three-part series, Soweto Kinch looks at music education across the UK and assesses how its de-prioritisation over the years is playing out.

I wonder if this is the origin of the accidental voice-over by Sarah Walker a few days ago?

Perhaps a bit late now but an easy access edited extract version of the Gilhooly speech https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...-john-gilhooly

[kernelbogey]

...Perhaps a bit late now but an easy access edited extract version of the Gilhooly speech https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...-john-gilhooly

Thanks Oddie - will read this later.

The postscript is worth emphasising:
This is an edited extract of a speech given by John Gilhooly, chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society and chief executive of Wigmore Hall, at the 2023 RPS awards on 1 March. BBC Radio 3 will broadcast an RPS awards programme at 7pm on 6 March and the ceremony will be available to watch on the RPS website from 9 March.