🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck: AI Scams, Streaming Ethics & 4 Alumni Tracks Worth a Replay
Welcome back, audiophiles! On this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, our host Mark Bradbourne peels back the curtain on AI infiltration in the music industry and gives the spotlight to four returning artists who continue to create music that’s honest, inspired, and—most importantly—real. 🎶
🤖 AI on Spotify: The Digital Scam No One Asked For
This week’s episode kicks off with an exposé on Spotify’s recent controversy: AI-generated covers being passed off as real music by fake artists. These AI tracks infiltrated public playlists, generated millions of streams, and got paid out—all while the supposed artists had zero social media presence and bios that smelled suspiciously like ChatGPT wrote them.
“These bios were very ChatGPT-like…”
🕵️♂️ Reddit sleuths helped expose the scam, leading Spotify to remove many of the tracks. Still, the bigger issue? There’s no rule on Spotify banning AI-created music. And there’s even a wild theory (unproven, but spicy) that Spotify may be behind some of these tracks in a bid to lower royalty payouts.
The result: less money in the pot for real musicians. And as Mark puts it:
“It’s AI being the worst possible thing it can be for actual artists.”
💡 Pro Tip from Mark:
If you really want to support musicians:
- 🎟️ See them live
- 👕 Buy merch from their own websites
- ❌ Skip Amazon and label shops
- ✅ Spend money where it matters
🎶 This Week’s Playlist: Songs That Don’t Suck Alumni Edition
Due to a painfully dry release week (Mark listened to 600+ tracks with no winners!), he turned inward—digging through past podcast favorites to find overlooked releases. And what a great call that was.
1. J Solomon – “Glass”
🎧 Indie-Pop | Clean Production | Catchy Hooks
Discovered in Episode 4, J Solomon’s “Glass” builds on what made “Home” great—clean vocals, relatable lyrics, and little production quirks that make it feel human. If you’re into well-crafted indie-pop with heart, this one’s for you.
🛠️ Studio moment: Mark loves the subtle drumstick clatter—proof of a real session, not an AI clone.
2. Too Many Temples – “Ghost Story”
🎸 Psych-Rock | Raw Energy | Oasis Meets Black Keys
Their earlier song “Woven” (Ep. 38) channeled Beatles psychedelia. Now with “Ghost Story,” they crank up the grit. It’s noisy, raw, and loaded with DIY charm that fans of early Oasis or Travis will love. Still criminally under-streamed (74 monthly listeners!).
🧠 Mark’s take: “Almost like an early Black Keys recording—DIY feel in a really well-crafted song.”
3. The Rolling People – “No Place to Be”
🇬🇧 British Rock Revival | Dynamic Songwriting | Youthful Energy
At just 19 years old when first featured (Ep. 32), these UK rockers delivered an energy-infused sound. Their new EP Before It’s Gone proves they’re still on the rise. Mark praises their use of dynamics, a lost art in today’s loudness war.
🔊 Sound advice: Not everything needs to be mastered to 11.
4. High Fade – “Bone to Pick”
🥁 Funk Fusion | Viral Talent | Live Band Feel
First found via a viral street performance (Ep. 28), High Fade is a funk trio with ridiculous chops. Their latest track “Bone to Pick” is complex, energetic, and flawlessly executed. And yes, they really play that tightly—Mark saw the live footage.
💔 One regret: Mark missed their Ohio show. Let’s hope they return.
🔊 Final Thoughts: When in Doubt, Look Back
“Go support real artists. Buy merch directly. Go to shows. And avoid the AI bullshit.”
Even if the new release radar fails you, there’s a treasure trove of music out there worth revisiting. This week proves that true artistry doesn’t just pop up once—it evolves, grows, and surprises you all over again.
📸 …and I quote…
❝ Support artists directly. Don’t buy shit from Amazon or label websites. Go to their website. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck 🎶
