🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 54

Spotify Shenanigans, AI Garbage, and Actual Music That Doesn’t Suck

Welcome back, song sleuths! Whether you’re a first-timer or one of the faithful, thanks for tuning in to another week of digging through digital noise to find real-deal music worth your ears.

This episode, Mark gets candid about Spotify’s new royalty policy—and why it could be bad news for musicians and music lovers alike. But fear not: amid a sea of algorithm-chasers and AI-generated fluff, he’s got five real gems for your playlists. 💎

Let’s dig in.

🧨 Spotify Royalty Change: More Streams, Less Money?

Mark opens with a deep dive into the recent Medium piece by Pavel Marakovic on Spotify’s new royalty rules. Here’s the short version:

• 🔥 Spotify now requires songs to hit a certain threshold—1,000+ streams and possibly more—to earn any royalty payment.
• 📉 160 million+ tracks fell below that mark; 45 million received zero streams.
• 🤖 A ton of it is AI junk, ambient noise, and glorified audio spam.
• 🎶 Real musicians get buried while fake content floods the pipeline.

Mark’s Take?

“Do you play the algorithm game and risk your creativity, or make real art and pray someone finds it?”

That’s why this podcast exists. To bring you actual songs that don’t suck.

🎧 This Week’s Cover: Running Up That Hill – Placebo

Forget Stranger Things hype—Placebo’s take on Kate Bush’s classic is a moody, gritty stunner that pre-dates the Netflix nostalgia wave.

• 🌀 Think Depeche Mode meets Sonic Youth
• 🔥 Smoldering guitars, hypnotic tempo, and a haunting vocal
• ✅ Great gateway into Placebo’s discography: “Pure Morning,” “Nancy Boy,” and more

🔥 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck

1. Last Night – John Veranas

🎙️ Soulful indie with Latin roots and alt-rock polish

• Mysterious new artist—possibly Latin American—making waves with just his second Spotify release
• Laid-back groove reminiscent of The Revivalists and early Arctic Monkeys
• Sultry, layered instrumentation with textured keys
• Mark’s Verdict: “I can’t compare it to much else, and that’s a good thing.”

2. In the Meantime – The Crooks

🇬🇧 Oasis influence meets modern Britpop swagger

• Catchy, driving indie rock with strong vocals
• Yes, there’s a definite Oasis vibe—but they build on it with their own voice
• A polished track that begs for a festival crowd

3. Vampire Disco – Friday Pilots Club

🦇🎉 Funky, infectious indie-pop from a returning favorite

• If Life Support was brooding alt-rock, this is neon-lit dancefloor joy
• Fans of Neon Trees, The Killers, or Foster the People? You’re in
• Funky guitar riff, processed vocals, and a title that actually fits the vibe

4. No Doubt – Odie Lee

🔥 Standout female singer-songwriter energy (with horns!)

• Unique, powerful voice that stands apart from the breathy-clone crowd
• Rock-tinged arrangement with horn accents and grit
• Mark mentions a Sarah Harmer comparison (shoutout to Open Window, his wedding song!)
• Bonus: Local show regret is real—he missed her live last year. 😬

5. Price You Pay – Bend Sinister

🎸 Classic rock revival done right

• Initial vibes: Doobie Brothers
• Closer comparison: Rival Sons, Dirty Honey
• Jazzy vocal scat mid-song adds unexpected flair
• Released summer 2023 but rediscovered thanks to Spotify’s AI DJ (hey, it sometimes works)

🔗 Where to Connect

📹 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (just audio, no face—by design 😄)
🎵 Artist or fan? Use the contact form to suggest songs!

🎧 That’s a wrap for Episode 54!
Until next week—keep listening, keep discovering, and always keep searching for…
Songs That Don’t Suck.