Songs That Don’t Suck, Ep. 98: Fake Music, Real Voices & Thanksgiving-Week Gems
Hey friends—Mark Bradbourne here with a soft-spoken but deeply passionate episode of Songs That Don’t Suck. It’s the week of Thanksgiving in the U.S., and while the music industry tends to go quiet, Mark digs deeper and finds five soulful singer-songwriter tracks worth your ears.
But first, a massive industry story that isn’t getting the attention it should…
Global Music Copyright Value Tops Box Office for the First Time
Spotify’s chief economist Will Page just dropped a bombshell:
The global value of music copyright hit $45.5 billion in 2023—surpassing cinema box office revenue for the first time ever.
By the Numbers:
- Up 11% from 2022, and 26% from 2021
- 63% goes to artists and labels, 37% to songwriters, publishers, and CMOs
- Physical media is no longer a rounding error—vinyl up 15.4%, outpacing streaming growth
- In the U.S., vinyl alone expected to generate $1 billion for labels in 2024
“This is a win on paper, but let’s talk about what it means for real artists.”
The Rise of “Fake Music” and AI-Generated Nonsense
Mark pulls no punches: he’s worried. With music revenues booming, opportunists are flooding streaming platforms with AI-generated garbage—and calling it “music.”
- Algorithm-driven creators are gaming the system
- Fake producers = real dollars, no artistry
- Platforms aren’t doing enough to filter out low-effort, high-output junk
“This music isn’t alive. It can’t tour. It can’t share a moment on stage. It’s just noise.”
Mark calls on listeners to support real artists—not just with clicks, but with merch, concert tickets, and presence.
Thanksgiving = Playlist Famine? Not So Fast…
Thanksgiving week historically sees a drop in releases—and Mark noticed playlists were down by half. But that led to some new discoveries in the singer-songwriter realm.
“There’s nothing I love more than a great singer-songwriter. And this week, they saved me.”
Here are five tracks that made the cut.
5 Singer-Songwriter Tracks That Don’t Suck
1. Nina Nesbitt – “Pages”
Pop-Folk | Dynamic Build | Introspective & Honest
Returning after “Anger” from Episode 82, Nina delivers a heartfelt track that grows from soft piano into a rich bed of instrumentation. Lyrically wise beyond her years, this one hits even if you’re twice her age.
Standout lyric: “I’m two years from 30—and I’m scared more each day.”
2. Jonah Kagan – “God Needs the Devil”
Folk-Rock | Stomp & Holler | Emotional Rawness
Following his earlier hit “Matches With You” (Ep. 80), Jonah returns with grit and lyrical weight. It’s about the intoxicating contradiction of a person who’s bad for you—but irresistibly necessary.
Mark’s vibe: “Bad decisions make great lyrics.”
3. Joy Oladokun – “I’d Miss the Birds”
Soulful Folk | Self-Produced | Pure Truth
A four-time podcast favorite, Joy returns with a track that’s both gorgeously composed and vulnerably honest. As always, her voice cuts deep, and the production is restrained perfection.
Mark says: “You know it’s special when even the birds are part of the metaphor.”
4. Ash feat. Suki Waterhouse – “Pushing Daisies”
Retro Pop Rock | Male/Female Duet | Seductive & Sharp
Suki (yes, from Daisy Jones & The Six) joins alt-rock veterans Ash for a sexy, slightly noir duet. There’s a retro flavor in the pre-chorus, clever lyrics, and a vocal chemistry that just works.
Fun fact: This one was stuck on Mark’s “almost shared” list for weeks.
5. Jensen McRae – “Massachusetts”
Indie Folk | Powerful Delivery | Emotional Linger
Not on her stellar 2022 album Are You Happy Now?, but equally potent. Jensen delivers heartbreak wrapped in specificity—details like video game names and bad birthdays that make it unforgettable.
Shoutout: Mark’s daughter and her roommate D’mya (a fan of the pod!) get credit for putting this one on his radar.
Wrap-Up & Where to Find More
- Website: songsthatdontsuck.net
- Merch: Shirts and vinyl-friendly gear available
- Feedback or recs? Email Mark: mark@songsthatdontsuck.net
- Social: Instagram, BlueSky
“The podcast rolls on because the fight for real music isn’t over.”
…and I quote…
❝ We, the Songs That Don’t Suck army, have to protect real music from the fake stuff flooding in. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck
