[the_af]

> If a customer wants endless elevator music, then I don't think that Spotify is wrong to generate endless elevator music for them.

Do people really want low effort things, or are they addicted to them in a loop that businesses are only too happy to reinforce?

I think public tastes are at least partially trained (or "learned"), they are very prone to addictive feedback loops, and they are not entirely shaped by something intrinsic but heavily influenced by what's on offer. And if what's on offer is intentionally cheap garbage...

[pxoe]

believe it or not, there are different kinds of music for different kinds of moods and levels of listening to it, levels of attention, engagement, and so on. some songs will be just a bit too engaging to listen to for some things, and some more low key songs might be a better fit.

people settle for "mediocrity" all the time. be it just what you deem "mediocre" (out of cluelessness and/or disrespect), if it's not a "generic idea of a song with lyrics and all" and just some mild electronica, or if it is really just kind of mediocre, which is a good fit in some situations nonetheless, and does actually have wider appeal due to its mediocrity.

"low effort" may overlap, in perception or in how things are actually made, with some simpler, subtler, not overproduced music. it really isn't a bad thing at all, so it's bizarre to see it get shaded so much.

[the_af]

But I didn't object to chill music, so I'm not sure what your point is.

I specifically referred to algorithmically generated elevator music, aka "low effort music". Not chill music or music without lyrics.

My point is that people do not want garbage, but get used to it. So we shouldn't let companies producing this shit off the hook because it's "what people want". That's not the full picture, and is far too generous to businesses and advertising.

Surely you're not objecting to the notion that public tastes can be shaped to some degree?

[bee_rider]

Depends on the situation. While working, I think lots of us listen to music where the main merit is being non-distracting. In this case, effort is not so important.

If I’m actually listening to the music, I’ll want it to be good.

[the_af]

Non-distracting music is not the same as garbage music, though.

[imajoredinecon]

You should try working in a compiled language. I need good music to listen to while I wait for gcc to do its thing

[achenet]

If you're working with C, your developer environment should include, in addition a good text editor and debugger, a fully furnished recording studio so you can record an album while waiting for your program to build.

If you'd like to increase your income, you can try making formulaic smooth jazz for Spotify playlists instead of pretentious concept albums about your childhood trauma that no one will actually listen to ;)

[bee_rider]

Put the compilation in another terminal, not need to wait for it to complete.

[equestria]

Oh, come on. Not everything is addiction. I can accept that algorithmic doom-scrolling is somewhat habit-forming, but even there, we have agency. But background music? Yeah, I like it, but I don't get restless or frustrated when it's not playing.

[the_af]

Maybe addicting wasn't the right word, but more about reward vs effort.

Regardless, I think it's not the full picture to say businesses simply give people what they want; businesses actually shape people's wants. That's what advertising is about...