Trends and culture have always influenced music, but in today’s algorithm-driven era, the influence of trends, culture, and tastemakers has shifted substantially. Music is now less curated by reviewers—who once started or ended artists’ careers—and is instead influenced by algorithms that understand our preferences better than we do, TikTok trends that deliver earworms on endless loops, and influencer co-signs.
Despite these dominant influences, music reviews continue to exist and be in demand, leading to a key question: do music reviews still matter, and if so, what role do they play in our listening habits? We’ll explore this question here by analyzing today’s music influencers and how traditional reviews fit into the landscape.
The Rise of the Algorithmic Ear
Through social media platforms like TikTok, songs find their way to the top of music charts by becoming cultural moments attached to viral videos and sound clips. These are propelled into the mainstream by AI algorithms, which recognize when a video keeps people engaged from start to finish, and place it in front of people who are likely to be equally engaged based on their past behavior. It allows songs by unknown artists to explode in popularity, leading to them climbing music charts. It’s how songs like “abcdefu” by GAYLE became Top 40 hits. The influence of these algorithms isn’t just for new artists; established ones like Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, and Cardi B have all found success with new releases thanks to these algorithms.
Of course, TikTok isn’t the only algorithmic platform influencing our music choices. The platforms we use to cue up a playlist or our favorite artists rely on them too, whether we’re using Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. Each platform recommends artists, songs, and playlists through algorithms. These built-in recommendations have shaped a passive process of music discovery. Instead of actively seeking out advice from other music lovers, we just have to hit play on the options provided to us. The more we engage with these options or skip past them, the more specific the suggestions will be to our listening preferences.
Influencer Culture and the Power of Co-Signs
Beyond music platforms and TikTok’s recommendation algorithms, there are other factors driving music discovery in the modern age: influencers and co-signs, both of which drive engagement through digital platforms like social media.
Influencers, whether on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, act as tastemakers across industries, and music is no exception. Through their content, influencers can endorse artists, helping their music gain more recognition and grow in popularity. Metrics from both influencer and artist content, such as likes, comments, shares, views, and more, act as ratings or reviews for social media users, indicating whether the music or artist is worth listening to.
Co-signs, similar to influencer endorsements, are more specific to the music industry and can carry significant weight in bringing new music to audiences. Co-signs refer to established artists endorsing new artists. It could be as simple as sharing a new artist or song on their social media platforms, or more involved, like featuring new artists on a track.
Music Reviews: From Curating to Meaning-Making
With the significant role of algorithms and endorsements, it’s easy to see why the value of music
reviews is called into question. In the past, discovering new music involved actively seeking guidance on what was worth spending time and money investing in—after all, music was bought by the album or song, rather than being widely available for a small monthly subscription. Curating our music collections was a much larger time and financial investment, and reviews helped us navigate the best ways to spend these resources. With algorithms and streaming subscription services, this is no longer the case. Today, discovering new music and curating our music libraries is far more streamlined and affordable—yet, somehow, this hasn’t completely undermined the value of music reviews.
Reviews have evolved to serve a new purpose: they’re helping build deeper meaning around the music we listen to. Reviews don’t simply guide us on what’s worth listening to or not; instead, they explore topics like artist intent and influences. Reviews today dissect lyrics, dive into the deeper meanings of music, and create cultural conversations around them. Because of this, music journalism and publications like Rolling Stone and Billboard are still relevant and influential in the music experience.
Do Reviews Still Shape Listening Habits?
Since we no longer have the same constraints around time and money to dedicate to our listening
habits, it likely comes as no surprise that more people are moving away from reviews to guide their
music selections. But when we consider the meaning that reviews now offer for those passionate about certain artists, genres, or music in general, reviews carry significant weight. In exploring the deeper meaning and context of the music we listen to, we feel more connected to it, fostering stronger emotional reactions when we hear a particular song, artist, or genre. We’re not just hearing the lyrics, chords, and rhythms. We’re feeling their deeper meaning, which takes our listening experience to an entirely new level of enjoyment.
In short, reviews aren’t shaping what we’re listening to; instead, they are influencing how we’re
listening to it.
What Do People Still Seek Reviews For?
While fewer people today are turning to music reviews to learn whether a new album is worth listening to, they still turn to reviews when spending money. Rather than seeking reviews of artists and albums, they’ll look for reviews of streaming platforms, speakers, headphones, and other parts of the music experience they need to invest their money in.
This shift goes beyond the music industry and extends into a desire for curated feedback for everything from games worth buying and restaurants worth visiting to trustworthy financial service providers. The desire for niche reviews is why sites like Casinos.com reviewing ACH casinos or Zomato reviewing restaurants become authorities in their industries.
Conclusion: Reimagining the Role of the Critic
Reviews have shifted from shaping popular opinion to building deeper connections and understanding broader contexts that influence the music we listen to. Today, music reviews are less about guiding listening preferences and are more about enriching listening experiences.
The Indy Review 