Talking Heads, Paul Weller, Paul McCartney... the 10 best music books of the year

As well as musicians' memoirs, there are also interesting insights on issues such as the rise of Spotify and Berlin's club culture

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025 - 15:00

Eoghan O’Sullivan

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, Liz Pelly

Spotify felt like the future when it arrived — every song, every album, all in one place. But as criticism around its meagre artist payouts and co-founder Daniel Ek’s links to AI and military tech has sharpened, so has the need for a reckoning. Liz Pelly’s investigation, featuring more than 100 interviews with insiders, former employees, and musicians, lays out how Spotify has reshaped listening for the worse. She also offers solutions, such as community and local music scenes.