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Comment by bsoqk | Hacker News Reader

I am a "media fan" and algorithms (going back to last.fm) have make me discover so much music that it's not even funny. The idea of "escaping algorithms" is a net negative for me.

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I guess the point (at least for me) is a bit to get rid of weird intransparent algorithms that seemingly got worse over the past couple of years. Using a platform like last.fm where it’s clearer that recommendations are based on genres and similar listeners is still ok and encouraged, and probably as close to getting recommendations from real humans as possible.

When I was a teen some 20 odd years ago the “algorithm” is people you spoke to.

That said smart shuffle on Spotify has found me a lot of good music.

My experience also. I discover new music at a higher rate than even my teens when I listened to the radio every night, and went to gigs and bought CDs weekly. I still have some music I have to use my own MP3s for but I feel incredibly well served by streaming.

Algorithms are fine when they serve you.

When they are serving someone else, and manipulating your attention to push promoted content instead of stuff you might actually like, or serve you ads, or track your behavior so that information can be sold, then not so much.

Things are good when they are good for you. Things are bad when they are bad for you.

By now the Spotify algorithm has been good for me. The day it starts being bad I’ll badmouth it. It’s not the time yet.

The Spotify algorithm is pretty bad for me. It pushes a lot of stuff I have no interest in (especially podcasts and audiobooks). The Apple Music algorithm is a bit better, but it's almost too conservative.

For me, Pandora gets it just about right.

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