Daniel Winkler, Nils Wlömert, and Jura Liaukonyte researched and published a paper on cancel culture and how it impacts musical artists. It’s not what you think.

The big ideas are:

1. Social media outrage doesn’t materially change listening habits.

2. If it bleeds it leads — bad news often increased short-term streams.

3. Platform actions, not boycotts, drove the real decline in an artist’s popularity.

What’s more: When Spotify pulled R.Kelly from playlists, his streams tanked. However, when Morgan Wallen faced backlash (in case you’re read up) there was hardly a dent. Why? And were listeners aware?

Most listeners were not aware that Spotify silently curated their experience.

The digital world that is likely your world is largely a curated one. Instead of the world being a stage, perhaps the world is a curated immersive modern art exposition. Algorithms feed you what they think you want, and they narrow your experience horizons with you noticing.

If you want a better experience, seek different. Listen to music you don’t enjoy, read opinions that upset you, listen to podcasts you can’t stand — embrace the discomfort that is our world. You may encounter new ideas and processes that could benefit you!

Skilled session musicians play and read many styles of music. They don’t get that way by only listening to one thing. They expose themselves to many different ways of playing and ideas. Live life like a skilled session musician — it’s more fun.