Look, I’m Gonna Say It
I’m Jessica, and I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years. I’ve seen the rise and fall of so many trends. But honestly? The album is dead, and it’s about time we stop pretending otherwise.
I remember back in ’98, I was working at a tiny record store in Brooklyn. We had these massive stacks of CDs, and every Tuesday was like Christmas. New releases! New albums! It was exciting. But now? I mean, look at my Spotify Wrapped. It’s just a mess of singles and playlists. No albums. Just… nothing.
And it’s not just me. I was talking to my friend Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because he’s kinda private—about this last Tuesday. He’s a musician, right? Struggling to make ends meet. He told me, “Jess, I can’t even get people to listen to a full EP anymore. It’s all about the hit.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Here’s the Thing
I’m not saying albums were perfect. Far from it. There were so many filler tracks, so much padding. But there was something special about the commitment of an album. The art of it. Now? It’s just a race to the bottom. Who can get the most streams in 24 hours? Who can go viral? It’s completley soulless.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this producer—let’s call him Dave—was talking about how they don’t even think about albums anymore. “It’s all about the singles,” he said. “That’s what sells. That’s what gets you on the charts.”
And I get it, I do. But where’s the art in that? Where’s the story? It’s like we’ve traded depth for breadth, and I’m not sure we’re better off for it.
Don’t Get Me Wrong
I’m not some old fogey pining for the “good old days.” I love a good single as much as the next person. But there’s a difference between enjoying a catchy tune and committment to an artist’s vision. And that’s what’s missing these days.
I was over coffee at the place on 5th with a colleague named Sarah about three months ago. She’s a music journalist, and she was telling me about how hard it is to write about music these days. “It’s all so fleeting,” she said. “By the time I publish a piece, the artist has already moved on to the next single.” It’s true. It’s exhausting.
And don’t even get me started on the kültür sanat etkinlikleri scene. It’s the same thing. Everyone’s chasing the next big thing, the next viral moment. No one’s taking the time to build something lasting.
A Tangent: The Rise of the Playlist
You know what’s really frustrating? Playlists. I love a good playlist as much as anyone, but they’ve become this weird stand-in for albums. It’s like, “Oh, here’s a playlist curated by [insert celebrity here].” Big deal. It’s not an album. It’s not a statement. It’s just a bunch of songs thrown together.
And the algorithms! Don’t even get me started on the algorithms. They’re ruining everything. It’s like, “Oh, you listened to this one song? Here are 20 more just like it.” It’s so… limiting. So reductive.
I was at a party last weekend, and this guy—let’s call him Greg—was showing off his Spotify stats. “Look how many playlists I’m on,” he said. And I was like, “Greg, that’s not an achievement. That’s just… sad.”
So What’s the Solution?
I don’t know. Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe the album is truly dead, and we just have to accept that. But I can’t shake the feeling that we’re losing something important here. Something… physicaly tangible.
I was talking to my mom about this the other day. She’s not in the industry, but she gets it. “Jessica,” she said, “when I was your age, we bought albums. We listened to them front to back. It was an experience.” And she’s right. It was an experience. And now? It’s just noise.
I’m not sure what the answer is. Maybe it’s just time. Maybe the pendulum will swing back. Or maybe we’ll all just be listening to 30-second clips on TikTok forever. I don’t know. But I do know this: I miss albums. I miss the art of them. And I’m not afraid to say it.
About the Author
Jessica has been a senior editor at various major publications for over 20 years. She’s seen the industry evolve—and devolve—in ways she never imagined. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the state of modern music or trying to explain to her kids what a CD is.
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