The algorithm failed music
TL;DR
The author reflects on a past ritual of buying CDs weekly, contrasting it with today's algorithm-driven music discovery. This highlights a shift from personal exploration to automated recommendations in music consumption.
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How it started
I used to have this ritual. Every Tuesday, I would get off the train at 8th Street on my way home from work. I would pop into Other Music, buy a new CD (or three…) and then walk the rest of the way to the Staten Island Ferry listening to my new CD. Even if there wasn't a new record out that week that I was looking forward to, I would buy som …