As AI bands become the norm, they use authenticity signifiers to create cultural clout. How many fans will believe they're real, and how many won't care that they're not?
Thanks for making the effort to think all this through! I guess it’s the final phase of the enshittification of streaming. Maybe it will finally drive us all back to genuine performance in the same physical space? Have you seen anyone working on self-destroying digital media with a limited listen count like analogue media used to be. Maybe there’s a kickstarter there…
Thanks Andrew! You're completely correct, there is a thriving trade in lathe cuts on Bandcamp at the moment. With vinyl back in style and the cost of a full manufacturing run still too expensive for many artists, lathe cuts are a cheaper option. Lathe cut pressings are not made with a metal master disc but by running a lathe into a polycarbonate disc. They aren't as high fidelity as vinyl to begin with and they deteriorate in quality with every play, I think you only get about 50 plays out of them.
Thanks for making the effort to think all this through! I guess it’s the final phase of the enshittification of streaming. Maybe it will finally drive us all back to genuine performance in the same physical space? Have you seen anyone working on self-destroying digital media with a limited listen count like analogue media used to be. Maybe there’s a kickstarter there…
Thanks Andrew! You're completely correct, there is a thriving trade in lathe cuts on Bandcamp at the moment. With vinyl back in style and the cost of a full manufacturing run still too expensive for many artists, lathe cuts are a cheaper option. Lathe cut pressings are not made with a metal master disc but by running a lathe into a polycarbonate disc. They aren't as high fidelity as vinyl to begin with and they deteriorate in quality with every play, I think you only get about 50 plays out of them.