Soundcheck
Music is mathematics that provokes emotion in humans. Weekend observations on pattern, rhythm, and human response. Published Thursdays/Fridays.
Latest Issue — 1 May 2026
The Album is Back (and Streaming Did It)
For a decade, the narrative was simple: streaming killed the album. Playlists replaced albums. Attention spans collapsed. Except something strange happened around 2024-2025. Album listening started growing again—not despite streaming, because of it.
Platform UI changes, spatial audio incentives, and subscriber retention data all point the same direction: albums drive engagement better than singles. The mathematics reward it. Listeners want it. Artists are building for it.
→ Read Soundcheck #007
Archive
1 May 2026 — The Album is Back (and Streaming Did It)
24 April 2026 — The Loudness Wars Are Over (And Streaming Won By Accident)
18 April 2026 — Opt-In Friction as Signal: Why Vinyl Lives While CDs Die
4 April 2026 — The Loop Economy: When Three Minutes Became Optional
20 March 2026 — The 113 BPM Sweet Spot & Emotional-First Composition