A Look Back at the Best Music Books of 2025 Reveals a Bleak Future for Artists and Fans Alike.
For Liz Pelly's latest book, "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist", is less about an ode to the music streaming giant than a scathing critique. This isn't just another profile of a CEO; this is a dissection of a system that treats artists as mere background noise in the pursuit of more profit.
Pelly paints a bleak picture where music has been reduced to sonic wallpaper, with consumers viewed as mindless drones ripe for manipulation by Spotify's algorithm. Artists are merely an afterthought, their work used to distract listeners while the company racks up the profits.
No alternatives can be offered here; in a world where convenience trumps all, Pelly finds herself grappling with the moral implications of Spotify's dominance. This isn't easy reading, and it's not meant to be comfortable – but it is necessary.
On the other hand, "Men of a Certain Age: My Encounters With Rock Royalty" offers an entirely original take on rock history. Journalist Kate Mossman's book profiles her encounters with aging male artists such as Queen's Roger Taylor, Bruce Hornsby and Jon Bon Jovi in a semi-autobiographical account that's both absurd and insightful.
What makes this book stand out is its writing style, which shines like a beacon amidst the tired legends of music books. Mossman brings to every encounter a spark of self-awareness, affection and sharp analysis that leaves you with mixed emotions – but never truly irrelevant.
Jeff Pearlman's "Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur" offers an incisive biography that reveals someone far more complicated than the "thug" he often portrayed himself as or the saintly figure of a 2003 documentary. Pearlman explores the persona Shakur presented to the world and the sensitive, geeky ballet student he once was – but never quite reconciled with his tumultuous background.
Pearlman delves deep into Tupac's life, exposing the persona he crafted to fit a music industry dominated by gangsta rap at the time. This is grimly compelling reading that reveals both the fragility and strength of this American icon.
Another standout book is "The Tremolo Diaries" by Justin Currie, frontman of Del Amitri. The memoir delves into life in a band whose members know they're not exactly struggling – but have never quite reached their commercial heyday. This candid exploration explores illness, depression and the trials of life in a band where music is merely background noise to the main event.
Currie's writing shines through this deeply personal account – he offers no easy answers or glossed-over tragedies; instead, you're treated to a genuine, winningly cantankerous view on what it means to be an artist struggling to stay relevant. You don't need to know a note of Del Amitri's music to appreciate the candor and raw emotion that permeate this memoir.
Lastly, "Love and Fury: The Extraordinary Life, Death and Legacy of Joe Meek" by Darryl W Bullock is a definitive biography that explores the complex life of groundbreaking producer Joe Meek. The book sheds new light on Meek's experiences as openly gay artist – struggling with mental illness and infighting with the infamous Kray twins while being obsessed with the occult and extraterrestrial life.
Meek's legacy lives on through his work, including the influential Tornados' transatlantic chart-topper Telstar. Bullock delivers a compelling narrative that blends exhaustive research with page-turning drama – it's the perfect tribute to an extraordinary artist whose impact will only continue to grow in the years to come.
For Liz Pelly's latest book, "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist", is less about an ode to the music streaming giant than a scathing critique. This isn't just another profile of a CEO; this is a dissection of a system that treats artists as mere background noise in the pursuit of more profit.
Pelly paints a bleak picture where music has been reduced to sonic wallpaper, with consumers viewed as mindless drones ripe for manipulation by Spotify's algorithm. Artists are merely an afterthought, their work used to distract listeners while the company racks up the profits.
No alternatives can be offered here; in a world where convenience trumps all, Pelly finds herself grappling with the moral implications of Spotify's dominance. This isn't easy reading, and it's not meant to be comfortable – but it is necessary.
On the other hand, "Men of a Certain Age: My Encounters With Rock Royalty" offers an entirely original take on rock history. Journalist Kate Mossman's book profiles her encounters with aging male artists such as Queen's Roger Taylor, Bruce Hornsby and Jon Bon Jovi in a semi-autobiographical account that's both absurd and insightful.
What makes this book stand out is its writing style, which shines like a beacon amidst the tired legends of music books. Mossman brings to every encounter a spark of self-awareness, affection and sharp analysis that leaves you with mixed emotions – but never truly irrelevant.
Jeff Pearlman's "Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur" offers an incisive biography that reveals someone far more complicated than the "thug" he often portrayed himself as or the saintly figure of a 2003 documentary. Pearlman explores the persona Shakur presented to the world and the sensitive, geeky ballet student he once was – but never quite reconciled with his tumultuous background.
Pearlman delves deep into Tupac's life, exposing the persona he crafted to fit a music industry dominated by gangsta rap at the time. This is grimly compelling reading that reveals both the fragility and strength of this American icon.
Another standout book is "The Tremolo Diaries" by Justin Currie, frontman of Del Amitri. The memoir delves into life in a band whose members know they're not exactly struggling – but have never quite reached their commercial heyday. This candid exploration explores illness, depression and the trials of life in a band where music is merely background noise to the main event.
Currie's writing shines through this deeply personal account – he offers no easy answers or glossed-over tragedies; instead, you're treated to a genuine, winningly cantankerous view on what it means to be an artist struggling to stay relevant. You don't need to know a note of Del Amitri's music to appreciate the candor and raw emotion that permeate this memoir.
Lastly, "Love and Fury: The Extraordinary Life, Death and Legacy of Joe Meek" by Darryl W Bullock is a definitive biography that explores the complex life of groundbreaking producer Joe Meek. The book sheds new light on Meek's experiences as openly gay artist – struggling with mental illness and infighting with the infamous Kray twins while being obsessed with the occult and extraterrestrial life.
Meek's legacy lives on through his work, including the influential Tornados' transatlantic chart-topper Telstar. Bullock delivers a compelling narrative that blends exhaustive research with page-turning drama – it's the perfect tribute to an extraordinary artist whose impact will only continue to grow in the years to come.
. spotify is basically giving artists a platform to share their work, even if it means getting lost in the algorithmic noise 
. and honestly, who doesn't want to make a profit from their art? it's not like they're forcing people to listen to music... although that would be kinda cool too 
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. and as for "men of a certain age" being an original take on rock history, i've got to disagree - there's nothing new under the sun when it comes to aging male artists spilling their guts in memoirs 
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. and joe meek's story, while fascinating, is basically been done before... 
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. And Jeff Pearlman's Tupac Shakur biography is so in-depth, it's like you're right there with him, feeling all the emotions 
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. What I'm trying to say is that we need more books that aren't just glorifying the industry, but actually shedding light on the struggles and complexities of artists 
. Can't wait to see what other great reads come out this year!
this book sounds like a total eye-opener about the music industry and how spotify is ruining the game 
i love how she weaves her own experiences into these stories, it's so authentic 
jeff pearlman's "Only God Can Judge Me" about tupac shakur is also super fascinating 
currie's memoir "The Tremolo Diaries" sounds like a real treat, love how he's not afraid to be honest about his struggles with depression and illness 
lastly, darryl w bullock's bio on joe meek is giving me LIFE 
these music books are just a reflection of how messed up our society is now... like, who needs this much drama and tragedy in the world of art? 
all these artists struggling with mental illness and whatnot... it's like they're competing for who can have the most depressing life story 
. But at the same time, I'm grateful for books like "Men of a Certain Age" and "The Tremolo Diaries" - they're raw, honest, and remind us that behind every artist is a person with their own struggles 
pellys book is a scathing critique of our addiction to convenience & profit over art & soul 
and jeff pearlman's tupac bio is like, wow, i had no idea 
how much depth & complexity that guy had. his story is still relevant today, a true icon 
, but at the same time I love discovering new artists on Discover Weekly 
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️️, artists are just background noise 
. It's like we're living in a dystopian future where convenience trumps artistry 
"Men of a Certain Age" is like a breath of fresh air 
, Kate Mossman's writing style shines bright 
. And "The Tremolo Diaries" is so raw and honest, it'll make you feel all the feels 
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. The way he explores both sides of his personality is just fascinating.
And "Love and Fury" about Joe Meek is just incredible... his legacy lives on in the best possible way 
, controlling what we listen to and when 
. Kate Mossman's writing style is infectious 
. The music industry may be bleak, but there are still stories worth telling 
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...and Pelly's book is basically a warning sign, saying we need to take a step back and think about what we're trading off for that convenience - is it really worth sacrificing the souls of artists in the process? 