Ed Sheeran Trolls Music Critics, Calls Them Obsolete in the Age of Streaming: “Why read a review? Listen to it. It’s freely available”
Ed Sheeran discussed his battles with depression, his upcoming sixth studio album (Subtract), and many other topics in-depth, revealing he struggled as a result of working in the entertainment industry. His recent interview, which Rolling Stone released on Tuesday, was much more candid. The 32-year-old singer and songwriter also criticized the discrimination men experience when they have eating disorders.
Ed Sheeran is one of the artists of this generation, whose songs have the most streams. However, Jay Z politely declined to add a guest verse to the Grammy Award-winning artist’s song, Shape of You, but many musicians would die to work with Sheeran.
He is a hitmaker and even a favorite of the press. But from his recent interview with Rolling Stone, it doesn’t seem that love is mutual. The Photograph singer has talked about his variety of opinions on the value of music critics in the age of streaming.
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Ed Sheeran’s Thoughts on The Need of Music Critics in The Age of Streaming
The era of streaming music has arrived in full force, replacing both physical sales (like CDs) and song downloads (like iTunes). People are switching from buying entire albums, either online or off, to downloading single songs from streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, or Pandora.
So what purpose do music critics serve in today’s digital age? Ed Sheeran’s response to a question about the media, in particular music critics, in the era of streaming was simple and straightforward.
“Why do you need to read a review? Listen to it. Make up your own mind. It’s freely available, he continued. “I would never read an album review and go, ‘I’m not gonna listen to that now.’”
Fair enough, that wasn’t his only hot take during the conversation. The Shivers singer genuinely believes there are two genres. The situation is mixed. “And I don’t think kids believe in genres anymore, either.”
As he concluded, “it’s just playlists, and kids are like, ‘Well, I like this song by this artist, and I like this song by that artist. And it might be a Skrillex song next to a Doja Cat song next to a Kendrick Lamar song.’”
What Did the Fans Have to Say?
‘Music criticism,’ according to The Oxford Companion to Music, is the “intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres.” It falls under the umbrella of musical aesthetics in this sense. One of the hardest genres of art to critique is music because each performance involves a new creation.
Ed Sheeran believes that in the age of streaming, music critics are no longer necessary. As culture and society become more digitized, music criticism’s role and methodology are changing significantly.
Check out the opinions of the fans:
WAIT HES NOT WRONG😭 music wasn’t cheap and accessible back then, so music reviews were there so people wouldn’t have to waster their money on a record they wouldn’t like.
— ang. (@moonlightstarsz) March 28, 2023
He made a great point but I dont think anyone reads music reviews anyway really… atleast definitely not Millennials or Gen Z and I dont even know if gen alpha can read.
— Eric Berlanga (@EricBerlanga) March 28, 2023
Music reviews help lesser known artists get their recognition. Ed is clearly so out of touch with the real world of music
— My Name Is James (@_JamesGtfo) March 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/ethansmaroon/status/1640812313665064981
He’s just saying that cause everyone hates Shape Of You, you can have opinions on anything just like he did one on this
— carlos ❆ (@BRTXCX) March 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/whomstfarted_/status/1640804701057736704
He read all the reviews panning his somg and he is trying to avoid people reading them (like they avoid listening to his new song)
— lukasakun (@lukasakun1) March 28, 2023
In May, Ed Sheeran will release the song, which is pronounced Subtract; but he is unsure of what the future of his music career holds.
The Shape of You hitmaker revealed to Rolling Stone that after Subtract will release on May 5, he will fulfill his obligations under his current record deal with Warner Music. He is unsure of his plans for a new music release after that.
Additionally, Sheeran disclosed that he has created an animated musical for Netflix and has “written loads of songs” for it. He plans to include those songs on an album in the future.
Ed Sheeran’s sixth studio album, Subtract, will be available on May 5, 2023, via Asylum and Atlantic Records.
Source- Rolling Stone
