We are back for our first headlines episode of 2026. For this month’s edition, we’re joined by Hearing Things co-founder and longtime music critic Jill Mapes to discuss her recent piece “The Wasserman Exodus is A Different Kind of Reckoning” about the artists protesting music exec Casey Wasserman’s appearance in the Epstein files. Before that, we’re also talking about Spotify’s recent 2025 Q4 earnings call, where it presented a financial update to shareholders, and what it says about the company’s most recent positions on generative AI and the visions of its new leadership. Or as we’re calling it: “Liz reads the transcript of the Spotify earnings call so you don’t have to.” This episode is now available for subscribers at patreon.com/criticallistening, sign up today to get access to bonus episodes and our Discord and support the show so we can keep the episodes coming!
a lot of awesome and shitty stuff happened last year. mostly I worried about money but kept at it with my @hearingthingsco comrades; I feel good and proud about that. I’m too tired to recap properly and I’m mid-binge of LOTR for the *very first time* so instead here’s FACES 2025
Our sister in journalism, @jumons steps to our Happy Hour Panel stage tonight ⭐️
In this conversation, we’ll dive into the real impact of streaming on artist income and visibility, how recommendation engines shape music discovery, and the creative ways both artists and fans are finding music off-platform.
Join the conversation with Hannah Pruz, Liz Pelly, and Taja Cheek moderated by Cherie Hue tonight at @sleepwalk.nyc
- Sliding scale donation tickets available. Open bar from 6-7PM. Free RSVP’s are now sold out 🎟️
If you’re not getting paid, then who is? 💻
We’ll be in conversation with @lizpelly , writer & the author of Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist
@hanapruz , musician
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@turrelljames , curator & musician
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@jumons , music journalist, critic, & Co-Founder of @hearingthingsco
Moderated by Cherie Hu, founder of @water_and_music , this panel calls out the implications of big tech, artificial intelligence, and algorithms in the music business.
Together, we’ll dive deeper into the why of the systems in place and how we can rebuild out of solidarity and hope for equity in the future.
Join the conversation for free by RSVP’ng, link in bio 🔗 Tag an artist that needs to be in the room on October 29th.
📍@sleepwalk.nyc
🍸Open Bar
💰RSVP Donations go toward the Audiofemme Agenda Grant
prof mapes era 🧑🏫 class is officially in session
teaching is a jump start to my system, a reminder of all that I carry with me on this journey 15+ years in. I’m grateful for every single musician, writer, thinker, filmmaker, and choreographer on my syllabus, even more grateful for those I’ve known firsthand. a lot of what I know about music I’ve picked up along the way — never did grad school, kinda shit at playing — just living and listening to my elders. humbled to pass along a piece.
EDIT: much much love to @daphinatrix for inviting me to co-teach w/ her at clive pre-pandemic, and much love to dan charnas for bringing me back and coaching me through it.
this life chapter is dedicated to my paternal grandparents, who were both wonderful teachers. lord help me be useful to these kids. ☄️
ok but the @hearingthingsco party I wouldn’t shut up about was so fun!!! Lollise’s performance blew me away!!! raffle was a big success!!! pals came through!!! I ate hella candy and met some fans!!! I love this crew!!! now my feet rly hurt!!!
face for the algorithm so you know it’s real // @hearingthingsco is having our first party TONIGHT, and if you’re in NYC I’m gonna suggest you make your way there. you’ll find me manning a vinyl raffle and dancing like a silly goose (see slide 4). making HT has been fun, hard, humbling, affirming, surreal, different than I expected, at times dramatic and frustrating and hilarious. I wish everyone the kind of creative support I feel from my four cofounders / friends, but I’m also here to say: we can’t do this alone as an indie / worker-owned publication, we want and need to build community with those who are just as passionate about music discovery and music criticism as we are. so come thru, say hey, subscribe, give us a follow, read our shit, disagree with me in the comments, get into the podcast and playlists and newsletters, find your next favorite band, you know the drill. 😎🎧💓
Welcome Jill Mapes (@jumons ) to the Summit! Jill is a founder of @hearingthingsco , as well as a writer and editor. She will host our artist keynote with @julienrbaker on Thursday March 27, as well as serve as a mentor.👏
Jill is one of the founders of the worker-owned music publication Hearing Things, as well as the host of HT’s flagship podcast Waste or Taste.
From 2016 to 2024, she was a features editor at Pitchfork, where she edited deep dives on everything from TikTok hits to queer nightlife to big ticketing, and penned reviews and profiles of personal favorites like Angel Olsen, Beach House, Mitski, and Caroline Polachek. An Ohio-born culture writer and editor, Jill also has past lives at Vulture, Billboard, CBS, and Flavorwire.
She is also an @scripps_jschool alumna!💚
✍️Register now to catch this incredible keynote conversation and much more!
