High Fidelity: a Music History Podcast

This is the story of how we stole music. Nowadays, for a simple monthly subscription we get access to every song we could possibly want at the cost of our favourite artists making a living. But how did we get here? In this series, we trace the routes of music streaming, to the online piracy craze of the 90s and 00s, to a major development in music technology.    In the final episode, we look at how music piracy led to the creation of Spotify. We take a deeper look at how Spotify pays its artists and the final ways in which we stole music.   Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

This is the story of how we stole music. Nowadays, for a simple monthly subscription we get access to every song we could possibly want at the cost of our favourite artists making a living. But how did we get here? In this series, we trace the routes of music streaming, to the online piracy craze of the 90s and 00s, to a major development in music technology.    This week, we dive into the deepest corners of the internet to learn about music piracy and the Pirate Kings behind the MP3 piracy craze. We learn who was leaking and supplying all the music for your favourite sites like The Pirate Bay and Napster.   Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

How We Stole Music!   This is the story of how we stole music. Nowadays, for a simple monthly subscription we get access to every song we could possibly want at the cost of our favourite artists making a living. But how did we get here? In this series, we trace the routes of music streaming, to the online piracy craze of the 90s and 00s, to a major development in music technology.    This week, we kick things off by exploring the history of the MP3 - a revolution in digital audio storage - and see how, while trying to promote his genius bit of technology, its inventor accidentally launched a new wave of music piracy that changed the industry.   Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

And so it's finally time to see how disco died! And also how, it kinda didn't! This week, we look into the reasons why disco collapsed and then look at how it went on the inspire three other genres of music - hip hop, new wave and house!   Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

Before we discover why disco collapsed we need to take a look at it's peak! 1977 was the year of The Village People, Chic, Donna Summer and Saturday Night Fever - all cultural touchstones that helped define disco to the masses. This week, we take a deep dive into these icons of disco and examine how they shaped disco's image and how fair their reputation is.    Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

This week we pick apart disco as a musical genre looking at what are its sonic hallmarks and where do they come from? Learn about how labels like Motown, Philadelphia International Records and Salsoul Records helped build disco and discover the artistry that goes into a disco song.    Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod

To kick things off we go on a bar crawl through the early New York clubs where disco began, meeting the DJs who helped influence the genre! See how it went from grassroots venues like The Loft to exclusive celebrity hotspots like the famous Studio 54.   Follow us on Instagram and Substack @highfidelitypod