Liz Pelly, a New York–based writer, has reported on the impact of tech companies on the music industry for nearly a decade. This year, One Signal Publishers released Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, a book that sheds light on the inner workings of Spotify and the highly consolidated record business, in which it is becoming increasingly difficult for working musicians to earn a living.

Coming from an underground music background, Liz Pelly worked at a college radio station, wrote for an alternative newspaper, and was part of a collectively run music and art space in Brooklyn. These experiences gave her a unique perspective on DIY and community organizing and alternatives to corporate consolidation — a perspective that pervades Mood Machine.

In an interview, Pelly spoke to Berlin-based journalist Grisha Prorokov about how streaming services are changing music and making working life tougher for artists.