All articles from The Honest Broker
Why Are Quiet Spaces Disappearing?
A friend who travels regularly on Amtrak trains, told me about the Quiet Car. The rules are simple:"Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones." "Phone calls are not allowed." "All portable electronic devices must be used with headphones.""Passengers using headphones must keep
Why Do Children Hate Music Lessons?
Few things in life are more fun than making music. It's just the lessons that suck. That's according to children—who are rarely consulted on such matters. But their actions speak louder than words. Most of them give up music-making forever after a short exposure to lessons.The Honest Broker is a re
What Is Happening to Music Criticism?
Are there any full-time music critics still working for US newspapers? Just a few years ago, hundreds of music writers offered daily coverage to millions of readers across the country. These dedicated professionals played an essential role in their communities—and many got paid a living wage with be
As AI Gets Smarter, It Acts More Evil
I urge you to read this article through to the end, and share it with others.I won't hide it behind a paywall, as I sometimes do with predictive analysis of this sort. I want the issues raised here debated and discussed. And if I'm wrong—and I hope I am—I'd like to see the evidence.Please persuade m
12 Outstanding New Albums I'm Recommending Right Now
Here's my latest roundup of new records I'm recommending. I'm sharing a dozen picks this time. Happy listening!Please support my work by taking out a premium subscription—just $6 per month (even less if you sign up for a year).Subscribe nowCymande: Renascence 1970s British-Caribbean Funk Band Makes
Why Is a Bot Like a Gentlemen's Club?
I expressed concern yesterday over AI bots turning into James Bond villains. I shared plenty of evidence that the smarter AI gets, the worse it acts.All these headlines are from the last few days: The latest and greatest AI bots have been caught praising Hitler, planning genocide, encouraging people
"You Have to Get People's Attention in the First Two Seconds"
Below I'm sharing breaking news on recent articles at The Honest Broker.Please support my work by taking out a premium subscription (just $6 per month—or less).Subscribe nowAre songwriters finally ready to fight the algorithm?I recently claimed that arts and entertainment—from highbrow to lowbrow—is