James Blake has vented his frustrations concerning the music business in 2026, noting how at present’s artists are contending with bot farms and promotion techniques which are fuelled by monetary incentives.
In his Instagram Story, Blake spotlights remark sections full of bots, AI slop, and a whole system that’s “faked”. Blake additionally believes many music critics (however not all) are actually pushed by monetary backing from labels, and has since clarified that he feels unhealthy for individuals who are underpaid and are being changed by these figures.
In his story, he writes, “Can’t belief a overview as a result of blogs/mags stopped getting cash so journalists now receives a commission off by labels. Can’t belief a remark part trigger it’s full of pretend fan accounts saying ‘omg their voice’ to create bandwagon impact. Can’t belief YouTube numbers as a result of labels purchase them.
“Can’t belief streaming numbers as a result of labels pay for bot farms to drive discovery. Can’t even belief {that a} track was made by human beings. When you’re an artist, keep in mind that in 2026 there’s not a single a part of the system that isn’t faked. You’re in all probability doing higher than you suppose.”
Within the remark part, he goes on so as to add: “Simply to be clear, I didn’t say *all journalists* – there are after all journalists who aren’t paid off or given perks for his or her critiques. Sadly they’re changing into rarer and it has cheapened the craft (that I respect) for everybody else. It has additionally forged doubt upon the work being reviewed, which is a disgrace.
“That is clearly not a very new factor. In leisure, and media at massive, this has at all times existed. It has simply turn into much more prevalent with the algorithms and bots making it simpler to sway the general public.”
He concludes, “I really feel unhealthy for the more and more underpaid critics and journalists with integrity, that they’re dragged into it. I’ve come up alongside a lot of you and respect your work and dedication. However I’m watching you get replaced one after the other for figures who will say what’s requested of them.”
Blake typically speaks out in opposition to trendy music business struggles, together with low royalty charges from streaming companies and the way artists lack possession of fan information, that means they don’t know the best way to instantly attain out to those that help them. In 2024, he launched his personal streaming platform, Vault.
Discover out extra about James Blake or view his full checklist of tour dates by way of the official James Blake web site.
Rachel is a DIY musician who started studying guitar and keyboard from her bed room at 14. She has written information and options for MusicTech since 2022, and in addition has bylines throughout Kerrang!, Guitar.com, and The Forty-5. Although a lover of heavy music, her responsible pleasure is 2000s pop.
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