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White Noise: A Sound of Silence or a Sound of Theft?


White noise is a type of sound that contains equal amounts of all frequencies, creating a constant and soothing background noise. Many people use white noise to help them sleep, relax, or focus. But white noise is also a controversial topic in the music industry, where some accuse it of being a form of fraud and exploitation.


- Based on an OpEd by Eamonn Forde on Music Business Worldwide, Sept 14, 2023


According to an op-ed by music journalist Eamonn Forde, white noise is not only a legitimate genre of music, but also a beneficial one. He argues that white noise can help people cope with the noises that can ruin their day, such as traffic, construction, or neighbors. He also claims that white noise can enhance the listening experience of other music genres, by creating a contrast and a balance.


However, not everyone agrees with Forde’s defence of white noise. Some critics allege that white noise is a way for some artists and labels to manipulate the streaming system and earn royalties without creating any original or meaningful content. They point out that some white noise tracks have millions of streams on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, and that some of them are even plagiarized from other sources.



The debate over white noise raises ethical and legal questions about the definition and value of music. What makes a sound musical? Who owns the rights to a sound? How should streaming platforms measure and reward music consumption? These are some of the issues that the music industry needs to address in the era of digital distribution and data-driven decision making.


If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of white noise, you can read the original article here: In defence of white noise.


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Summary by The New Bing AI

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