The Playlist

The 6 episode mini series, based on the story of the rising of streaming platform Spotify, deals with contradictory and complex matters as value of music and musicians' labor, debates on the copyrigt, and people's right of free access to the streamed music.

The playlist, unlike the majority of other examples of the similar kind of screen productions, doesn't focus on aggrandising its main object; it is pretty far away from a praising story on Spotify.

Interestingly, one of the episodes contains a story set in 2024 and 2025. Swedish directors, via this episode, reveal their predictions on the near future of Spotify, music industry and related struggles for rights.

The theme of the series is the music industry's fight for survival and the rise of the streaming platform Spotify. To keep the series exciting, each episode is told from the perspective of a different participant. In this way, a really complex topic is not reduced to a simple scheme of good and evil. Otherwise, the transformation of an 'IT nerd' into a 'tech billionaire' might not have been a storyline for six episodes and 4,5 hours screentime. But now this mini series is really brilliant and a really outstanding implementation of a current topic, namely how the digital revolution is changing all of our lives. Excellent!

I like how this series takes multiple perspectives to show us the rise and controversy of Spotify, and what issues were plaguing the record industry at the time. It's certainly worth the watch, especially if you like stories about start-ups.

However, if you do watch it, you lose the quality of the acting if you watch the dubbed version.

I did find the overall story to be quite interesting as it evolved, from the founder's vision and relentless pursuit, to the major issues faced when trying to realise that vision, and the compromises and realities faced as time went by. And ultimately, the main losers in the whole story were the very ones Spotify claimed to be serving.

The playlist is an entertaining show but ultimately a fantasy based on truth.

First 5 episodes are great but 6th episode got an agenda and is biased.

That's the moment the record became scratched.

Take it for what it is, a fiction based on a true story.

That said, the soundtrack, casting, picture, the whole production is amazing.

Then again, let me think for myself, music is first and foremost supposed to be natural emotions expressed by art, not a must-succeed business for everyone.

Also, I thought I was watching a biography, not a spotify parody.

Could have been way better but sadly fell short.

Pleasantly surprised by the show, binged the whole show in a day, though I wish I forgot the last episode. The last episode literally added to value to the this mini series in my opinion, it felt like a bit of and afterthought.

Interesting to see it shot from the different perspectives of different characters.

I was engaged right from the offset.

The acting was very good and believable. The sound track was obviously obviously inspired by The Social Network score, but not ad good.

Would definitely say it's worth a watch, but I'm a little biased as I generally enjoy Movies/show about tech start ups.