Sleep is the last bastion of humanity, protecting us from the deluge of consumption. But in Singapore, citizens are sleeping less than ever – only an average of five hours a day. Money doesn’t sleep and stock markets are active at all times, leading to a compression of time, with people staying in a gentle, intoxicating stupor with their phones always close by. Researchers are alarmed, for this is nothing but a sample of a future where there is no more sleep. For the market to keep going, sleep must be eliminated – a worrying reality, for if sleep goes, so does our ability to dream, reflect and make decisions. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
