Body of Work
How the album outplayed the algorithm and survived playlist culture
$28.89
- Paperback
176 pages
- Release Date
10 March 2026
Summary
An alternative history of the album, focusing on the format’s turbulent life through the digital music era since 1999 to today. Body of Work explores why we should still bother to listen to music in 40-minute chunks.
Since 1999, the album has been declared dead more times than we can count—yet it refuses to disappear. Body of Work traces its turbulent journey through the digital era and asks why listening in forty-minute chunks still matters.
Weaving insider …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781917516334 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1917516339 |
| Author: | Keith Jopling |
| Publisher: | Watkins Media Limited |
| Imprint: | Repeater Books |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 176 |
| Release Date: | 10 March 2026 |
| Weight: | 369g |
| Dimensions: | 197mm x 130mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“The internet can scale just about anything but it can’t scale the intimacy of exploring an artist’s body of work, and the album’s resilience is captured in this remarkable book.”
– Will Page, author of Tarzan Economics
“Jopling explores why the album is the historical anomaly that battled through multiple format shifts to (mostly) endure artistically, culturally and economically. Body Of Work is part eulogy for the album’s past glories and part electioneering for the album’s future relevance.”
– Eamonn Forde, author of The Final Days of EMI
“A clear headed summation of the album’s evergreen appeal.”
– Will Hodgkinson, Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times
“Keith Jopling, at once advocate and analyst, has written an affectionate and insightful account of the album’s survival in a hostile age of streaming and algorithms.”
– Ludo Hunter-Tilney, Arts & Pop Critic, The FT
“This book made me fall in love with the art of the album again, and I’m sure it will do the same for you. A must read for any true music fan”
– Shain Shapiro, author of This Must Be the Place
About The Author
Keith Jopling
Jopling has worked for Sony Music, Spotify and EMI, and UK and global music trade associations. He has lectured at Henley Business School, NYU, BIMM, ACM, Belmont, Syracuse, Westminster and the University of Krems, Austria. He started the music podcast The Art of Longevity in 2021 and recently produced a documentary episode based on his in-depth podcast interviews with renowned musicians.
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