Earworm: a gripping and hilarious satire of the music industry

10th Anniversary edition out now, with new bonus content

What happens when AI and music collide? Bigg Records wants to replace pop stars with algorithms, but ageing rocker Dove and two of his craziest fans have other plans. The future of the music business is at stake.

The book takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair.

It explores how fans relate to their favourite bands, how businesses can use technology to manipulate consumers, and what would happen if the music business disappeared overnight.

Reviewers say it's smart, fast moving and funny...

"One of those reads that not only peers behind the curtain of the music industry, but offers up some food for thought too. It's a delightfully cynical glance into the murky workings of a crumbling music industry."
- Electronic Sound Issue 25

"McManus keeps the action moving at a good crack, and the ideas trip out lightly in snappy dialogue. All round, the novel is a great genetic splicing of ideas and action, culminating in an incendiary showdown almost worthy of a Bond movie."
- David Jennings' blog for his book Net, Blogs and Rock'n'Roll

"Raising a number of surprisingly sophisticated issues, this book is enjoyably cynical about the seemingly cold-hearted and impenetrable nature of the record industry and peppered with a number of highly comical cameos from the cream of rock'n'roll."
- Lewis Heritage, books reviewer, Record Collector magazine issue 350

More rave reviews...

About the author

Music and technology journalist Sean McManus has contributed to Making Music, Future Music, Melody Maker, Musician and BBC Technology of Business. His non-fiction books have been published by DK, Pearson, No Starch and other leading publishers. He has seen more than 325 bands live. His debut album Artificial, made without AI, explores what happens when the robots acquire emotions.