Neil Young’s iPod Killer

This episode of 99% Invisible explores Neil Young's foray into the world of digital music players with his high-quality audio device, the Pono. The podcast details Young's motivations for creating the Pono, stemming from his dissatisfaction with the sound quality of compressed digital music formats like MP3s. It discusses the design and development of the Pono, its Kickstarter success, and the critical reception it received. Ultimately, the Pono failed to gain mainstream traction due to its timing, the rise of streaming services, and the dominance of smartphones as all-in-one media players. Despite its commercial failure, the podcast suggests that the Pono was ahead of its time in advocating for higher quality audio and respect for artists, and it reflects on the devaluation of music in the digital age. The episode concludes by noting the availability of higher resolution music on streaming services and encourages listeners to engage more deeply with art.