Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Roughly, the story of technology companies in recent years is the big get bigger.

The pandemic seems to be strengthening that narrative,

and speeding up the shift to services that was already underway.

And lots of big music releases have been put on hold recently, but not all.

We have a listen to what could be called a breakout outbreak album

and chart the history of surprisingly upbeat music that comes about during downturns.

First up, though, 20 years ago today, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of Russia. Klinguze, by assucied by swapping his job between the President of the

Russian Federation,

by swapping his job between President and Prime Minister,

he's essentially run the country ever since.

The former intelligence officer in the KGB took charge of a country

that had opened up after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

World leaders regarded him with optimism. I looked a man in the eye.

I found it to be very straightforward and trustworthy.

I was able to get a sense of his soul.

He was a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.

Those hopes eventually faded as he began a program of aggressive adventurism abroad and

pinching off freedoms at home. For a long while, Mr. Putin enjoyed a degree of popularity

among Russians. The public opinion had already begun to turn before the COVID-19 crisis struck.

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