Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide 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, it 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.

The first up though.

20 years ago today, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of Russia.

Klinus, when the existence of the whole power of the President of the Russian Federation

was a great pleasure.

I swapping his job between President and Prime Minister

is 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 the man in the eye.

I found it to be very straightforward and trustworthy.

I was able to get a sense of his soul.

...