ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ ɪn hɪz tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪtiːn bˈʊk pˈɑːpmjuːsˌɪk ɪn zˈaɪʔn̩ dˈɛɹ dˈɪdʒɪtˌælɪsˌɪɹʌŋ, ɹˈɑːbɚt sˈɛlfɚt nˈoʊts ðætðə tˈɜːm ɪz "kˌɑːntɹəvˈɜːʃəl" ɐmˌʌŋ dˈɛdᵻkˌeɪɾᵻd fˈænz hˌuː dᵻbˈeɪt ɪts dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən ænd tˈaɪmfɹeɪm, ɪspˈɛʃəli hˌaʊ ɪt dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃᵻz ɪtsˈɛlf fɹʌm nˈuːmɚɹəs ɔːltˈɜːnətˌɪv tˈɜːmz.
Writing in his 2018 book Popmusik in Zeiten der Digitalisierung, Robert Selfert notes that the term is "controversial" among dedicated fans who debate its definition and timeframe, especially how it distinguishes itself from numerous alternative terms.