Apr 30 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
Okay, I've finally jumped onboard last.fm's "neighbor radio" bandwagon. It is, as aptly noted by Fred Wilson, probably the best use of social networking on the internet - especially for music junkies like myself.
Here's how it works.
You join last.fm, download software that reports up to the last.fm servers every song you listen to. last.fm takes that information and finds out who your musical neighbors are. With that information, they create a radio station just for you that is like having your musical neighbors DJ'ing for you.
Wilson is absolutely right - this is the best use of online networking out there for those, like myself, who value their music, wish to advertise to others their favorite "hidden gems", and likewise wish to learn about unknown artists from others with similar tastes.
(Via Fred Wilson at A VC in NYC, who's got a good "FM station" selection himself)
UPDATE: If anyone hasn't noticed, one of the other great features about last.fm is not only how its stand-alone application allows integration with your media player (iTunes, WinAmp, etc.) to "find" the songs you're listening to, but that it also allows you to place a widget on your website showing your visitors just what those songs are (like the one I've put up on my sidebar to the right). Groovy.
I stumbled across this a few months back and was insanely addicted to it. Then I forgot about it, forgot the name of it, and it vanished out of my feeble little mind. Thanks for reminding me (intentionally or not). It’s an awesome way to find out about new music.
magnifico!
Funny — I had a friend at work tell me about this just today. Good stuff.
All I see on your sidebar is an add for the Sony Music Store. And herpes.
Wait, I have herpes on my sidebar?!? Damn, I thought I took care of that.
Manny, that would be where it says “What I’m Listening To” - as in “what I’m listening to.”
I only see the banner ad under “What I’m Listening To” for Sony Music Store and some generic surf apparel. Maybe it’s the firewalls at my office. Or the years of ingesting Ecstacy. Either way it’s a win win.
Have you checked out pandora.com It’s a similar idea, but they have all the songs classified somehow, a ‘music genome’ project.
Addictive.