The popularity of social music platforms like
Turntable.fm and the success of
Spotify’s relationship with Facebook confirm that listening is more fun
when friends are involved, and prove just how compelling such services are for young consumers. That’s no surprise, given the group-oriented nature of Gen Y. Now, a flood of similar new platforms are continuing to alter the ways in which people discover, and share, music.
Ex.fm: Google fans agree that nothing’s easier than a
Chrome browser extension, making
Ex.fm one of the most effortless ways to collect music on the web. Also available for
iPhone, Ex.fm is a social music platform that gathers every MP3 file a user comes across online and files it away in a personal music library. One need not worry about downloading, as Ex.fm works silently while the user peruses websites, blogs and newsfeeds. A proprietary
music blog finder even helps expand
key sources, the offerings of which can easily be shared within social networks. The only work involved is determining which songs make the cut for playlists.
Serendip: Sharing music via Twitter has become a common practice, generating the need for a service that collects one’s multitude of audio tweets. Currently in beta, Serendip is a free music-sharing network that leverages
Twitter as a discovery engine to connect users with their “music soul mates.” The result is a customized online radio station for each user. When a song is playing on the Serendip site, members can see who else has played it so they can add those people to their respective rosters of DJs. Fortunately, those DJs whose taste in music is unbearable can be blocked, effectively eradicating noise pollution on one’s personal airwaves.
Digster.fm: Subscription services have made the acquisition of music simpler than ever, yet discovering tunes that precisely align with one’s taste remains slightly more elusive. Though recommendation tools attempt to quantify a user’s taste, these algorithms are never as precise as a personal suggestion. Digster.fm suggests new music on
Spotify and
Rdio through playlists labeled by genre, mood and occasion. By subscribing to a playlist, users are automatically updated when new tracks are added. Perfect for a party or as a partner at the gym, the playlists are curated by a team of editors and musicians like
Lady Gaga and
Florence + the Machine.
