Recommending music in a time of algorithms

How do you recommend music in the time of algorithms? How do you connect with an audience in a time of abundance and limited bandwidth to jostle for the attention of music fans?

As economic challenges have conspired against Drowned in Sound (and all ad-supported media), I’ve been trying to find a renewed purpose. To create things of value if digital subscriptions and donations are the business model that media will require to continue in the 21st Century.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I wouldn’t be setting up a website with a music blog and a forum now if I was 16 again. I’d probably be too awkward to be a YouTuber and I’d likely have struggled with a podcast as a kid in Dorset with limited access to guests and no money for mics.

However, the thing I’ve always gotten a kick out it is recommending people music and helping the artists I love reach new people. I’ve been experimenting with a few things (including paragraphs about records on here) but I’m really loving the directness of sending people IMs. It’s just like having a mailing list but directly into people’s Facebook. If you’d like to opt-in the link is https://m.me/drownedinsounduk

Here's an example of what it looks like:

Massive thanks to Tim Heineke from iampop for his help getting this messenger bot set up.