Solving the Music Discovery Problem
Day the Music Discovery Died
It began as a simple thought: When was the last time I discovered an artist that truly moved me? And why aren’t the popular music apps delivering on their promise of discovery?
For years, I’ve found myself stuck in a loop, listening to the same voices, beats, and rhythms. Don’t get me wrong, I love my goto tracks. But there’s a lack of excitement in music now.
Turns out, my experience isn’t unique. I found friends and fellow music lovers expressing the same issue. We have millions of songs at our fingertips, yet somehow, we’ve lost the art of discovery.
Though major platforms attempt to address this issue, the problem persists:
In a community for one of these famous apps, someone wrote, "Please revamp discovery, else I would have to switch to alternatives"
Some listeners even suspect that promotional deals might influence playlist curation, overshadowing lesser-known but talented artists.
This prompted me to dive deeper into what drives our music preferences—and the results were fascinating.
Insights from Research
Many younger listeners, especially Gen Z, are less inclined to dive deep into artists and their music. Instead, they often focus on individual songs. In contrast, millennials and older generations used to buy entire albums, which encouraged a deeper connection with the artists and their work. Now, with easy access to single tracks, listeners can enjoy popular hits without exploring the full artistry behind them. This shift has led to a more superficial engagement with music, where users appreciate catchy songs but miss out on truly connecting with the artists themselves. A recent study revealed that 70% of musicians consider gaining visibility
Also, famous apps are focusing more on the younger generation and neglecting older listeners. According to a recent study, 82% of Gen Z and 70% of millennials find new music via social media, compared to only 23% who discover it through streaming services. This emphasis on trends and viral content may lead platforms to prioritize features that cater to younger audiences, leaving older listeners feeling overlooked in the process.
Elements of Music
Music Tastes
Problems I Aim to Address:
Many millennials today struggle to discover exciting new music because current streaming platforms often provide recommendations that feel diluted or repetitive. This leaves listeners unsatisfied and hampers artists in their efforts to reach new fans. With over 100,000 new songs released daily, the competition is fierce. A recent study found that 70% of musicians view gaining visibility as one of their top challenges.
Given these challenges, I attempted to develop a new approach to music discovery.
领英推荐
Enter MusicQ - AI driven music recommendation app
MusicQ is your passport to a world of new music. Whether you're a casual listener or a die-hard audiophile, this app helps you uncover artists that resonate with your unique taste.
This app brings new, upcoming artists to the forefront while understanding your unique taste at a deeper level. I created a working prototype, tested it on a limited list of artists.
How It Works?
Algorithm
*Data is based on the analysis of a few songs of the artists mentioned below
For instance, consider Adele is one of your favourite artist
adele = {
"name": "Adele",
"lyrical_themes": ["introspective", "emotional", "personal"],
"sound_and_melody": {
"rhythm": "moderate",
"tempo": "varied",
"instrumentation": ["piano", "orchestra", "acoustic"]
},
"vocals": ["powerful", "soulful", "emotive"],
"genre": ["pop", "soul", "blue-eyed soul"],
"emotional_profile": ["melancholic", "nostalgic", "cathartic"]
}
# Matching Artists
emma_sameth = {
"name": "Emma Sameth",
"lyrical_themes": ["introspective", "emotional", "personal"],
"sound_and_melody": {
"rhythm": "moderate",
"tempo": "mid-tempo",
"instrumentation": ["piano", "electronic", "strings"]
},
"vocals": ["emotive", "breathy", "soulful"],
"genre": ["indie pop", "electropop", "alt-R&B"],
"emotional_profile": ["melancholic", "introspective", "hopeful"]
}
james_blake = {
"name": "James Blake",
"lyrical_themes": ["introspective", "emotional", "abstract"],
"sound_and_melody": {
"rhythm": "varied",
"tempo": "slow to moderate",
"instrumentation": ["piano", "electronic", "synthesizers"]
},
"vocals": ["soulful", "falsetto", "emotive"],
"genre": ["electronic", "soul", "art pop"],
"emotional_profile": ["melancholic", "atmospheric", "introspective"]
}
Possible Future Enhancements
If I were to develop a marketplace app version of this, several enhancements could be implemented to elevate the user experience and broaden impact. Future improvements may include:
References
Growth & Strategy || Ecommmerce || Key Account Management || Tech enthusiast
1 个月Inspiring stuff Shivanshu Som