I’ve always been amazed at the technology behind services like Amazon, that are able to wring more money out of me by studying my reading purchases and then recommending other books I might enjoy, based on my habits. A lot of the books I buy are these recommendations.
Likewise, I’ve appreciated the similar technology that Netflix uses in recommending movies.
So I was intrigued by the story in the current FORTUNE magazine entitled “You’re Sooooooo Predictable”, and particularly in its discussion of the PANDORA music service.
I had read about Pandora before, but not really explored it. It’s great! You give it some inkling as to what kind of music you like, and it gives you uncannily accurate recommendations–some of obscure groups you’ve never heard of that you end up just loving.
For example, when I first logged on, after I registered there was a “Beatles Radio Station” there for me, playing over my computer speakers. (Actually, I may actually have been to the site a year or so ago and typed in ”Beatles”–I don’t recall. Let me know if that is your experience if you sign up–this is all free, by the way). I listened to a Beatles song while I thought of artists I liked and inputted* “Todd Rungren”, then “Eric Carmen”. (I was obviously in one of my “young, sweet-voiced tenors” moods–McCartney can get me that way). As not-so-random similar songs played (as selected by something the site refers to as the Music Genome project–explained pretty well in the FORTUNE article), I could give them a thumbs up or down and my “tastes” would be expanded and improved upon.
Check out this service. Highly recommended!
*[That word “inputted” seemed jarring, so I looked it up. Either “input” or “inputted” is acceptable, with “inputted” being favored–so don’t make fun of me…]
