Finding new music can often be a tedious process, as you often have to go through a huge selection of music before you discover just one good song. So to help you simplify the process, Talenthouse presents the top five social music sites.
1. iLike
1. iLike
iLike combines everything music lovers could ever want: free downloads, ways to keep track of their friends’ musical preferences, and discovery of new songs and artists. Since iLike bases their recommendations on the listening behavior of other members, the more successful they become at obtaining new members, the more successful users will be at pinpointing new music selections. iLike goes beyond the typical social music site by including a “Popular Artists” section that allows users to be on the cutting edge, and a feature that alerts members to when their favorite artists will be in concert. In addition, iLike has can be used anywhere as they have covered every possible medium with a wide variety of apps for your desktop, phone, and Facebook account.
2. Pandora
Pandora is one of the most popular Internet radio services in America. Users can seamlessly integrate their Facebook profile with their Pandora account, which allows them to know what songs their friends like and to share their new musical discoveries. Its appeal is rooted in how simple it is to use; users type in an artist or song they like and Pandora automatically generates similar selections. Users can also thumb up or down a song, and Pandora takes this into account to further fine tune their listening experience.
3. Last.fm
One of the unique features that sets last.fm apart from all the other social music sites is “scrobbling.” The Scrobbler is a downloadable application that allows you to add music from your computer or iPod directly to your last.fm playlist. This allows the network to quickly develop knowledge on your musical preferences so they can provide more accurate recommendations. Last.fm also allows artists and labels to promote themselves by uploading their own music, so they will always have the newest and freshest music. And finally, last.fm also allows you to connect with other people with similar musical tastes in addition to your friends which provides another outlet for discovering new music.
4. Maestro.fm
As the world becomes more global and interconnected, Maestro.fm provides a service that allows users to upload their entire music library into a virtual cloud service so they can access and manage their collection from anywhere in the world. Maestro.fm also has a mobile app, so people can also enjoy their music on the go. They have weekly charts and forums so users can see and discuss popular new music. And although they do not recommend songs and artists that you may like, they allow for the creation and sharing of different playlists which is a great way to discover new music and friends.
5. Myspace
Although Myspace has been slowly dwindling in popularity with the outset of Facebook, it still remains one of the biggest and most popular sites for music. Part of the reason for its success is that it is extremely interactive and allows musicians to communicate directly with their listeners. Artists can send a message to their fans alerting them of their newest shows and they can upload their music and receive instant feedback through comments and ratings. And since Myspace is by nature a social media site, music preferences can be easily shared with others. Myspace provides a platform for both artists and listeners to discover each other.
