Over a year ago I found this cool open-source project called
AudioScrobbler. It's a social playlist system.
You install a client unique to your music software (iTunes in most of our cases) and that's it. The AudioScrobbler plugin tracks the songs you play, and 'reports' them to your account with LastFM (the renammed web portal for the project). After a while you can view your profile and see your listening statistics. It will tell you the popularity of artists, songs, and even genre in your playlists. You get weekly and overall charts, and you can see recommendations for other artists from the system. It compares the artists you like to the artists other members like, and will give recommendations based on other users preferences.
For example, I selected Madness (Our House, One Step Beyond, etc) and looked at similar artists. The top ten similar suggested artists were...
- The Specials
- The Selecter
- Bad Manners
- Blur
- The Clash
- Laurel Aitken
- The Toasters
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- The Who
- Talking Heads
Now, most of those I was well aware of (The Specials, the Clash, etc), but I'm suddenly interrested in Laurel Aitkens and Bad Manners. They're not going to be 'identical' to Madness, but if other fans of Madness like them, then chances are I'll like them.
Go check it out, and
here's my profile!
Get the plugin here!
