The problem with Pandora and Last.fm

I love the new social music services like Pandora and Last.fm (former Audioscrobbler). If you do not know what they’re about the concept is pretty easy – they are personalized radio stations that you listen to via the web. Unlike traditional radio stations they have the ability to ‘learn’ what kind of music you like, based on what you tag as good music and what others with the same music taste as you enjoy. This is all good.

But why don’t these services come with a mood feature? I don’t want to listen to the same kind of music when I’m in the office as when I’m getting ready to party. Sometimes I’d like to listen to Jack Johnson, other times I feel like listening to some hiphop or Røyksopp.

Without a mood feature last.fm is kind of useless, since if I add all the music I like I will always be played a random mix of music I like, but not in the setting I’m in. So let’s hope last.fm adds a mood feature soon :)

Comments

Comment by Saft on 2006-08-30 20:03:58 +0000

Doesn’t Pandora feature different stations aka different moods? Never tried last.fm

Comment by Bjørn on 2006-08-30 22:09:16 +0000

Yes, you’re right – maybe the post should be called ‘The problem with Last.fm’ :) I was thinking that what you teached it was transferred between the stations but of course it’s not.

Comment by Geo on 2006-09-16 12:14:14 +0000

Under last.fm you can tag different artists / albums / tracks with whatever you want – there are a variety of “mood” stations, and if you don’t like those, you can make your own and then listen to that. Last.fm is much more than a radio station anyway. :S