As I was browsing through the app store of my new smartphone, I discovered a new music app. (Yes, another one!) Most people know about Shazam, the song identification go-to app, but SoundHound may still be off your radar.
SoundHound has all the extra features a luxury car would have. When tested side by side, SoundHound comes out on top in terms of speed — always a plus (especially for a luxury car). In addition, SoundHound allows you to sing the lyrics or hum the tune of a song and get it recognized. Kinda tone deaf? No worries: you can even speak the artist or song title, or search by typing. Lastly, while Shazam and SoundHound both provide links to the song via YouTube and iTunes for further aural amusement, SoundHound offers more options on how to tag findings.
Now this may sound like SoundHound is the obvious choice, but it’s still not quite up to the level in terms of functionality and growth. Shazam has really upped the ante with its Shazam for TV tool. With it, you can Shazam any U.S. TV show to get info on all the music in the episode as well as other juicy stuff like cast details, gossip about the actors, handy links and more.
So in summary: If you are frustrated with the fact that you can’t just sing or hum the song you have stuck in your head but just don’t know what it is… check out SoundHound. If you want more options for sharing your music… check out SoundHound. If time is money and a few seconds makes it or breaks it for you… check out SoundHound. But if you want a reliable app that is on the rise and constantly working to get you new and exciting features… hold on to Shazam, too.
It’s Fall and we know what that means for the industry: the CMJ Music Marathon. CMJ will host a series of events from October 16th to 20th in NYC. These events will bring everyone from music reps and artists to college radios, college students, and professional radio (basically everyone) together.
Amid all this excitement, Pirate! will be broadcasting LIVE from Fontana’s on October 17th, starting at 12PM all the way through to 6PM. What is Pirate! you ask? Pirate! (I really like saying that) is an independent marketing and management agency from Boston that promotes music to radio stations, college students and websites in North America. Pirate! has promoted artists such as Matt & Kim, The Temper Trap, Wilco, Silversun Pickups, Tegan & Sara, Tom Waits, The Black Keys, The White Stripes and Mates of State. They work with labels such as Barsuk, RCA, Atlantic Records, Epic Records, Roadrunner, TKO, Warner Brothers and TVT [cough The Orchard]. Pirate! has also marketed products and events to tastemakers such as HBO, Target, Levi’s and provides the service to alert radio stations about ongoing tours while promoting ticket giveaways, interviews for emerging artists.
Next week, Pirate! will be broadcasting live music from the likes of Conveyor, Sean Rowe, Pretty & Nice, Mean Creek, Generationals, and Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes. In between artists, various speakers from CMJ, students from colleges and other radio professionals will be promoting music, talking about music, and radio and interviewing the featured artists live on the airwaves. It’s a great way for people to get together and talk about what everyone seems to have in common: their passion for the music industry.
See ya there!
As a new Android owner, I quickly discovered a new music application called Songza that seemed to stand out. Songza is a free music streaming and recommendation service that first launched in 2007. What makes this app unique is its “concierge” feature, i.e. the music it recommends depending on your mood (sleepy, party, concentrating, wake up, etc.) and activities during the day (commuting, working out, in the office, etc).
Songza not only has a collection of genres, artists and songs like other music apps but it also offers playlists based on era, interests and themes such as “Fashion Week,” “80′s New Wave Party” or “Songs Featured in Apple Commercials…” Cool, right?
So cool that Songza is now one of the most popular music apps our there. It saw over 1.15 million downloads in 2012 with an increase of up to 112,000 daily active users. Ever since the app launched last June, it has been listed among the Top Free Apps on iTunes for the iPad as well as the iPhone, and it’s not stopping at that. Songza plans to integrate deeper with Facebook users as well as offer compatibility with other wireless players and streaming devices.
I personally like the wide variety of music Songza offers while still being very specific with playlists. I can pick and choose the songs I likes but also the style/mood I’m in at a specific point in time. Maybe I’m “brooding,” “angsty,” or “visceral” or I’m doing a particular kind of activity, like a “shopping at a vintage store,” “reading in a coffee shop” and of course, hosting an “ultimate retro party.”
Go try it out! You can download the app in your app store or visit their website to find out what they’re cooking for how you feel right now!
Pitbull makes the most of a chilly prank that was supposed to be a promotion for Walmart and energy supplement, Sheets. An internet campaign was launched by David Thorpe, a writer for somethingawful.com, encouraging others to send Pitbull to perform at the most desolate Walmarts located in America. After thousands of people voted for Pitbull to be sent to Alaska of all places, Mr. 305 took the prank in stride and actually performed in the 907 region. Not only did he go, but he brought along the prankster as well.
Pitbull and Thorpe recently posted pictures and tweets on Twitter on their experience in Kodiak. Pitbull performed among Native Alaskan dancers despite the fact there are more bears in the vicinity than there are people. Walmart made most of the situation as well by taking promotional photos of Pitbull, including a Kodiak survival kit presented to Pitbull which included bear bells and bear repellent and Pitbull with a stuffed bear. Here‘s a video of Pitbull on the Walmart Challenge in question.
Don’t worry though, Pitbull is safe and sound and still performing around the world. Here are more tour dates to prove it:
8/4 Albuquerque, NM
8/5 Tucson, AZ
8/7 Chula Vista, CA
8/8 and 8/9 Universal City, CA
8/10 Las Vegas, NV
8/12 San Francisco, CA
If you want to show Pitbull some love and support for being such a good sport, check out his Original Hits album that came out earlier this year and find out how he became the hit sensation he is today through his biggest hits of the past!
Here is a small collection of songs that The Orchard distributes, which you might have heard before in a movie, in a commercial, at a sporting event, online or even as someone’s annoying ringtone that got stuck in your head. One or more of these may have you asking “where did I hear that before…?” Now, you know!
Artist: Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP
Title: We Speak No Americano (Original Mix)
Label: Cat Music
History: Every sporting event has songs playing ad nauseam to lift the spirits of the crowd. This one can be added to the collection of tunes alongside Gary Glitter and Ole. Clothing commercials use the same tactic to get you excited about their product. This song seems to fit the same purpose. Either way, if you want to get excited about something, this song can help!
Artist: O-Zone
Title: Dragostea Din Tei
Label: Cat Music
History: This song hails all the way from Moldova. You may know it better as the “Numa Numa Song” lip-synced by the internet icon, Gary Bralsma. He ended up making another Numa Numa comeback but it wasn’t as strong as the original tune. O-Zone also has another song called “Numai Tu.” The video is pretty similar to Dragostea Din Tei — with dancing and air travel galore!
Artist: Nada Surf
Title: Always Love
Label: Barsuk Records
History: This band is popping up everywhere. Especially this song. When I see ads for movies that seem somewhat romantic or emotional, “Always Love” perfectly matches the mood. You may not want to go see that film but at least the soundtrack is pretty good. Why not check out more Nada Surf?
