> We really need music search which follows more interesting routes through content rather than just 'people who like this also like' or 'here's another album by someone you already listen to'.
I agree with this so much. We've had about a decade of this kind of robo-curation in every single aspect of our media consumption. Read books like the ones you like, listen to bands like the ones you listen to, more videos like this one, etc. I'm so sick of it.
The way to branch out of your rut is other people. Some band I'd never have listened to, and if I accidentally had, would have skipped it 30 seconds in, have become my favorites simply because someone I had a connection with played it or recommended it. Movies I wouldn't have picked, but watched with someone else, are often better than anything I'd have picked based on my past preferences.
These days, more and more, I am realizing how rewarding it is to read a book or try a new restaurant based on nothing except that a friend with completely different taste likes it. If it turns out to be a dud, it's worth it for when I find something completely new that I do like.
I suspect it's the notion of a "feed" that's at fault, but then again I'm an old codger who likes to rummage in the cupboard and actively search for my content instead of being stuck in the high chair and passively waiting for somebody else's algorithm to feed it to me.
(in another domain, at some restaurants it's possible to order dishes which don't appear on their menu)
> in another domain, at some restaurants it's possible to order dishes which don't appear on their menu
I've experienced this in Italy. Our host took us to a restaurant where he knew the manager and looked at the menu. He then asked 'but what have you really got?'. After a long very Italian debate (which I didn't understand) with a lot of gesticulation etc we were brought a multi-course meal that was absolutely delicious and involved various things that had just come into season, things that the manager kept back for friends, etc.
I think feeds are practical, it's just that pretty much all mainstream non-RSS feeds are designed to take control away from you and stand in your way, rather than let you be free to explore and discover.
the joy of discovery is lost. its discovered for you and fed to you. where did the journey go? :D
if you have more content, but someone filters it for you to 'your taste', you will end up with less content, and no more exciting discoveries. you'll learn what to expect from the feed quickly and everything becomes boring. hence the required upward spiral in ridiculousness, to counter the natural encroaching boredom.
the last maybe a little grim take, but i dont think invalid.
I'd skip less if I could trust that the algorithmic playlists followed "reasonable" paths. But all to often the transitions are really jarring.
(Also, big pet peeve: they need to take into account time of day and factors like weather to do well, as well as habit; I will not respond the same way to a track on a rainy grey winter evening as on a sunny summers day)
you touch an important thing. music is a common thing between people that's shared, and a way to express, which is usually also meant for sharing (you can make music to express to yourself too.). hence i think most people develop their taste in these things mostly through social interactions which algorithms cannot provide. additionally as a result, the memories/experiences attached, influence heavily how it tastes, exactly as you say.
these numbers presented seem a bit from a narrow dataset. all the people likely from one culture or even sub-culture, with one sort of social pattern that impacts this kind of stuff. - i live in a northen country, and find often in the south people are more actively outside and socializing at later ages. sharing more music and food, and likely the peak ages would thus be later too, or less of a peak.
I agree with this so much. We've had about a decade of this kind of robo-curation in every single aspect of our media consumption. Read books like the ones you like, listen to bands like the ones you listen to, more videos like this one, etc. I'm so sick of it.
The way to branch out of your rut is other people. Some band I'd never have listened to, and if I accidentally had, would have skipped it 30 seconds in, have become my favorites simply because someone I had a connection with played it or recommended it. Movies I wouldn't have picked, but watched with someone else, are often better than anything I'd have picked based on my past preferences.
These days, more and more, I am realizing how rewarding it is to read a book or try a new restaurant based on nothing except that a friend with completely different taste likes it. If it turns out to be a dud, it's worth it for when I find something completely new that I do like.