Audioscrobbler

Izzy has been raving about this for months, and I just now got around to trying it out, and all I can say is WOW. It's called Audioscrobbler, and I'm surprised nobody's thought of this before. You go to the website and download a plugin for your music player (it works with iTunes, WinAmp, and several others). Then Audioscrobbler automatically keeps up with what songs you're listening to and uses this data in all kinds of fun ways. You have your own personal "charts" that other people can check out what you're listening to. You can look up artists and see what their most played songs are. Surprisingly, Third Day's #1 most played is "When the Rain Comes". You can also join "groups" and see what other artists are similar to your favorites. For example, there's a "Third Day Group" (thanks again, Izzy!) where you can see who else digs us and what else they're listening to, such as Switchfoot, Steven Curtis Chapman, etc.

This is totally one of those things you've got to try for yourself to get how cool it is. I could also see this being a huge tool for record companies, artists, retailers, etc. to see beyond what people are buying and what they are actually listening to. Warning: this is quite addictive. BTW, you can check out what I'm listening to here.

Comments

[Kara]

Very cool! :) And btw, in the link to TD, you have a ; instead of :. :)

[Paula]

I've just started using it - I found myself checking it after every song to make sure it was working! haha

[Karen]

Yeah, figuring out how to update with your iPod is a bit more confusing than you would think. Even when you get it right, sometimes it messes it up. (Izzy helped me get it ;) )

1. You have to have a smart playlist in iTunes titled Recently Played that shows songs played in the last 7 days (iTunes default for this list is 2 weeks, so that has to be changed)

2. Don't play anything on iTunes until the iPod tracks have updated to 'scrobbler.

3. Plug the ipod in, let it synch. The Recently Played list should be updated with whatever you played on the iPod. Eject and unplug the iPod and 'scrobbler should pick up the tracks.

4. I highly recommend testing this out by playing a track or two on the iPod and seeing if you can get them to upload -- it'll save you a lot of loss.

Happy... umm... music listening. :)

[Susan]

How cool...I must admit...When the Rain Comes is my absolute...absolute favorite Third Day song. Someday I hope to hear them sing it in concert. I can even play the beginning of it on my guitar(I'm slowly trying to teach myself how to play) and anyway....my friend showed it to me so I started to do it...but I'm still pretty slow. I need the chords now to the part when it goes "I can't stop the rain, from falling down on you again, I can't stop the rain, but I will hold you til it goes away"...anyway...I'm not sure who this is anyway...but it was on my favorites on my computer,,...so I'm checking out your blog.

Peace to You!

Susan :)

[Tracy]

Part of me is thinking "COOL!!" but the pragmatic side of me (who I usually beat senselss so I don't hear the nagging) is saying, how do we share that type of information. Do we risk contamination? Piracy? I don't know. I think I will talk my sister into trying it on her computer first. :-)

[Izzy]

I figured you'd love 'scrobbler Mark. It really is addictive, especially when you start looking in your network and meeting people with similar musical tastes. Let me know if you have any questions about getting the tracks you've listened to on your iPod to show up, I know that was a bit confusing when I first started up.

I tried getting people on the boards to join a few weeks back, but I didn't convince a soul. Now that you're onboard hopefully the Third Day group will grow and we can get a better idea of what the fans are listening to.