Algorithms or authorities, which is best for music recommendations and why? An open conversation with Brian Whitman (The Echo Nest) and Anthony Volodkin (The Hype Machine).

We recently had the same topic/discussion at OpenMusicMedia London and it was such a great evening we wanted to bring it to NYC too!

Despite talk of falling revenues across the music industry more music is being written,... [read more]

Algorithms or authorities, which is best for music recommendations and why? An open conversation with Brian Whitman (The Echo Nest) and Anthony Volodkin (The Hype Machine).

We recently had the same topic/discussion at OpenMusicMedia London and it was such a great evening we wanted to bring it to NYC too!

Despite talk of falling revenues across the music industry more music is being written, created and produced than ever before. Much of it is freely available on countless different sites and services. A decade on from Napster and we're truly living in a music lovers paradise and the possibilities to discover music, new and old, are overwhelming endless. But discover how exactly?

The volume of new music necessitates ways of getting it to the right ears quickly and with a minimum effort, time and/or money. As a result the possibilities of finding out about new music continue to multiply. Apple's Ping being the latest high profile addition to the ranks of Spotify, Pandora, Last.fm et al. How do those new ones fare against the old ways? Have hackers replaced music journos as gatekeepers for the hottest new shit out there? How do you find out about new music and why?

We have two experts in this field to lead an open discussion on the topic. In the hacker corner we have co-founder of The Echo Nest, Brian Whitman. In the other we have Anthony Volodkin, founder of The Hype Machine.

So where will these guys agree? Will any blood get shed? How many drinks will get drunk before we all just ending up agreeing? The only way to find out is to come down on Tuesday and join the conversation.

And this will be our first time at The Idle Hands Bar, so make sure to get down early and thirsty ;)