Songza: The Music App With a Concierge
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Everybody knows to create a playlist before the party starts, or at least use a source of audio files that will make one for you, so that you don’t have the burden of DJing while entertaining. Companies like Pandora and Spotify have created extremely successful businesses based on this sole fact, and while they’re approaches to streaming music are widely different, they could both be potentially replaced by Songza.
In a span of only ten days, the Songza app was downloaded over a whopping 1.15 million times, an astonishing number that has other music streaming companies shaking, and not to the sound of a base. The spike in downloads may be attributed to the fact that Songza just released an iPad version of its very popular app, which previously was only available on either iPhone or Android.
The app is a kind of a hybrid between Spotify and Pandora with the iTunes playlist feature. Like Pandora, it will generate a playlist based on a user’s specifications, but instead of using a pre-programmed algorithm, Songza has predetermined playlists developed by music experts, such as popular DJs and music journalists from Rolling Stone and other publications.
According to TechCrunch, though, the difference between Songza and other steaming applications lies in its “concierge” feature, which records the user’s meta information, compiling a comprehensive profile of preferences and a user’s frequent activities so that it can suggest specific playlists based on previous activities on certain days and a times of day.
For example on a Friday night Songza may suggest that the user listen to its pre-compiled “Sweaty Dance Party” playlist. Concierge also offers non musical suggestions, like going to the gym on a certain day of the week.
Of course, the app also has the ability for a person to personally select which playlist they want to listen to, even if it doesn’t allow you the option to specifically set the first song or artist. It does, however, allow you to browse with its explore feature, where the user can choose your playlist based on mood, genre, or activity.
