8tracks
8tracks is an internet radio that allows users to create mixes for others to listen to. It was founded in 2006 by David Porter, although it was not launched until 2008.[1] As the name "8tracks" might imply, each mix must consist of at least eight tracks. While anyone can listen to mixes online, in order to create their own mixes, users must create a free account.
In addition to the free service, there is also a feature called 8Tracks Plus, which is a subscription-based service without ads. This service costs $25 for a six month subscription.[2]
Contents
Features
Tags
Tagging is one of the key features of 8tracks. Tags are words describing the music in a mix. These are typically genres, such as 'Classical' or 'Folk', but they can also describe events or emotions, such as 'Summer' or 'Sad'. DJs must tag their mixes with at least two tags before publishing them to ensure that mixes can be easily found and are uniformly labeled. The tag feature is extremely user-friendly; to choose a mix, listeners can either search for a mood, genre, or artist, or they can click on popular tags that appear in a cloud. When a tag is selected from the cloud, the cloud reloads to show similar tags to the one that was chosen. This feature helps listeners to find the perfect mix to listen to. Listeners may select up to three tags to seed mixes.
Social Media Integration
8tracks has integrated a variety of social media sites into its design in order to heighten the social aspect of the site. For examples, users creating accounts on the site have the option to log in with Facebook. This enables users to effortlessly share mixes with friends. In addition to syncing Facebook with 8tracks to share music, users also have the ability to share via Twitter, Tumblr, Stumpleupon, Google+, Pintrest, and email.
Not only can users share music over a broad range of social media, but they can also listen to music directly from YouTube. As a song is playing, there is a button that allows users to watch the song's video on YouTube. The video is integrated directly into the same page as the playlist so that users can effortlessly transition from listening via 8tracks to listening via YouTube without interruption.
User Types
Listeners
Everyone can listen to mixes for free, regardless of whether or not they have an account. Unlike other free music applications such as Pandora or Spotify, no ads interrupt mixes on 8tracks - only visual ads are used on the site. On the home page, listeners can either select multiple tags to sort the mixes or enter favorite artists to get recommended mixes. The range of tags spans from Folk to Dubstep and everything in between. Listeners can also comment on, favorite, and share mixes.
DJs
Anyone with an account can be a DJ. DJs can add a title, image, description, at least 2 tags, and at least 8 tracks. They also have the option to mark mixes as unlisted, which makes them private, or not safe for work (NSFW), which hides them from users who opt-in to a filter. When a DJ uploads songs to the site, they appear in a list next to where the mix is created. There is also a list of tracks from SoundCloud provided by 8tracks for DJs to add to their mix. DJs can also follow and be followed by their peers as well as share mixes via Google+ and Facebook.
Developers
8tracks has an API which developers can use to build an 8tracks player. There is also a forum where developers can ask questions to peers or staff [3]. Both official and third-party apps are available for listeners to use. The API requires an API key and offers a variety of data which can be used to create an app. Official 8tracks apps are available for iPhone, Android, and Mac [4]. In order to comply with copyright laws, developers must record and give the number of plays of each song to 8tracks.
Artists
Artists are able to promote their music on 8tracks with a special account that gives them an artist tag. They are able to create mixes with a combination of their own and others' music, or to post full albums via a content-owner account. By using 8tracks to promote their music, fans have the chance to interact with the artists. Notable artists who use 8tracks to promote their music include: Metric, Bassnector, Carolina Liar, and B.O.B. [5].
Ethical Implications
Legality
In order to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, 8tracks has licenses with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Since the site is non-interactive, such compliance is able to hold. This allows the site to transmit publicly released sound recordings as long as certain conditions are met. For example, there is a limit on the number of songs by a certain artist during a three-hour time period, and the site pays 1/7 of a cent in royalties for every track streamed [6] [7]. Listeners are only able to skip an allotted number of tracks per hour, and the listener cannot determine the sequence the mix is heard [8].
NSFW
Much of 8tracks would qualify as NSFW. Although 8tracks does have a NSFW filter, this does not guarantee that something hasn't slipped through the cracks, as it is up to the users, not the company, to flag content. [9] Many mixes on the site contain appropriate music, yet the mix image inappropriate, sometimes verging on pornographic. This causes problems because users who must filter playlists can only access a limited number of mixes. Users have complained, suggesting that the site changes the filter options to include blocking only a flagged picture, but keeping the playlist viewable. [10] The admin's response as of November 2011 was that this idea was being worked on, but so far, no changes to the filter have been implemented.
References
- ↑ http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/08/interview-david/
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/plus
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/developers
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/apps
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/artists
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/licensing
- ↑ http://www.inquisitr.com/2569/8tracks-muxtape-without-the-legal-muckiness/
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/licensing
- ↑ http://8tracks.com/content_policy
- ↑ http://8tracks.uservoice.com/forums/1858-general/suggestions/1552331-provide-a-nsfw-option-so-that-people-listening-at-
