Songza
Encyclopedia
Songza is a web
radio
that streams music
for free. Songza is different from other web
radio
services for two reasons: the stations on Songza are made by people (any member of the community can create a station) and Songza helps people find stations by personalizing the Songza experience based on a user's interests (simple survey questions, like Netflix
) and by displaying an activity feed
of what their friends are listening to (using Facebook
connect). Songza's mission is "to help you find the radio station that perfectly fits your mood or whatever you're doing right now; in other words, to help you find your soundtrack." Songza is headquartered in Long Island City, New York
.
Unlike other streaming services
, users can find stations not just based on artists, songs and genres, but based on themes, interests and eras, like "Songs In Apple Commercials," "90s One-Hit Wonders," and "Music of Fashion Week."
Songza has been widely noted for its unique user interface
, which incorporates many ideas that Aza Raskin
had previously written about and which are generally uncommon.
Amie Street
acquired the company in October 2008. However, in late January 2010 Songza had to put their music streaming service on hold due to problems with YouTube's API (which is what the site uses to play back songs), YouTube blocking the site from using its API, presumably because YouTube could be sued for supporting a free music service without adverts. In March 2010, the music streaming service was relaunched as songza.org before going back to songza.com.
Originally only searching YouTube
for music, in August 2010 Songza launched a new version of the service to focus on bringing social networking to music; according to Mashable
"the upcoming set of features sounds like Pandora
plus every social networking trend we’ve seen over the past year or two."
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
that streams music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
for free. Songza is different from other web
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
services for two reasons: the stations on Songza are made by people (any member of the community can create a station) and Songza helps people find stations by personalizing the Songza experience based on a user's interests (simple survey questions, like Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
) and by displaying an activity feed
Feed
Feed may refer to:In animal foodstuffs:* Compound feed, feedstuffs that are blended from various raw materials and additives* Fodder , any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed domesticated livestockIn computing:...
of what their friends are listening to (using Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
connect). Songza's mission is "to help you find the radio station that perfectly fits your mood or whatever you're doing right now; in other words, to help you find your soundtrack." Songza is headquartered in Long Island City, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Unlike other streaming services
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
, users can find stations not just based on artists, songs and genres, but based on themes, interests and eras, like "Songs In Apple Commercials," "90s One-Hit Wonders," and "Music of Fashion Week."
Songza has been widely noted for its unique user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
, which incorporates many ideas that Aza Raskin
Aza Raskin
Aza Raskin is an American interface designer. He is the son of noted human-computer interface expert Jef Raskin.-Biography:...
had previously written about and which are generally uncommon.
Amie Street
Amie Street
Amie Street was an indie online music store and social network service created in 2006 by Brown University seniors Elliott Breece, Elias Roman, and Joshua Boltuch, in Providence, Rhode Island...
acquired the company in October 2008. However, in late January 2010 Songza had to put their music streaming service on hold due to problems with YouTube's API (which is what the site uses to play back songs), YouTube blocking the site from using its API, presumably because YouTube could be sued for supporting a free music service without adverts. In March 2010, the music streaming service was relaunched as songza.org before going back to songza.com.
Originally only searching YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
for music, in August 2010 Songza launched a new version of the service to focus on bringing social networking to music; according to Mashable
Mashable
Mashable is an American news website and Internet news blog founded by Pete Cashmore. The website's primary focus is social media news, but also covers news and developments in mobile, entertainment, online video, business, web development, technology, memes and gadgets...
"the upcoming set of features sounds like Pandora
Pandora
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman. As Hesiod related it, each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts...
plus every social networking trend we’ve seen over the past year or two."