Ghost in the Machine: Robert Smith
*Originally uploaded by iri5

In a follow up to my recent post about Spotify, here’s a little piece of mix-tape sharing – made possible by Spotify playlists and social media.

I used to love creating mix-tapes for myself and my friends; and receiving them in return was always very special. The whole process was an art form, and the amount of thought and care that went into each playlist was enormous.

I know I’m not alone in holding an abiding affection for the mix-tape. Nothing reminds you of a time in your life as much as the accompanying soundtrack.

While it’s now easy to recreate some of those old favourites with Spotify, fundamentally, it can’t really compare. I remember faults in the tape, or the distortion that would occur between tracks – no matter how much you tried to remove it. Those sounds became as much a part of the experience as the songs, and it’s odd hearing a digital version without them. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Cassette, Mix-tapes, Playlists, Spotify

I have been using the Spotify music streaming service more or less since it launched a year ago. Not only is it a great tool for discovering new music and getting reacquainted with old favourites, it has also been interesting to follow Spotify’s progress from a business point of view.

Working full time with the web, and being in the process of developing a standalone online business myself, keeping an eye on emerging trends for adding value and monetisation is a big preoccupation for me. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: File Sharing, Music Services, Napster, Spotify