We all remember when the early iTunes "random" algorithm would force us to listen to the same 100 tracks, even though we had 1000 different ones stored on the iPod. Later, we all learned that setting up preferences and using the different recommendation algorithms available for music players and streaming services would inevitably lead us to a finite number of possible combinations, enclosing us in a very limited universe of tracks, albums and artists, making it ever more difficult to discover new music passively. The consequence led to most users of streaming services starting to simply use pre-curated playlists and embrace the "radio-station" concept.
Musicube thinks its technology could expand the music discovery process and improve existing streaming services. The company just raised $560,000 USD to fund its expansion into the US market hoping to license its scalable solutions for the growing music streaming market but also to promote its "playlist generator" tools, as possible apps and plug-in options. Musicube’s existing clients already include Sony Music, Budde Music Publishing, Music Promotion Network (MPN), and Phonote, among others.
Created by a team of musicologists and data scientists, Musicube has emerged from the German audio and music-tech community focused on delivering deep semantic music search that enables music to be discovered more easily. Its software is delivered via web widgets and an Application Programming Interface (API) that delivers pristine metadata for music labels, publishers, streaming services, and broadcasters, among many other audiences.
“Today’s music listeners are stuck in filter bubbles, and nearly 90% of music is almost never heard as a result,” says David Hoga, founder and CEO of Musicube. “The Musicube mission is to enable music discovery and listening time for all music genres. We can help companies sort through complex data to make better decisions and create richer services and increase listening time.”
The Musicube Playlist Generator – which can be experimented at www.musicu.be/en/search/ - enables users to create complex song playlists that can then be played on Spotify and, soon, on other services.
The value of music libraries and catalogs has increased with the continued growth of music streaming services. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), in its most recent Global Music Report, stated that global music industry revenues grew by 7.4 percent in 2020, with more than 100 million new users subscribing to services, creating a global subscriber base of 443 million. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced earlier in 2021 that the US recorded music revenues grew 9.2% in 2020, up to $12.2 billion.
“We believe that the Musicube Playlist Generator could be a game-changer for brands as well as labels, and streaming services,” adds Hoga. “Our research shows that a healthy percentage – that is, 40 percent – of younger listeners would install a playlist generator app, and that is one reason why Musicube now eyes the US market.”
As then company explains, Musicube’s technology can process metadata more rapidly and with greater degrees of contextualization to enable searches on moods, musical genres, and tempo, among other characteristics. The Musicube value proposition lies in the company’s ability to sort through existing historical data and compile intelligence that is cross-service and cross-function, they detail.
The company employs experienced musicologists and data scientists to perfect a suite of music AI solutions that are able to deliver rich metadata for music labels, publishers, rights holders, and others who seek tools to enable discoverability or to discover nuances within music data. To fund its market expansion, the Hamburg-based developer announced the completion of a $560,000 USD financing round, led by German angel investors, including Holger Hübner, co-founder of the Wacken Open Air, one of the world's largest Metal festivals.
“Musicube solves the problem of missing discoverability and diversity in music. The team combines passion for music and technology – musicology meets AI,” says Holger Hübner. "Musicube’s data and search functions help publishers, labels, streaming services and many more. In the end, artists and fans benefit the most. Musicube’s results are impressive already and I look forward to the next steps.”
Agnes Chung, co-founder and head of business development for Musicube, will deliver a keynote speech at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg on Thursday, September 23 at 2:30 pm on “How to Drive and Change Innovation in the Music Industry.” At 11:00am on the same day, Musicube will present its Playlist Pitch Prediction at an MPN event.
www.musicu.be
