APIs That Are Changing the Face of the Music Industry

APIs–application programming interfaces–are the front-facing parts of an application that allow third parties to do something really, really interesting with that app. And when it comes to APIs and music programs, things are bloody fascinating.

At the recent APIdays conference in Paris, a considerable amount of time was spent on APIs that are changing the music industry.  From Programmable Web:

1. Streaming rights: Before APIs, there were no online licensing rights allowing Internet radio or websites to stream music legally. APIs have enabled streaming to disrupt the iTunes music business model, said Begoc.

2. Data creation: In order to enable the music discoverability that Bourdoncle pointed to,Spotify bought The Echo Nest API. It uses The Echo Nest API internally on a product called Nestify to test advanced personalization of music tracks. Nestify analyzes a listener’s playlist and categorizes it by major genres enjoyed, and can then create playlists based on which genre the listener is in the mood for or can help the listener discover partially or completely new playlists based on the listener’s current music tastes.

3. Ecosystem development: As demonstrated through the projects listed below, APIs are enabling Spotify to create new music channels and help align music listening with other activities. Begoc gave the example of how date-matching app Tinder lets users find potential dates based on their common musical preferences in Spotify.

4. Connected music: The next frontier, Begoc says, is music everywhere. He points to the new partnership with Uber, enabled via API, that allows customers to stream their own music choices when riding in an Uber car.

All right, but what does all that mean?  Check out these eight amazing API ideas. (I especially love Artist Explorer.)