~ryanlowe/blog: Brain Dump Part I: The Itch

Brain Dump Part I: The Itch

I don't think too many people will argue that good software solves a problem. Often the hard part is figuring out the exact problem that needs to be solved. In the software biz sometimes this is called requirements gathering, requirements analysis, domain research, etc.

After a month just thinking about it I've distilled an itch that needs scratching: a problem that probably needs some sort of software solution.

I can't keep track of all of the bands I like. I don't know when they release albums. I don't know when they are playing shows within a two hour drive of me (Ottawa or Montreal).

It's not even close. I can't even keep track of a dozen of my absolute favourites -- and want to be able keep up with over a hundred bands quickly and easily.

Why does this problem exist? The sources of information aren't arranged for the convenience of fans.

Band websites cater to individual bands.
Band mailing lists, while nicely proactive, inundate me with too much irrelevant email.
Label websites try to sell the label's albums.
Webzines (like PitchFork) are filled with advertising, snooty reviews and often concentrate on only one or two genres.
Ticket sales websites cover a subset of venues/promoters in an area

The itch: Give me personalized relevant news about all of the bands I like all in one place.

I choose what types of news are relevant and what isn't. Only the bands I'm interested in. All genres in one site.

Scratch it.

Posted at July 05, 2005 at 09:20 AM EST
Last updated July 05, 2005 at 09:20 AM EST

Comments

That is an interesting problem. I think the main problem with this one is "data". That's one of the biggest problems in software today. Very few companies keep good track of their data. Trying to collect this data from so many different sources, in a timely and efficient nightmare would be quite an undertaking. If you're a baseball fan, it's easy, because there's only 30 teams and 30 venues. That's easy to keep track of. Now think of how many bands there are. There are a lot. Listening to the radio, you may only think there are 12, but there's actually a lot more. There's also a lot of venues. There's probably at least 30 in Ottawa. And Ottawa is not very big. Unless you got lots of participation from a good percentage of the venues, and a good percentage of the bands, then it would be hard to collect enough data to be useful to everyone. Fans could post data about the bands they like, but verifying the information would be hard, and as you stated, fans have difficulty finding the information, that's why you're building the site. It's no good if the information gets there after the concert is half sold out.

Oh, and about the advertising on webzines. These sites need to stay open. They have to pay for bandwidth and servers, as well as employees. I don't mind ads. But I do mind the annoying ones. Of course, they probably get more money for the annoying ones, so trying to find a good balance between cash inflow and annoying users can sometimes be a hard decision, and this decision isn't often left up to the best person. Anyway, it's just as bad in regular magazines. I'm sure if they could make the pictures move on the paper, and make it stay on a certain ad page for 15 seconds they would.

» Posted by: Kibbee at July 6, 2005 08:45 AM

Kibbee: some good points, thanks. I've thought of a few possible solutions for the problems you bring up and I'll be blogging about them soon.

» Posted by: Ryan at July 7, 2005 04:45 AM