YouTube Launches Music Discovery Project "Disco"

YouTube is taking advantage of their new venture Vevo by introducing a "Music Discovery Project" dubbed "Disco" for short, where searching for an artist generates a playlist of recommended videos. It's like YouTube's response to Pandora and Last.fm and is similar to the Genius option on iTunes. Working off the slogan "Find > Mix > Watch," the site produces a playlist based on the artist search, then users can add and delete videos to create a playlist that is stored in their profile, Tech Crunch reports.

For instance, a search for Pearl Jam results in a playlist stocked with Eddie Vedder & Co., plus videos by fellow Seattle grunge all-stars like Nirvana and Soundgarden and '90s rockers like Smashing Pumpkins and Black Crowes. Not much for "discovery" as the vast majority of Pearl Jam fans are already well aware of these other bands, but the Pearl Jam list might introduce fans to the handful of obscure Screaming Trees music videos that YouTube suggests. Similarly, a "mix tape" of Madonna comes filled with Kylie Minogue, George Michael, and Michael and Janet Jackson.

Here's a surefire sign Disco is still under construction: Search "Radiohead" and the other suggested artists are simply "head" bands like Diamond Head, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Murray Head. Is Disco revolutionary? Probably not, but it'll likely steal a few clicks from other music recommendation sites. Considering YouTube's big push behind Vevo, it's a little strange that this new music feature is launching via regular YouTube and not its new music site, which the record labels prefer you visit.

Related Stories:
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• Video Sites Announce New Music Features: Hulu Adds Artist Pages, Vevo Sets Launch
• Warner Music, YouTube Reportedly Strike Deal to Restore Videos

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

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