The world doesn't need two Pandoras. But just maybe, some room exists for a variation on a theme. That is the thinking behind iSound, a beta-phased newcomer that is creating a Pandora-style service for up-and-coming artists.
Pandora does play deeper tracks and obscure artists, but the emphasis is typically on more familiar content. At New Music Seminar last week, Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy revealed that 90,000 different artists are being played during a typical week, and that just 30 percent of DIY submissions are accepted into the system.
So, does a niche exist for a niche alternative? Currently, iSound is preparing a total relaunch of the concept next week, according to early details shared with Digital Music News. And, the approach means fewer restrictions - including the freedom to endlessly skip through songs. It also opens the ability play the same song over and over again, interactively.
On top of that, iSound encourages artists to upload their content and boasts a catalog of more than 288,000 artists. Registered users stand at 250,000, just a fraction of the 60 million recently disclosed by Pandora. The somewhat rough beta is at iSound.com, for those that want an early peek.
Source: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/072610isound#23E2J67ZZVZzUl9mjga9pw
