DMusic.com | for indie musicians and fans | Free MP3 music downloads - Forums: Staff Announcements: New DM Feature : Recommended Artists

Electric guitars, Classical guitars, Guitar amps and more.

zZounds.com offers recording equipment for starting and experienced musicians. Find the best prices on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, classical guitars and more.

Forums > Staff Announcements

New DM Feature : Recommended Artists

furiousBall	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 9:41 AM Alexander Lindqvist fan, wouldn't it be cool if you had this little digital buddy suggesting some other artists like Josyph Cryss, and then from Joseph's page, you might find Sween...pretty cool eh? [note please pardon the eh there, I'm a huge hockey fan] Wait, you guys are spying on my listens? I'm sueing!! for something... No, it's nothing like that. Basically, some artists have groupies (users that watch the artist's track releases) when that artist's page loads, the recommended artist box magically selects a few other artists from those groupie watchlists and suggests them. Let me guess... subscribers only right? No, the recommended artist box is for everyone. Isn't the artist page getting too crowded? You are correct, we are in talks currently for redesigning that page along with the whole site. But that said, we want to continue to offer new cool stuff. What is the fastest land animal on earth? Besides Kingo? The cheetah." id="171994">Here's a nifty little feature for ALL users, recommended artists. While surfing around DM, you will notice this new box on the left side of some artist pages suggesting some other artists you might enjoy. Why did you do this? To get users to listen to more music. I mean if you're a huge Alexander Lindqvist fan, wouldn't it be cool if you had this little digital buddy suggesting some other artists like Josyph Cryss, and then from Joseph's page, you might find Sween...pretty cool eh? [note please pardon the eh there, I'm a huge hockey fan] Wait, you guys are spying on my listens? I'm sueing!! for something... No, it's nothing like that. Basically, some artists have groupies (users that watch the artist's track releases) when that artist's page loads, the recommended artist box magically selects a few other artists from those groupie watchlists and suggests them. Let me guess... subscribers only right? No, the recommended artist box is for everyone. Isn't the artist page getting too crowded? You are correct, we are in talks currently for redesigning that page along with the whole site. But that said, we want to continue to offer new cool stuff. What is the fastest land animal on earth? Besides Kingo? The cheetah.
victorsskull	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 9:48 AM sweet
BOWILLIE	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 9:52 AM i dunno about that.. that tater can roll pretty fast downhill..
guitaroo	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 9:53 AM cool.
AbortiveMind	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 10:28 AM Aww, shit I posted a thread earlier (or later ) with some questions, guess it's superfluous now
DeadraveN	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 10:57 AM what would happen if Kingo raced a cheetah?
zedsalt	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 12:37 PM I've NEVER seen a major site redesign that struck me as an improvement. I have a lot of faith in the crew here, but I get an involuntary shudder when I read things like, "we are in talks currently for redesigning that page along with the whole site". Here's hoping that we don't end up with the kind of garbage Microsoft, Google, Amazon, etc. have touted as "improvements". The absolute best aspect of this site is the amount and range of interaction available. The more links on each page, the better. I'm not convinced the Recommended Artists feature is a good idea, but it IS one more means of interaction, and there is NO SUCH THING as too many of those!
imemine	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 12:40 PM Agreed Zed. I have no problem with change for the good however one of my favorite tired old cliché’s is----“If it’s not broke---don’t fix it”!
furiousBall	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 1:00 PM i agree with you guys. one of my concepts to new site design is to perhaps "skin" the look and feel. ergo, you could have a DM Classic skin giving you the look and feel of what you have today.
onewhodreams	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 1:05 PM I'm just curious as to how the Recommended Artists are grouped... like, is it just random from one page to another or are there specific genres that are linked to each artists page?
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 1:16 PM but how can it work for un-subs when the watchlist is only for subs (or has that changed for un-subs too?) ... but if the watchlist is still only for subs, it don't seem to be making sense to me seeing this new feature is reliant on the watchlist... ... or am i missing something?
Apertome	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 2:09 PM OWD -- it doesn't check genres. It simply finds artists that are on the same watchlists X times or more. It's a random selection of up to 5 such artists. It'll probably get more intelligent down the line, but there's not enough watchlist data to do anything too fancy with it yet. ShamProd, you're right in that the recommendations can inherently only be based on artists subscribers have put on their watchlists, since unsubscribers don't have that capability. But that's enough to come up with a correlation between artists. I looked into doing this using playlists instead, but that brings with it numerous technical problems, the greatest of which is that it would create too much of a load on the database server.
furiousBall	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 3:23 PM and to go a bit further Shams, all bands can appear on the recommended list, not just subscriber artists (which is definied as a band with at least one subscriber as a member)
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:24 PM Kool! Thanx for clearing that up oh and splended idea btw.. it will have a good effect i think so long as people take a oeek at that list on the left... should create a bizare kind of web effect linking everyone together even more... Good stuff
HalloweenBat...	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:33 PM ye like i go on dizeazed page.. to db to gene hilbert.. now lets say im partial to rap music.. how will i like somenoe whos a different genre and totally different (just an aexample i like all music
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:38 PM good point... but it could open peoples minds to diff genres... if they go to a site thinking possitive because they just got the link from dizeazed who they happent like... so basically it may also help in freeing some peoples minds up ... no?
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:48 PM lol... that barely made sense .... im tired
Apertome	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:51 PM No, Sham, you're making sense. That's the way I see it; I haven't spent a lot of time with it yet, but I know I'll find artists I would have overlooked otherwise. Maybe a genre-specific thing could be useful as well
GeneHilbert	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:53 PM Kewl.........
HalloweenBat...	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 4:53 PM yes but the point is not to open ur mind like that.. its to help get to know other artists that are similar to the music u just listened to and enjoyed
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:14 PM thats not what its for halloween... im sure it didn't say anywhere about linking people to similar music ... did it its more than just linking people to similar music... its about taking a step into the next generation of listeners all over the world... open up the worlds mind... this is the start of a movement... "let it be" i say "let it be" Whooooooooo!
HalloweenBat...	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:17 PM it says if u like this person u may also enjoy this.. assuming that u liked jnx.. u are more likely to enjoy a rapper that is similar then someone in a different genre.. sure they may like all music but its reccomending something that ull most likely like.. u cant go to a totally opposite type of music.. alot of the time the person will not be interested
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:29 PM Hah! shame on me... erm well it didn't say you will definately like this person ... ok im just gettin silly now... honestly though... i think its good how it is... maybe the list can be rectified to display the artist type in the list... or maybe the icon next to each name like it is everywhere else... i dunno... all i know is i don't want it to only display only artists that have the same genre as the page the user is on... it just won't be that special then... my opinion anyway. and another thing is alot of people on DM don't with a whole range of genres on their music page... so how would that work out? o i know... im gonna go have dinner...yeh that will fix eeeverything
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:31 PM ... on DM deal with a whole ... sorry.... typo's occur when i hungry
onewhodreams	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:31 PM Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking. Like, right now on Dizzy's JNX page there are recommendations for: - Dream Out Loud - ChillinBuzz - Pop Dolls - Wilhemina Murray's Revenge - Mind Sculpture As far as I know, none of them are really "Hip Hop". So, wouldn't it make more sense for the recommendations to be along the same genre lines?
GreatGooglyM...	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 5:33 PM I still don't get this thing... Basically, some artists have groupies (users that watch the artist's track releases) when that artist's page loads, the recommended artist box magically selects a few other artists from those groupie watchlists and suggests them. Can somebody please explain this to me? I never knew about this kind of feature...
Veracohr	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 6:46 PM I get now what Halloween is saying. The header for that navigation box implies that the artists listed are similar in style to the one you're at. Perhaps it should have a different header.
hantu	Date: November 5, 2005 @ 7:42 PM ^ yup ... that would be the main thing
ChillinBuzz	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 12:14 AM dont it let it be similar genres, that wouldnt be a true representation of who listens to that artist, i mean, if i got rappers on my electronic list, that means rappers listen to me as well as other electronic artists and id promote any groupie of mine equally and fairly. no use in discriminating or sticking to one genre. sorry OWD
billrhynes	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 1:24 AM i think this feature is a bit off...I've got people on my recommended list I, and how do I say this...wouldn't listen to if you paid me. Sorry, but it just falls a c-hair short of accurately reflecting or representing my tastes.
GeneHilbert	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:50 AM I have found 2 artist from this new feature. I would not have known about otherwise. Both are excellent..... As the list changes there are bound to be a few dogs - but hey that's life.
BOWILLIE	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 6:21 AM it fairly spreads the genres.. i think. that is if you are spread out listening to diff people.. as is..if a hip hop artist gets my link to listen. do they really want to? i listen to a bit.. but im not really a style they probally would want to see on thier page..do i know what im trying to say..probally not..it is 6..15 after all..lol..
rhthesinner	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 6:42 AM rh DeadraveN
TameasDust	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 8:49 AM
hantu	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 9:41 AM hmmm well maybe there is need for 2 seperate lists.... and an option to turn the lists off. one list for the artist to make theirself and the other list like we have it now..... hmmm i dunno
HalloweenBat...	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 10:58 AM i jsut think if its to expand ur horizons or w/e they should use a different heading or something - K3VIN
HalloweenBat...	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 10:58 AM cause assuming someone likes all music
Distilled1	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:08 PM Looks like we now have in "Alt" "rock""hip hop" and then in other genras. KEEP up the good work you guys
Apertome	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:10 PM Yeah, good suggestions, people, now we've got the best of both worlds
hantu	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:13 PM thats it, i don't care, i have decided it should stay the same, definetaly just change the heading, like many have already said and that should do it... If people don't listen to all types of music.... well bugger to them... they should.... we must convert them..... Who's with me? ...gee i hope someone is with me on this
hantu	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:13 PM oh we have... hmm let me go have ? you changed it ... i go have a look now
hantu	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:14 PM o hey that was my idea with the whole changing of the list structure... yipeee very kool! oh yes!
Apertome	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:14 PM I should have been more clear. Now, it lists 3 artists in the same genre, followed by 3 in other genres.
K3VIN	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:26 PM cool thats good
Rodrica	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:43 PM Firstly I want to say that all the changes made to date have been enormous improvements and we have all benefited from the developments...so thanks to the admins for their hard work But sorry guys...I REALLY hate this latest feature. My feeling is that I currently have a links section on my main page where I promote artists across ALL genres (18 in total and still expanding!). I often promote new uploads from new and established artists on my net page (10 on there at present!). And I'm a regular contributor to the DM picks forums in an attempt to promote NEW artists. I am always the first person to try and promote ALL artists on here. But in this case I'm not happy about having artists selected on my behalf. It doesn't make sense to me to possibly have people appearing on my page whose music I do NOT respect or admire or whose attitude is contrary to the good image of this site. I definitely do not like the idea of being indirectly forced into promoting someone in this way. Given the effort I make to promote most people I can categorically say that I would actively promote most people on this site...but there are a few people who I would not wish to be linked to in any way. Surely we should be able to maintain that choice? Similarly I would hate to be promoted on someone else's page if they did not like me or my music! That may just cause a lot of resentment Perhaps if we cannot have any control over this function...maybe we could at least be given the consideration of not having any of our "blocked" artists appearing on our pages!
onewhodreams	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 2:43 PM Awesome mux.
orgasmotron	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 3:22 PM i like it. and so far most of the artists that have appeared on my page are at least somewhat similar to me (except for the other genres bit, i'm still really lost on that)
Apertome	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 3:35 PM Orgasmotron -- the other genres part might not list similar artists, but the idea is that it's just another way to find artists you might otherwise miss. Maybe some people prefer to only listen to certain genres, but others (myself included) are interested in music in many genres. We're trying to cater to both audiences by providing both types of links.
Dizeazed	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 6:28 PM Muxy - The idea of having "Also in (insert your genre here)" and then "In other genres" is excellent! Now users/listeners have a choice of whether they'd like to broaden their musical listening horizons or just find somethin' possibly similar in style/sound. Good looks on the update! I find this feature now much more useful, and less confusing. (Unlike my forum posts)
K3VIN	Date: November 6, 2005 @ 6:30 PM yes yes!!
TameasDust	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 6:18 AM would it be like a list of artists on your playlist or just list all that you have listened to recently ... also would this be an "artist" only function? being that I have round 100 or so links on my journal right now ...
hantu	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 6:45 AM i think it would be an artist function Tameus, considering this feature is up and running already and its on the atrist page where the songs are on the left margin
GTOriginal	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 8:18 AM Artists who are watchlisted and playlisted all over the site to begin with don't need the kind of promotion this feature provides. Personally I think it would be a way more useful feature if it referred similar genres with no playlists or watchlists, by way of introducing some of the extreme yet unsung talent out there. It should also include a toggle in the artist page to allow them to self-exclude if that makes any sense, so they aren't forced into it. Some of us are kinda shy around here Just my thoughts, I also agree with Rodrica about the way this site is shaping up!
hantu	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 9:09 AM hmmm i do agree with the toggle feature that GT states above... but not too sure about the rest
Engine11RDenny	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 9:19 AM Put me on the list - however if someone is offensive or someone we don't want to represent - then let us have the choice to remove them and have a new name generate automatically or just have less on our list. Take me off your list if my opinions [lyric content] are not agreeable with yours. Let us have the choice.
RayN44	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 9:26 AM If they wanna do it fairly they should promote say like 20+ artist each day on the main music page where the recent uploads and the top 20 listens are instead of putting them on each persons page. It would be better I think.
RayN44	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 9:46 AM Ok, you already have the FEATURED ARTIST on the main musc page. But instead of just featuring 1 artist put the links of 10+ artists and let the people decide what song(s) they want to listen to. This way people dont get artists that they really dont want to feature on their page. I think it is fair and would prevent alot of trouble and resentment.
hantu	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 10:15 AM Hmmm good point engine... some sort of filter would be good
GTOriginal	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 10:21 AM My whole thing is that we should be able to control the content of our pages. My suggestion indicated what my personal settings would be if given a choice, guess I wasn't too clear on that. I gotta remember, :coffe: first, computer second
ebarbarella	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 2:37 PM i like it i just think it should be located above or below favorites sites
furiousBall	Date: November 7, 2005 @ 9:00 PM duly noted, we'll look into making this an option. thanks for the feedback guys.
GeneHilbert	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 2:13 AM I concur with ebarbarella.....Place it below all the artists own promotional info and material. That way it is not a distraction or diversion.
Rodrica	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 3:47 AM I'd just like to add that our long-standing and excellent links section on our main page is definitely under-used! It's interesting that some of the those in favour of the "recommended artists" panel are NOT already promoting other DM artists in their links section! I realise that some people feel reluctant to do so for fear of appearing biased towards specific artists...but this would be no more so than the "recommended artists" panel. And the links section permits you to promote far more artists! Surely it's better to be an active promoter than a passive one Admins...I hope you keep the links section...it's still a great way to discover new members - and it also tells us a lot about the musical interests of the person who chooses them. What could be better!?
TameasDust	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 7:58 AM only for artists .... so we ain't in the everyone class
psypig	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 8:32 AM a question: If i have recommended artists on my page, does that mean there are people who have me on their 'watch' list? what happens if no-one is watching you? is it then random?
psypig	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 8:32 AM wait, that was 2 (or maybe even 3) questions...
hantu	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 9:35 AM Goodness me... DM has alot of whiney bugger's, doesn't it?
sinai	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 9:41 AM you learn fast sham
psypig	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 10:03 AM Not really whining... just curious. I think it's a pretty good idea to be honest. I just wanna know if people are watching me... spying on me with their giant flying eyes....
hantu	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 10:33 AM Hah! ... im watching you psy... thats a start i guess.. ay? one down, goodness know how many to go
psypig	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 10:35 AM
hantu	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 12:54 PM Hah! ... yeh i have just read that again... that did kinda come out a tad perverted.... i didn't mean it like that .... or did i?
ChillinBuzz	Date: November 8, 2005 @ 12:56 PM Sham you perv i guess its an option we could be able to activate/deactivate then?
GeneHilbert	Date: November 9, 2005 @ 6:52 PM Much better - very kewl - Thanks.....
Intergalacti...	Date: November 9, 2005 @ 7:00 PM I did notice it and was like oooo thats nice
hantu	Date: November 9, 2005 @ 7:57 PM hehe thats i actually said the exact same thing when i first saw it ... well nearly ... "oooo, what do we have here" erm anyway... yet another pointless post by the great Shams ... ur welcome
Apertome	Date: November 9, 2005 @ 8:15 PM psypig said, "If i have recommended artists on my page, does that mean there are people who have me on their 'watch' list? what happens if no-one is watching you? is it then random?" Yes, that means someone is watching you. If nobody's watching you, there are no recommendations. The wording has been changed to "you might also like." You will be able to opt out of this if you want, effective soon.
missvolatile	Date: November 10, 2005 @ 4:55 PM I like the idea in theory, but it kind of sucks for those of us who aren't being "watched". But that says more about my music not cutting it than anything else, so all the more reason to improve. In any event, it does seem to only promote small group of people who are on the site all the time and popular. I wish I could be more of a part of this community, but I work two jobs and don't have the time that I'd like to have. I guess self promotion is the answer for us busy people? Anyway, its a good start guys..I look forward to seeing it progress.
Intergalacti...	Date: November 10, 2005 @ 5:51 PM volatile being part of the community doesnt take time. ewveryone here is so friendly i guarantee you simply posting that you will see more people talking to you i certainly will for one you look like an int6eresting character. and I dont think its just the regular users I saw one I'd never heard of before on my page the other day
GTOriginal	Date: November 10, 2005 @ 6:03 PM "You will also be able to opt out of this if you want, effective soon". WTG.
Distilled1	Date: November 10, 2005 @ 7:02 PM missvolatile you are being eeking: psypig you are beingeeking:
Distilled1	Date: November 10, 2005 @ 7:03 PM oh and PS missvolatile your music is
GTOriginal	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 3:34 PM I would really like to opt out of this feature.
kingo	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 3:56 PM I would like to opt out of including links in my recommended artists links to artists who opt out of displaying recommended artists, and also opt out of displaying links to any artists who link to artists who have opted out of including recommended artist links but are not otherwise discluded based on the above criteria.
GTOriginal	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 4:14 PM You should be able to do ^ that. As it stands now, you cannot.
Israfel	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 4:17 PM Not me. I want a big flashing sign on my page that lists each and every artist ever to subscribe to DM in alphabetical order, one at a time.
TameasDust	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 4:34 PM OW me eyes ... me eyes .... i'm blind ....ahhhhhhhh
TameasDust	Date: January 13, 2006 @ 10:05 PM er I got 300 plus of them ... workin on the other 26870 ... verwoked:
Rodrica	Date: January 17, 2006 @ 6:00 AM Originally I didn't like this feature at all...but now I notice a lot more names have been added (some I've not visited before) - which is excellent So long as we're giving as many people a chance of being heard as possible, then I'm happy! And the more new names I see, the better!