Comments on: New Music Service Slacker Has (very) Broad Ambitions http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/ Startup and Technology News Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:22:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Slacker Gets $40 Million for Growth http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1405895 Slacker Gets $40 Million for Growth Sat, 02 Jun 2007 05:48:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1405895 [...] looks like they got that start, with the addition of a whopping $40 million on top of the original $13.5 million series A, according to PEHub. Centennial Ventures and Rho Ventures were new investors, with Austin Ventures, [...] [...] looks like they got that start, with the addition of a whopping $40 million on top of the original $13.5 million series A, according to PEHub. Centennial Ventures and Rho Ventures were new investors, with Austin Ventures, [...]

]]> By: Slacker Now On Your Desktop : Forecast-Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402608 Slacker Now On Your Desktop : Forecast-Blog Wed, 30 May 2007 04:39:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402608 [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...] [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...]

]]> By: Slacker Now On Your Desktop | Tekjuice.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402564 Slacker Now On Your Desktop | Tekjuice.com Wed, 30 May 2007 03:51:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402564 [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...] [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...]

]]> By: Slacker Now On Your Desktop http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402555 Slacker Now On Your Desktop Wed, 30 May 2007 03:43:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1402555 [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...] [...] of the more ambitious entrants on the social music scene, Slacker, has released the second piece of their three-part music personalization suite, a desktop music [...]

]]> By: MobileCrunch » Yahoo’s New YPod: SanDisk Sansa Connect http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1322513 MobileCrunch » Yahoo’s New YPod: SanDisk Sansa Connect Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:39:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1322513 [...] interested in Mobile Wifi Services should also check out the new internet startup Slacker, which plans to offer a Pandora-like service on the web and on their own WiFi enabled mobile [...] [...] interested in Mobile Wifi Services should also check out the new internet startup Slacker, which plans to offer a Pandora-like service on the web and on their own WiFi enabled mobile [...]

]]> By: Mizzouse.com » Slacker.com Boldly Takes On Pandora, Apple, and XM Simultaneously http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1290168 Mizzouse.com » Slacker.com Boldly Takes On Pandora, Apple, and XM Simultaneously Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:23:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1290168 [...] [via TechCrunch] [...] [...] [via TechCrunch] [...]

]]> By: shamaya http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1258269 shamaya Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:48:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1258269 i thought is was very interesting to hear that i thought is was very interesting to hear that

]]> By: Brad http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1225144 Brad Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:26:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1225144 great point buster. sounds great, but what will be delivered and will it be seamless. sounds like slacker also plans to license so that mobile phones can access the streams (in addition to their own player). mystrands just launched something along those lines. Irk, I suspect the forth-coming client and premium service will give you more control over things. and this isn't like radio or even satellite radio, because you vote on songs and that feedback directs the station (a la pandora or launchcast). great point buster. sounds great, but what will be delivered and will it be seamless. sounds like slacker also plans to license so that mobile phones can access the streams (in addition to their own player). mystrands just launched something along those lines.

Irk, I suspect the forth-coming client and premium service will give you more control over things. and this isn’t like radio or even satellite radio, because you vote on songs and that feedback directs the station (a la pandora or launchcast).

]]> By: buster http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1224170 buster Wed, 14 Mar 2007 23:24:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1224170 @brad are you referring to the mobile device slacker has planned when you say last.fm can only be accessed on a pc? good point. i am however weary of these frankendevices though. its a great idea, merge your personal music player with a connected music recommendation service, but right now the infrastructure is just not mature enough to support it i think (iphone isn't even going to support direct downloads, right?, it seems like even apple's connectivity goals for the iphone aren't this lofty). who knows, i hope slacker can prove me wrong with an intelligent device. i'm happy now to have last.fm sync with whatever i played on my ipod throughout the day and then from my pc grab recs to download. @brad

are you referring to the mobile device slacker has planned when you say last.fm can only be accessed on a pc?

good point. i am however weary of these frankendevices though. its a great idea, merge your personal music player with a connected music recommendation service, but right now the infrastructure is just not mature enough to support it i think (iphone isn’t even going to support direct downloads, right?, it seems like even apple’s connectivity goals for the iphone aren’t this lofty). who knows, i hope slacker can prove me wrong with an intelligent device.

i’m happy now to have last.fm sync with whatever i played on my ipod throughout the day and then from my pc grab recs to download.

]]> By: Irk http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1224067 Irk Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:58:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1224067 the problem i see here is not being able to select music you want to play. what's the point in having a personal player when you have to hear what the player wants you to hear? this is just like the radio in my car, and exactly why i don't listen to the radio! i would love to see a another player in the market with apple/ms, but it will be difficult i think. i just have not seen a better player than iTunes. i've tried them all. i mean ALL, and iTunes has everything i need and want, and it keeps getting better. good luck guys, you're going to need it. the problem i see here is not being able to select music you want to play. what’s the point in having a personal player when you have to hear what the player wants you to hear? this is just like the radio in my car, and exactly why i don’t listen to the radio! i would love to see a another player in the market with apple/ms, but it will be difficult i think. i just have not seen a better player than iTunes. i’ve tried them all. i mean ALL, and iTunes has everything i need and want, and it keeps getting better. good luck guys, you’re going to need it.

]]> By: yocket http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223893 yocket Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:20:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223893 I like their domain name. Great domain. The domain was first registered in '95; wonder if they are the original owner of the domain or did they purchase it on the domain aftermarket. I like their domain name. Great domain. The domain was first registered in ‘95; wonder if they are the original owner of the domain or did they purchase it on the domain aftermarket.

]]> By: a slacker http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223841 a slacker Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:05:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223841 works fine w. firefox 2.0.0.2 in winxp, no waiting. but... why bother. Slacker has to be different, very different and have an angle that no other service has. Imho, better than Pandora at picking songs. works fine w. firefox 2.0.0.2 in winxp, no waiting.
but… why bother. Slacker has to be different,
very different and have an angle that no other service has.
Imho, better than Pandora at picking songs.

]]> By: Frank Daley http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223744 Frank Daley Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:40:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223744 Also crashes my Firefox 2.0 in Linux. Given that others have had similar problems with Firefox on Windows XP - not a good sign for pre-release testing. Also crashes my Firefox 2.0 in Linux.

Given that others have had similar problems with Firefox on Windows XP - not a good sign for pre-release testing.

]]> By: Badger http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223643 Badger Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:12:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223643 Crashes my browser. Firefox 2 in Linux. Crashes my browser. Firefox 2 in Linux.

]]> By: Brad http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223642 Brad Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:12:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223642 I've always thought MusicMatch had the best music recommendation features. I looked for those to be born again in Yahoo Music Engine (still waiting). Looks like the core behind MM decided to get back in the game, and what they delivered so far is exceptional to me. I'm really enjoying it, and that's the real test. Sound quality is noticeably better than other streamers. More control than I have at Pandora. Pre-programmed content if I'm extra lazy--but you can modify that via ratings, popularity, familiarity if you want. Hopefully the full-client and premium service offer more direct access to songs and artists and some other standard features. Impressed so far. Obviously a solid portable seals the deal, but I'm already sounding like a fanboy so I'll stop. @buster, agreed on last.fm but you can't access it without a pc. not to mention the streaming quality sucks for me even though I'm on broadband and I subscribe. I’ve always thought MusicMatch had the best music recommendation features. I looked for those to be born again in Yahoo Music Engine (still waiting). Looks like the core behind MM decided to get back in the game, and what they delivered so far is exceptional to me. I’m really enjoying it, and that’s the real test. Sound quality is noticeably better than other streamers. More control than I have at Pandora. Pre-programmed content if I’m extra lazy–but you can modify that via ratings, popularity, familiarity if you want. Hopefully the full-client and premium service offer more direct access to songs and artists and some other standard features. Impressed so far. Obviously a solid portable seals the deal, but I’m already sounding like a fanboy so I’ll stop.

@buster, agreed on last.fm but you can’t access it without a pc. not to mention the streaming quality sucks for me even though I’m on broadband and I subscribe.

]]> By: buster http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223292 buster Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:37:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1223292 this has a pretty slick radio. i really dislike the design though. it's pretty hard on the eyes if you ask me. the problem with this thing and pandora, they just don't pick up less popular artists. whereas last.fm does a wonderful job at this by leveraging the community. search for "Kim Jung Mi" on all services and see what happens. with 2K+ people listening on last.fm, i'm surprised pandora or slacker doesn't pick this up. 2K+ listeners is not even close to obscure for last.fm last.fm service is higher quality and more broad than anything i've seen come from pandora or slacker. seriously, why does anyone mention pandora anymore? this has a pretty slick radio. i really dislike the design though. it’s pretty hard on the eyes if you ask me.

the problem with this thing and pandora, they just don’t pick up less popular artists. whereas last.fm does a wonderful job at this by leveraging the community. search for “Kim Jung Mi” on all services and see what happens. with 2K+ people listening on last.fm, i’m surprised pandora or slacker doesn’t pick this up. 2K+ listeners is not even close to obscure for last.fm

last.fm service is higher quality and more broad than anything i’ve seen come from pandora or slacker. seriously, why does anyone mention pandora anymore?

]]> By: sam http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222974 sam Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:05:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222974 ummm... nice to be able to find/listen to internet radio/music that's being streamed. but how many of these guys will really be around when/if the newly discussed per stream fees are enforced? ummm…

nice to be able to find/listen to internet radio/music that’s being streamed. but how many of these guys will really be around when/if the newly discussed per stream fees are enforced?

]]> By: OffBeatMammal http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222972 OffBeatMammal Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:04:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222972 Looks interesting, but having huge problems this morning with stream delivery. I've gone back to Pandora, though maybe once they're up running and stable and have these mythical hardware devices in the wild I might look again. Meantime Pandora works just great with Slimdevices hardware already for wired listening How are Slacker (and their business model) going to stack up against the RIAA royalty increases? If Pandora (http://blog.pandora.com/pandora/archives/2007/03/riaas_new_royal.html) and Live365 (http://www.live365.com/info/royalties.html) are threatened by this how will it impact these guys Looks interesting, but having huge problems this morning with stream delivery.
I’ve gone back to Pandora, though maybe once they’re up running and stable and have these mythical hardware devices in the wild I might look again.
Meantime Pandora works just great with Slimdevices hardware already for wired listening
How are Slacker (and their business model) going to stack up against the RIAA royalty increases? If Pandora (http://blog.pandora.com/pandora/archives/2007/03/riaas_new_royal.html) and Live365 (http://www.live365.com/info/royalties.html) are threatened by this how will it impact these guys

]]> By: Steve Robson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222850 Steve Robson Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:28:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222850 Hmmm I have to agree with most people on here. There are a slew of similar services available and it seems weird not to have the full service up and running right now. Telling me something fabulous is coming is all very well but as we all know if we aint impressed in the first 5 seconds we're not ever coming back. Attention spans are just too short! To compete with iTunes and the rest its not good saying we'll have some cool stuff later . . . "bear with us". Hmmm I have to agree with most people on here. There are a slew of similar services available and it seems weird not to have the full service up and running right now. Telling me something fabulous is coming is all very well but as we all know if we aint impressed in the first 5 seconds we’re not ever coming back. Attention spans are just too short!

To compete with iTunes and the rest its not good saying we’ll have some cool stuff later . . . “bear with us”.

]]> By: Amy Wilsch http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222839 Amy Wilsch Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:25:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222839 It has the same major flaw I find in Pandora. I want to pick the songs to listen to, and I must go in their pre-defined order. Very annoying. Musicmatch is still best for discovering new music based on my current choice(s). It has the same major flaw I find in Pandora. I want to pick the songs to listen to, and I must go in their pre-defined order. Very annoying. Musicmatch is still best for discovering new music based on my current choice(s).

]]> By: Nocturnal http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222776 Nocturnal Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:08:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222776 It's crap for IE7 too. I can't even sign up for is that not even implemented just yet? It’s crap for IE7 too. I can’t even sign up for is that not even implemented just yet?

]]> By: walter http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222735 walter Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:56:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222735 might be biting off more than they can chew, especially with so little funding currently... might be biting off more than they can chew, especially with so little funding currently…

]]> By: Jorge http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222652 Jorge Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:31:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222652 Let me get this straight: for $7.50/month, I can't pick the songs I want to play? For only $2 more/month, I can...on every other subscription service in existence. They'll have to seriously rethink their business model if they hope to survive. A pretty, expensive gadget is meaningless if the corresponding service is unusable. Let me get this straight: for $7.50/month, I can’t pick the songs I want to play? For only $2 more/month, I can…on every other subscription service in existence.

They’ll have to seriously rethink their business model if they hope to survive. A pretty, expensive gadget is meaningless if the corresponding service is unusable.

]]> By: Brian http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222617 Brian Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:24:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222617 How long before they have a problem with the recording labels because the $7.50 will not give them adequate royalties. Especially for the songs that are downloaded onto your PC. I know more financing will come, but for what they have already developed they should have spent their $13 million. Why isn't Zune considered a competitor? How long before they have a problem with the recording labels because the $7.50 will not give them adequate royalties. Especially for the songs that are downloaded onto your PC.

I know more financing will come, but for what they have already developed they should have spent their $13 million. Why isn’t Zune considered a competitor?

]]> By: Anshul Jain http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222423 Anshul Jain Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:32:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/14/new-music-service-slacker-has-very-broad-ambitions/#comment-1222423 The only complete music package that I have seen other than the iTunes-iPod one. As of now I really cant get it to work on my firefox and mac. The device sure looks gorgeous but I don't know whether this would be successful or not. One thing is for sure, Slacker aint going down without a fight. Having already announced hardware products is a pretty bold thing for a startup to do. The only complete music package that I have seen other than the iTunes-iPod one. As of now I really cant get it to work on my firefox and mac. The device sure looks gorgeous but I don’t know whether this would be successful or not. One thing is for sure, Slacker aint going down without a fight. Having already announced hardware products is a pretty bold thing for a startup to do.

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