iTunes Ping Loses Face and Closes the Book on You Know Who!

iTunes launched the latest extension to their music offering in the form of a social networking function, but on first pass it appears to be as dull as a urinal flush valve.

Having spent some time playing with this new social media music toy, it was quickly thrown out of the pram and relegated to the social media toy box after about thirty minutes.

In my opinion, Apple arrived late to the social media music scene, as Spotify did with their recent social offering. I had been using mflow for over five months, and it offers a lot more than Ping, within a well designed and thought out download app.

The article highlights that Apple intended to launch with Facebook Connect integration but faced obstacles. Steve Jobs revealed that Facebook proved "too onerous" for Apple.

Setup process & limitations

The sign-up process was straightforward, though users could only select up to three favourite music genres. Once inside Ping, users can search for artists, comment on albums, and invite friends via email.

Reception & competing platforms

Industry responses were mixed. Om Malik stated that the music-discovery tool represented the future of social commerce, while Jonny Evans at ComputerWorld described Ping as "no Facebook killer."

User feedback indicated that Ping's recommendations didn't match musical preferences, and integration with other platforms remained limited.

Music search landscape

Google announced a music search facility called One Box launching in the US, allowing users to search song lyrics and find purchase options, with partnerships including imeme.

Conclusion

Social media has become integral to the music industry for artists, sites, and labels, making engagement essential for modern campaigns.