Pretty Much Amazing - Latest Comments in The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Chi Duly — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:33:04 -0000

a quote from the creator of hype machine Anthony Volodkin. He said "I discovered MP3 blogs like Stereogum and Music for Robots. I couldn't believe there were people spending their time writing about music, putting up tracks so you could hear them. And I thought, there has to be a way to bring this all together." Hype machine simply took what listeners were already doing and made the process more efficient.

im curious if the author's view has changed about hype machine in the years since this article.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Justin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:07:58 -0000

I consider myself to be a pretty and well informed serious music fan. The way that I use mp3 blogs and mp3s in general are to find out about and listen to new music. I still need to listen to music in album form before I can really appreciate it, for the flow of the album, the context or the songs, the theme behind the album.....I think that's how most music lovers are.

People who just listen to the single out of the context of the album via HypeM or iTunes are pretty casual, drive by music listeners who just want a fun sound to check out, like high schoolers or college kids who aren't really that into music. That's the way it has always been, from teens buying 45s, to top 4o radio, to cassette singles, to iTunes single and blog mp3s today. As far as more serious music lovers, who has the time to digest all of the blog hits anyways? Most of us will check out the buzz bands, decide if we like it, and the either buy the album or move on. HypeM and music blogs help us with this discovery process.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Bis — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:49:19 -0000

excelente article.
The speed at which music is available is killing the soul and depth that music once had and you could not have summarized it better!

Thank you.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Nikau — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:27:05 -0000

Brilliant article. However if it wasn't for the hype machine i wouldn't have found out about PMA, but i have to agree with alot of the points this article raises

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Disco D — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:12:16 -0000

A lot of people prefer MP3 over CD or Vinyl.
Most people aren't audio buffs with hi-fi ears who can tell the difference between a 16bit 44.1Khz PCM .WAV file and a 192k MP3.
So, it's easy to understand why some are not compelled to spend on money they can get for free (even if it is a low quality mp3 rip).
Also, a lot of tracks, these days, seem to get leaked to the public/internet early via someone copying the promo cd/mp3 or leaking the demo, in some cases!

I understand, It's difficult to compete with "free".
But, I would also urge DFA to up their game, and release less medicore indie dance drivel.
Concentrate on putting out anthems, instead.
Put out great songs that are worthy of our hard earned cash.
Sure, some will download a free copy of copy.
But, many others, will buy, buy, buy.

They have yet to release anything remotely great as Dinsoaur L, Arthur Russell, Loose Joints, George Kranz, Laidbach, The Normal, The B-52s, Tom Tom Club, Talking Heads, Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Fad Gadget, The The, Kraftwerk...

Need I go on?
Jonathan Galkin - If your back catalogue was your school homework, it would be marked 'easily distracted, could do better, & see me after class'.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:24:31 -0000

Speeding up music?? There's a couple major flaws with this argument. But just to make it easy, here's the Beatles catalog and release years:

* Please Please Me (Parlophone, 1963)
* With The Beatles (Parlophone, 1963)
* A Hard Day's Night (Parlophone, 1964)
* Beatles for Sale (Parlophone, 1964)
* Help! (Parlophone, 1965)
* Rubber Soul (Parlophone, 1965)
* Revolver (Parlophone, 1966)
* Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone, 1967)
* Magical Mystery Tour (U.S. only. Released as a Double EP in the UK) (Capitol, 1967)
* The Beatles ("The White Album") (Apple, 1968)
* Yellow Submarine (Apple, 1969)
* Abbey Road (Apple, 1969)
* Let It Be (Apple, 1970)

13 albums in 7 years.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Taylor McKnight — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:49:59 -0000

Two quick notes:
1) "they get $$$ to put certain blogs up top." is certainly not true. Every single blog in our system is on a level playing field.
2) We have the Popular page showing only the last 3 days of tracks is our effort to highlight interesting and new tracks. If it was an ongoing thing you'd most likely find the usual suspects on top (Coldplay, Radiohead, etc etc). Not to say you don't find these on the current Popular page, but it gives other songs a fighting chance (Teki Latex is #1 right now).
For a depressing example of how the "all time" popular tracks look check out Last.FM's top tracks of 2008: http://www.last.fm/bestof/2...
(6 of them are Coldplay, 4 of them are MGMT).
Our system isn't perfect, and we certainly didn't pick 3 days to overwhelm people or kill the album etc etc. I just wanted to share our thinking and let you know we are constantly trying to improve on making music discovery fun.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

kzap — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:31:27 -0000

Speaking of collusion btw, if you're techie enough you don't even have to leave any hypem page to download songs use FlashGot or some similiar downloader on FireFox or if you're as nerdy as you think you are get SongBird. Granted, they're not tagged, but you get the song and tagging's up to you or another community, MusicBrainz. I wonder who pays them to get featured in their iTunes killer browser???

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

kzap — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:21:36 -0000

Thought provoking it is. For me, I know what I like and don't have to listen to someone's personal podcast or read any critic-blogger-citizen-journalist wanna-be music nerd's opinion for that matter (no offense). It is just about the music for me and fine-tuning my tastes and it goes great with last.fm as they have been advertising it lately! Collusion!!! hah makes for a better overall product and business model. Oil of the 21st century information and intellectual property will be says I, ftw!

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Tart — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:27:59 -0000

To assume that either mp3 blogs and file sharing (or people's use of the internet in any way, for that matter) has a negative effect on the music industry is simply ridiculous. Independent studies have shown that there is no causal relationship between the increase of music online and the decrease of music sales in traditional markets. End of story. Your only source on this is a quote from someone within the music industry itself. I suggest you do more research on the subject. Email me for sources if you need them.

Likewise, to assume that the majority or "the base" of music fans use the Hype machine and therefore are influenced by it is equally ridiculous. Even to assume that the bulk of music fans fill their ipods with singles merits a solid source of reference, where is it? Let's be careful to not assume that we the super geeks, are the norm, eh?

Yes, the Hypem has changed the way we use music. Yes it's altered our focus on singles v. albums but I tend to think that's more a product of a generational shift, as you say, rather than something caused by Hypem. And as for music writing... there's plenty of us who write about music and don't give a damn about Hypem, don't write with it in mind, aren't listed on it, and have a small and faithful readership of friends who dig what we do nonetheless.

Thanks for a thought-provoking article!

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Luis Tovar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:45:38 -0000

"they get $$$ to put certain blogs up top."

Oh, is that a fact?

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Smithey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:36:43 -0000

wow, that article basically defines my musical exp, i feel a little bad now, i love hypem....

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Lily Kane — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:04:26 -0000

I'm pretty sure Hype M is on the evil side. They're not just a blog / mp3 aggregator based on hits and numbers-- they get $$$ to put certain blogs up top.
Actually not sure if that's evil or not, but it sure is misleading.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Bruno — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:02:20 -0000

Good arcticle, thanks.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

brennan — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:34:03 -0000

robin-

unfortunately us cd buyin types are in the minority. although hypem is just a tool and can be used for good (research) or evil (disposable trend-tracking) it definitely lends itself to the latter with its '3 day' hotlist.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Robin — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:16:31 -0000

love the article.

I agree:
it kills singles

it speeds up the music, its scary that things get buried so fast

Randi Baron, B, Lisa

Don't agree:
kills albums - I buy albums anyway. real CDs. I only download albums if it has lots of hype and I really cannot get into it. This means I wouldnt have purchased it in the first place. By the time next album comes I am way more likely to buy it.

In general itunes has killed concept albums and me listening to them the whole way through.

It kills music - this just links back to the speed of music

anyway fantastic!

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

DK — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:40:18 -0000

Nice article. I found your page via hype machine a few months ago. I book marked it right away and come back everyday.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

joshua — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:16:15 -0000

Good article.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Looshis — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:37:53 -0000

Same thing is happening in news. News blogs go online (with unchecked facts) and people have stopped buying newspapers. But studies show people only glance at the articles for the most part, and seldom click on the links to other sections. Whereas with newspapers there is more chance of you opening the paper and actually reading the content inside.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Bach — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:49:33 -0000

It's not The Hype Machine's fault. I blame the youth and their "ADD"

Anyways, The Hype Machine is how I found this wonderful blog.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

macky — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:17:52 -0000

Hype Machine is a database of bloggers that have been granted permission from the artists and labels to promote their music. 90% of the music is not to full quality which is the positive to artists and record labels as this is only used for promotional use. Like mentioned in most blogs, if you like the music support the artist by visiting beatport, juno, or itunes and buy there music.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Confusion — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:34:31 -0000

I agree completely with Half Note. Hypem is a product of the music environment.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Half Note — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:03:33 -0000

Great article, but I'm not sure I agree that Hypem is to blame for all that you mentioned. I think its a product of it.

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Randi Baron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:49:55 -0000

nice job! i'd say hypem is more threatening than elbo.ws, since elbo.ws lists posts & artists & mp3s in separate categories like if i just wanna read about an artist it's a lot easier.... whereas hypem just lists posts that mp3s are in. if you don't link mp3s in your blog when you're writing about them, well... you're screwed.

moral of hypem seems to be keep releasing more & more mp3s into blogs, which thereby kills the music industry. it's a pretty messed up circle.

that being said, i LOVE those sites :)

Re: The Thinking Man’s Take On: The Hype Machine

Jeff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:27:33 -0000

great article! Interesting topic indeed. I suppose you just wanted to keep it to hype machine in this one, but I think it's particularly intriguing that this post is number 1 on elbo.ws right now haha