Assingments % - The main task here is to compare the personalization technologies of two Internet radio and streaming services

Compare the personalization technologies of TWO Internet radio and streaming services (Pandora, Last FM, Spotify Radio, Apple Radio, etc.). Create a list of three music artists. No two of the artists should be performers within the same genre (for example, hip-hop, country, jazz, EDM, metal). Enter each performer’s name into one of the sites’ search engine, and record the first five recommendations it offers or plays you (feel free to skip through tracks). Then, do the same for the other radio site.
Summarize your findings. Did the services offer the same, or comparable, recommendations? Within each service, how similar or different were the recommendations for each artist that you searched? Why are the recommendations different? What are some features of the underlying code and software that make Pandora and LastFM recommendations different? You will need to research these information online and/or using library resources. Create the report and submit it here on BB2.
Lab resources: http://www.lastfm.com; http://pandora.com
Example of how results should be listed (this example doesn’t include the “answers” to why the questions are differnt; you may need to do a bit of online research to help you there):
Madonna
Genre: Pop
LastFM:
Hollywood by Madonna
Welcome to Burlesque by Cher
Get Outta My Way by Kylie Minogue
Viva Forever by the Spice Girls
Candyman by Christina Aguilera
Pandora:
Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna
Take on Me by A-ha
Just Dance by Lady Gaga
Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar
Don’t Tell Me by Madonna

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide on Writing Your Paper

1. Understanding the Assignment Requirements

Start by reading the assignment prompt carefully. The main task here is to compare the personalization technologies of two Internet radio and streaming services (e.g., Pandora, Last FM, Spotify Radio, Apple Radio). You’ll need to choose three music artists who are from different genres (for example, one from hip-hop, one from country, and one from jazz) and analyze the recommendations provided by each service for these artists.

2. Selecting Your Artists

Choose three artists from different music genres. For example:

Artist 1: Hip-Hop (e.g., Kendrick Lamar)
Artist 2: Country (e.g., Dolly Parton)
Artist 3: Jazz (e.g., Miles Davis)

Ensure that these artists represent distinct genres to meet the requirements of the assignment.

3. Navigating to the Streaming Services

Next, you need to access the two streaming services you’ve chosen. The instructions suggest using Pandora and Last FM, but you can also use Spotify Radio or Apple Radio if needed.

Go to Pandora: Pandora Website
Go to Last FM: LastFM Website

Make sure you have accounts set up if required, and you are ready to search for artists.

4. Searching for Artists

Using the search feature on both platforms, enter the name of one artist at a time into each service’s search bar. Record the first five recommendations that the platform gives you. You can skip through tracks if needed.

For example, for “Kendrick Lamar,” enter his name into the search bar of both Pandora and Last FM, and write down the first five songs recommended by each service.

5. Repeating for All Artists

Repeat the process for the other two artists. Enter their names in both Pandora and Last FM and list the first five songs that are recommended for each artist.

6. Creating Your Results Table

Now, organize your findings in a table format. Here’s an example of how to structure your results:

Artist Name	Genre	LastFM Recommendations	Pandora Recommendations
Madonna	Pop	Hollywood by Madonna	Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna
		Welcome to Burlesque by Cher	Take on Me by A-ha
		Get Outta My Way by Kylie Minogue	Just Dance by Lady Gaga
		Viva Forever by Spice Girls	Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar
		Candyman by Christina Aguilera	Don’t Tell Me by Madonna
Kendrick Lamar	Hip-Hop	Example Recommendation 1 (LastFM)	Example Recommendation 1 (Pandora)
		Example Recommendation 2 (LastFM)	Example Recommendation 2 (Pandora)
Miles Davis	Jazz	Example Recommendation 1 (LastFM)	Example Recommendation 1 (Pandora)
		Example Recommendation 2 (LastFM)	Example Recommendation 2 (Pandora)

7. Analyzing the Data

After you’ve gathered your data, compare the recommendations from both services. Did they offer the same or similar recommendations? If the services recommended different songs, consider why. You can research how Pandora and LastFM use different algorithms or technologies to recommend music. For example:

Pandora uses the Music Genome Project that categorizes music based on different attributes (e.g., melody, rhythm, and harmony).
LastFM uses user-generated data (tags, listens) to recommend music.

8. Writing the Summary

Based on your data, write a summary of your findings. Here are some questions to guide your analysis:

Did Pandora and LastFM provide the same recommendations for the same artist?
How similar or different were the recommendations for each artist between the two services?
What are some features of the underlying software or code that cause these differences?

Your summary should focus on the comparison of the services, discussing the differences in their recommendation processes and any technology they use (such as algorithms or data tracking methods).

9. Researching the Technology Behind Recommendations

You’ll need to research how Pandora and LastFM create their recommendations. Use online resources or your library to learn about the Music Genome Project for Pandora and the social listening aspects of LastFM. This will help you explain why their recommendations differ for the same artists.

10. Writing the Paper

Once you have all your data and analysis, write your paper. Structure your report with the following sections:

Introduction: Introduce the two services you’re comparing and briefly explain the assignment.
Methodology: Explain how you selected your artists and collected the recommendations from both services.
Results: Present the table of recommendations for each artist.
Discussion: Analyze and compare the recommendations between the services. Explain any differences using your research on the algorithms or data tracking features.
Conclusion: Summarize your findings and discuss which service you believe has the better recommendation system, providing evidence to support your conclusion.

11. Proofreading and Submitting

Before submitting, proofread your paper for any errors. Make sure the structure is clear, and your arguments are well-supported with data and research.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to effectively compare the personalization technologies of Pandora and LastFM and write a comprehensive and well-structured paper. Good luck!