HIPSTER RUNOFF

Shazam is a popular 'app' that you have on ur phone, and when u hear a song playing and u wanna know what it is, u turn on Shazam, then u let it listen to the song, then it tells u which song it is. It works 'like magic.' One minute, u don't know who a buzzband is, then SHAZAM!... u know exactly who it is...

But have u ever wondered how they are able 2 catalog so many rare indie buzz mp3s? Sure it is easy to find mainstream and classic songs... but how do they stay on top of the rapidly evolving indie buzzosphere?
What if I told u that there was one man 'behind it all' who uploads rare indie buzz mp3s into the Shazam system?

Sure, Shazam, the popular music-spotting cellphone application, can identify that Rihanna track. But what about the new song from the Sandwitches, a Bay Area folk-rock band?

Before the Shazam service can find a song, Mr. Slomovitz or another sourcer must locate and input the recording. That is where Charles Slomovitz comes in.

Mr. Slomovitz was roaming the aisles of a record store here recently when he spotted a flame-haired clerk. It was Grace Cooper, one-third of the Sandwitches, which had just put out a single that was getting attention on music blogs.

“She’s got that sound that’s getting to be big,” he said as she handed him a copy of the song, “so I’ve got to have it.”

S00 jealous of Charles Slomovitz.... Wish I had his job... #alt_dream_jobs

So ur telling me there is a job out there where I can basically scan the Hype Machine and MP3 blogs and then upload them into Shazam, and I will be a 'relevant part of the music tech industry'? Feel like my parents would be proud of me if I worked for a 'startup' that was 'shooting for an IPO in _ years.'

The article really tries to take the angle like 'The music industry has totally changed yall [via technology]'

Mr. Slomovitz, a music industry veteran, spends his days tracking down hot new artists — but not for a big record label. Instead, he works for Shazam, maker of the application of the same name that can figure out what song is playing in a bar, a clothing boutique or a TV commercial.

“It’s like a scavenger hunt in real time,” said Mr. Slomovitz, 42. “It never stops.”

Mr. Slomovitz’s job is one of the more unusual in the new digital music era, as he and the dozen or so other “music sourcers” at Shazam try to ensure that any songs the app’s users might want to identify are ready and waiting in the company’s database.

Do yall listen 2 'internet mix tapes' and 'college radio'?

At Shazam, the music sourcers’ challenge goes beyond just getting a copy of the latest single from Kanye West. Shazam also wants the latest club tracks, Internet mix tapes and whatever is playing on college radio, anything that might inspire curious listeners to pull out their phones and fire up the app.

It seems like this job is rlly hard. Do yall think u have what it takes?

The hunt keeps Mr. Slomovitz on his toes. Every morning, he skims dozens of music blogs, checking for new releases he might have missed, as well as the iTunes, Amazon.com and Billboard charts, and blog aggregators like the Hype Machine.

Most weeks he also goes to local record stores to see if there is something in stock he has not heard of, or if older albums are being remastered or reissued. And he listens to local radio stations, especially near universities.

Really feel like this job fits in perfectly with my current lifestyle... Really angry at this Bromovitz bro.

Do u listen to mp3s + bootlegs that are way too alt 2 be Shazam-able?

Shazam executives say their mission is to catalog every song in the world. But it would be impossible to feed the machine with each and every song released by a tiny label or a bedroom studio.

Instead, Mr. Slomovitz has to try to think like a music tastemaker, guessing which songs might get attention and potentially stump Shazam’s servers.

“They’re our A.& R. to find anything that might be played,” said David Jones, a vice president at Shazam.

Is Shazam the ultimate entry level music discovery tool?
Has Shazam always found the bands ur looking for, or does it consistently let u down because ur too underground?
Do ur friends call u "Shazam" because you are able to identify every mp3 in the world?
R u more alt than Charles Slomovitz?
Do u think this bro is 'hella legit' or does he only listen to overground crap?
Does he deserve a New York Times profile piece, or should they save those 4 world leaders?
What do yall use 2 discover music?
What do u have to major in to work for Shazam? Do u think they drug test or can u blaze hard while u discover indie mp3s?

So many social tools exist to help humans discover relevant bands. Utilizing social networks, iPhone, and android applications, any1 can identify songs, and let people know what you are listening to. As advanced as we get as a society, nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing, even if it doesn't come out of ur mouth, and instead ur taste manifests itself in a meaningful status update.

It seems like fans of the entry-level band Matts and Kims wanted 2 let every1 know that they were pumped about the cutesy song "Day Light."
Here is the music video so u can familiarize urself with the entry level indie brand of the song while u read the convo.

First a bro starts singing the song, being like "lalallala."

then another bro comes along, and is all like "lalalalala pt 2. loves this song. We are bffs and we love great music!"

Then Bro #1 sings some more, and is all like "lalalala.  I know the words.  Loveeesss it!"

A new bro comes out of nowhere and is like, "I have great taste in music, and I must say, this song is brilliant."

Then Bro #1 is like "U've heard of the Matt and Kims?  Thought u were a lamestreamer. haha!"

Then the bro responds and is like "Matt and Kim... every1 has heard of them.  But if u really want to know, the first time I heard their song, I had to Shazzams it in order to find out who it was.  I went home, downloaded some more of their songs off iTunes, and needless to say that I am a fan.  Thanks Shazam!"

Then a bro comes out of nowhere and is like "WTF IS SHAZAM, YALL?  I NEED EFFING HELP FINDING NEW MP3s and BUZZBANDS. helllpppp meeee"

Some1 else comes along and says "Listen to Edward Sharpe and also check out Pashy Pits and Posty serve"

Some1 finally answers the question about Shazam, and is like "It's an iPhone app that can help u identify songs."

Then some1 is like "ugghhhh h8 all of these hippie-star bands.  Just trying to find buzzbands and cutesy MP3s.  Eff life.  Just wish I knew who the Matt and Kims are.  Laters yall!"

THE END

Do yall use Shazam 2 find artists?
Do these bros seem chill, or like huge lamestreamers?
Does technology beat 'humans' when it comes to work AND music referral?
Is Matt & Kim mad entry level?
Do yall ever see lamestreamers talking abt 'indy muzaks' on facespace?