Hit Predicter

Software developed by MIT teaches computers to predict the next music hits, the Guardian reports. The computers are trained to hear music
much like people do. This means analysing the context of the song -
what people think of it – as well as how fast or slow it is, and
whether it is loud or soft. The result is a sophisticated profile of a
song that allows more accurate categorisation than simply labelling a
song as rock, pop or classical.

"The computer can go out on the
internet and read a bunch of weblogs and record reviews and get a grasp
on trends and buzz and hype and that sort of thing," says Dr Whitman.
"At the same time, it also can listen to the music – do some signal
processing to figure out stuff like dominant key and pitch and rhythm
and structure….. For record company
executives, this raises the tantalising possibility of knowing in
advance whether their latest pop act will hit the charts at a strong
position."

Urgggghh!

Guardian Newspaper Article