Tags and tunes: Last.fm(TM), folksonomy, and new 'types of music'.

摘要

When asking the question "what 'types of music' do you listen to?" we tend to overlook the fact that any answer given is contingent upon not only matters of preference, but also matters of aggregation. This thesis looks at the introduction of the technologies of tagging and the implementation of architectures of folksonomy in the organization of music online. In looking at the case study of Last.fm, the analysis shows that there is indeed a range of emergent new headings being introduced in processes of music's classification now that individuals have been given the freedom to tag music as they wish. By looking at the role of the technology of tag radio as an intermediary, the study further evaluates the extent to which these newly-formulated categories stand to be situated as viable new categories of musical listening.