Analytics in E Major
The Echo Nest, a self-described "music intelligence" company recently acquired by Spotify, uses machine-learning technology to connect people with music. "At our core," says CEO Jim Lucchese, "what we're trying to do is what a great deejay does, or the friend that you rely on musically: to better understand who you are as a fan." In a Q&;A, Lucchese describes how the company merges machine learning and cultural analytics to describe music in an analytics-friendly way and help users find new music they'll enjoy.