Application: ‘MTV Music Meter’

Available for: iPod, iPhone, iPad

Cost: Free

Rating: 3/5 Downloads

It is safe to say MTV is not as well known for its music as it used to be. With programming filled with shows like ‘Teen Mom’and ‘Jersey Shore’taking up time on MTV’s airwaves, it’s always good to see when the station makes an effort to play music. That’s why the ‘MTV Music Meter’ application for the iPod, iPhone and iPad deserves some attention. It provides a rundown of some new artists the network thinks are worth keeping an eye on, along with photos, biographical information and even song snippets from new, as well as more notable, artists. Though MTV does a good job of trying to showcase new artists, the app is not without its flaws.

The app immediately opens to its main feature: a listing of artists that MTV feels are up-and-coming and worth following. The first 10 performers are automatically shown on the main screen. The next set of 10 load with another tap, revealing up to 100 bands, singers and rappers that the network feels are hot right now. Most of them, however, seem to be in the alternative or rock genre, with few hip-hop or R&B artists available. This is the first area where the app falls short. Not only is there no way to separate artists by genre, there is also too much rock. There should be a balanced listing of artists from different genres, giving someone who may not necessarily be a rock fan the chance to find some new music.

‘MTV Music Meter’ includes some information about each artist, and users can see photos of the singers and bands. The biographies available about each artist help users learn about where bands are from and what their influences are. However, it seems there is a glitch when viewing photos. Though there may be a set of four photos available to see, they are all duplicates. Some variety here would be good to get a better sense of who the band is.

As for the music itself, the app carries many songs for listening. Every entry comes with a set of songs from the artists that users can sample. This way, users can get a better idea of what the group sounds like. The problem here is that they are only 30-second snippets. Other music applications, namely iTunes, used to have only 30-second clips available, but they have since extended them to one minute and 30 seconds. This is something ‘MTV Music Meter’ should consider, as 30-second snippets are too short and force users to go elsewhere for full songs from the artist, diverting attention away from the app.

There is also a social media aspect to the app. ‘MTV Music Meter’ allows linking to Facebook and Twitter. Users can log in to the sites using their information and can share with friends what groups they think are worthwhile. This is a great way for new groups to garner publicity and exposure, but the app does not allow for any customization of a post. The only format that seems to be available is a tweet that says to ‘check out the artist’ on the app. It would be nice to allow the user to put in something original and creative.

‘MTV Music Meter’ has a lot of potential. It’s a nice way to discover brand new artists who may not yet be mainstream. However, the app has some distinct flaws that take away from the experience. It is a solid, free application, but to achieve popularity and recognition, it needs some more features.

nerivera@syr.edu

Published on March 29, 2011 at 12:00 pm