Audio Info

The web has been incorporating multimedia into its pages ever since the release of the Mosaic web browser around 1993. It was shortly thereafter that links to many types of audio started to appear on the web. In most cases, it is still difficult for a web browser to extract semantic information about a particular speaker, musician, or piece of audio. In most cases, such information exists on the same web page that contains the links. The Audio Info exploratory discussion is an attempt to create a standard method of marking up metadata and information about one or more audio recordings on a web page.

The Problem

It is difficult for a browser to extract semantic information about a piece of audio listed on a web page. Metadata such as speaker, musician, publisher, label, title of the work, release date, acquisition link, related image artwork and tags can be relevant to a particular audio file.

Having such information marked up can provide a number of benefits to the viewer. If a web browser understands that a particular web page contains a song title performed by an artist, it may produce several new methods of interaction. For example, specific searches may be performed for artists and song titles via general search services such as Google and Wikipedia. Specific search services may also be queried such as MusicBrainz, The Internet Archive, FreeDB, or Bitmunk.

The audio information need not be associated with a file. Note that audio content (The Payback by James Brown) is very different from the audio file format (192Kbps, stereo MP3). The goal of this discussion is to create a Microformat draft for marking up audio metadata and information.

A NOTE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING - USE TEMPLATES

Due to the large number of audio sites, tallying statistical information for this discussion is difficult. A small python script has been written to do the job, but for it to work, we need to be careful about how we mark up information.

Please use the following template when adding information about an audio collection description:

* Website Name
** Album Example
*** Information displayed: artist, title, tracks, release date, label, genre, web-based purchase, cover image, 
                           price, format, sample, length, summary, physical-based purchase, publisher, reviews

Please use the following template when adding information about an audio song, track or sample description:

* Website Name
** Song Example
*** Information displayed: title, track number, sample, web-based purchase, artist, price, length, release date, album, genre, format, rating, label

If you need to add more information that is displayed, please use a common term to describe the information. For example, if you need to mention that an artists hometown is mentioned, adding a term such as hometown would be acceptable.

Authors

Manu Sporny, Bitmunk - Digital Bazaar, Inc. (PI, editor)
Charles Iliya Krempeaux
Joshua Kinberg
Rod Begbie
Chris Messina

Contributors

Tantek Çelik
Dean Hudson
Martin McEvoy
Mary Hodder
Scott Reynen

Real-World Examples

Speech

Publication of audio speeches on blogs is often called "podcasting". In essence though, it is simply audio speech publishing. Quotes of audio files are beginning to appear, and publishers are putting up files with links to other audio files they've quoted from. Most audio appears to often have the same base elements as video and photos, with the exception of quotes.

Individual Publishing of Speech

Microformats: Web Essentials Audio
- Appears to be composed of:
  - title/summary of the recording
  - clickable hyperlink to the recording (MP3)
- Contextual:
  - (primary) speaker is indicated in nearby text

Chris Pirillo podcast
- This example has a Title, Html URL, media URL(s), description or summary, categories/tags underneath what is viewable, and date. +10k

Reflog's Random Thoughts podcast
- This example has a Title, Html URL, description or summary, creator, tags and publish time and date. +10k records.

Evil Genius Chronicles podcast
- This example has a Title, Html URL, description or summary, quotes URLs and descriptions, licence, creator, tags and publish time and date. +10k records.

media published from a blog, Jake Steinfeld's Audio Blog NOTE: this record had trouble because mediawiki blocks any DOTbiz domains and so while this domain coincidentally has a DOTbizbyjake.com name that is not a TLD, it was still blocked in the loading of the page with this example. So please adjust the URL manually and then visit the site.
- This example has a Title, Html URL, media URL, creator and publish time and date. +10k records.

Music

Individual Publishing of Music

Brad Sucks » music
- Has album title, song title, separate link to more info, inline flash player, and play link (to mp3)

Scott Andrew - lo-fi acoustic pop superhero! > music >
- Has album title, song title, album artwork, streaming link (to m3u), and play link (to mp3)

Portishead Remixed
- Whole page is for one album (a mash-up remix of a Portishead album). Has Album Track Number and Title (linked to mp3) and Remixer's name, plus cover art. Also a link to the BitTorrent download of the whole album.

Audio Podcasting

Service Publishing of Music

AudioFind
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, genre (link), style (link), release date, label, summary, web-based purchase (link), price, artist rating, album rating, cover image
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length, rating, price, sample (link), web-based purchase (link)

Telstra BigPond
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, genre, release date, label, summary, web-based purchase (link), subscriber price, non-subscriber price, cover image
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, artist, album, price, add to pop-list (link), sample (link), web-based purchase (link)

Bitmunk
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, album title, publisher, release date, genre (link), summary, long description, payees, total price, sample (link), tracks, web-based purchase (link), cover image, p2p-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: artist, song title, composer, publisher, release date, genres, album, payees, total price, web-based purchase (link), p2p-based purchase (link)

Download Punk
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), label (link), physical-based purchase (link), web-based purchase (link), cover image
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, sample (link), price, web-based purchase (link)

FYE
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), format, release date, label (link), UPC, product id, genre, styles, cover image, regular price, store price, savings, physical-based purchase (link), tracks, description, reviews, production credits
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, artist

iMusic
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, genre, release date, publisher, number of tracks, length, tracks, web-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, length, sample (link), release date, price, web-based purchase (link)

AON Music
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), album, cover image, price, format, bitrate, label, genre, number of tracks, sample (link), add bookmark (link), web-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length, format, price, sample (link), add bookmark (link), web-based purchase (link)

MSN
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, release date, label, album rating, cover image,
- Song Example (store wasn't working correctly - no song info found)

TDC Online
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), length, release date, label, format, cover image, web-based purchase (link), price, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title (link), price, sample (link), web-based purchase (link)

Audio Lunchbox
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), label (link), genre (link), release date (link), cover image, format, bitrate, price, price in credits, web-based purchase (link), add to wishlist (link), sample (flash applet), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length, price, price in credits, web-based purchase (link), sample (flash applet)

Chaos Music
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, genre, format, release date, price, physical-based purchase (link), add to wishlist (link), tracks, description, availability
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title

Sony Connect
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, genre (link), release date, label, length, publisher, price, web-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, length, price, sample (link), web-based purchase (link)

Digirama
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), genre (link), label, cover image, release date, price, web-based purchase (link), license, related albums, also bought, reviews, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length, sample (link), price, web-based purchase (link)

eMusic
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), sample (link), save to playlist (link), genre (link), styles (link), label (link), album rating, reviews, length, tracks, web-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, sample (link), tracks, length, web-based purchase (link)

FNAC
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, length, add to playlist (link), web-based purchase (link), tracks, price, genre
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: sample (link), add to playlist (link), track number, title, length, web-based purchase (link), price

Sanity
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, release date, catalog ID, SKU, label, price, price in points, summary, tracks, physical-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title

MisRolas
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), cover image, release date, number of tracks, album rating, price, web-based purchase (link), tracks, reviews
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, sample (link), artist, price, web-based purchase (link), add to wishlist (link)

MTV
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title (link), artist (link), cover image, release date, label, tracks, physical-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, sample (link), video sample (link)

Musica360
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, price, samples (flash), cover image, tracks, web-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, price, web-based purchase (link)

Musicload
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), price, rating, genre, length, quality, release date, label, sample (link), web-based purchase (link), tracks, comments
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), album (link), price, rating, genre, length, quality, release date, label, sample (link), web-based purchase (link), comments

Napster
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), release date, track count, label, sample (link), share (link), web-based purchase (link), review, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, track number, album title, length, web-based purchase (link)

PartyMob
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), total length, release date, format, quality, genre, sample (link), price, web-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, length, release date, format, quality, genre, sample (link), price, web-based purchase (link), DRM information

Peer Impact
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), price, purchase (application link), format, track count, genre, release date, label, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, sample (link), title, artist (link), length, price

Pure Tracks
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, title, label, total length, disc count, release date, price, web-based purchase (link), DRM information, tracks
- Song Example (in popup window)
  - Information displayed: track number, sample (link), title, artist, length, price, web-based purchase (link), label (popup)

Reggae Country
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, release date, label, web-based purchse (link), price, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: sample (link), track number, title, artist, length, web-based purchase (link), price

Real/Rhapsody
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, title, sample (link), label, release date, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: sample (link), track number, title

Ruckus
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, release date, genre, label, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length

Sanity
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), release date, catalog id, label, price, web-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: sample, track number, title

Starzik SARL
- Album Example (hidden url)
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), genre, label, release date, length, format, bitrate, size, web-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example (hidden url, separate from album example)
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), album title, genre, label, release date, length, creators, composer, performance artist, format, bitrate, size, web-based purchase (link)

CellCity
- [1] Album Example]
  - Information displayed: artist, label, release date, genre, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, price, web-based purchase (link)

top100.cn
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), release date, sample (link), web-based purchase (link), label (link), genre (link), long description, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), label (link), genre (link), price, sample (link), web-based purchase (link), description, comments

Wippit
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), price, genre (link), format, release date, tracks, web-based purchase (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), album (link), genre, format, release date, size, track number, file type, price, web-based purchase link

Yanga
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), genre (link), release date, label, price, web-based purchase (link), rating, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: sample, track number, title, length, rating, price, web-based purchase (link)

somesongs
- [Album Example]
  - Information displayed:
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist (link), rating, sample (link), summary, reviews, release date

Magnatune
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, cover image, total time, length, release date, artist location (link), web-based purchase (link), physical-based purchase (link), license (link), tracks, summary
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, title, length, sample (link)

SONG FIGHT!
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), cover image, artist location, summary, title,
- [ Song Example]
  - Information displayed: release date, sample (link), title

Yes.com
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: cover image, artist (link)
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: cover image, artist (link), rank, web-based purchase (link), played-by radio station

MySpace
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, title, sample (link), cover image, number of plays, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: artist, title, number of plays, sample (link), lyrics (link)

MusicBrainz.org
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, cover image, tracks, disc id
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, length, id (link), length, album (link), album id (link), artist, artist id (link), relationship (link), track number

Vorbis Comment Recommendations
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, publisher, copyright, disc number, isrc, ean/upn, label, label catalog number, license, opus, source media, title, version, encoded-by, encoding, composer, arranger, lyricist, author, conductor, performer, ensemble, part, part number, genre, release date, location, comment
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: album, artist, publisher, copyright, disc number, isrc, ean/upn, label, label number, license, opus, source media, title, track number, version, encoded-by, encoding, composer, arranger, lyricist, author, conductor, performer, ensemble, part, part number, genre, release date, location, comment

iTunes RSS extensions
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: title, website (link), language, licensing, summary, description, owner, owner e-mail, cover image, genre
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: title, artist, summary, description, sample (link), length, format, id, release date, tags

Discogs
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: artist, title, label (link), catalog id, format, country, release date, genre, style, notes, rating, tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: artist (link), title, track number

Last.fm
- Album Example
  - Information displayed: cover image, artist, title, release date, label (link), number of tracks, sample (link), physical-based purchase (link), tracks
- Song Example
  - Information displayed: track number, sample (link), title, length, number of plays

In-active Music Services

Yahoo! Music Unlimited
Musicmatch (Merged with Yahoo! Jukebox)
MusicNet (Service Provider)
AOL Music Now (Merged with Napster)
Nate.com (Appears to be Korean, cannot find album examples)
Next Radio (Service Provider)
Soundbuzz (Requires MS IE6)
Starbucks (Requires Flash 8 player)
Street CDs (parked domain name)
Synacor (Service provider)
Telecom Italia (Service provider)
Pixbox (Terra) (Windows application)
Virgin Digital (merged with Napster)
Virgin (Requires Windows)
Yeahronimo (Commodoreworld)

Analysis of Music Sites

Shown below is the most popular information listed for music albums. This includes analysis of over 85 online music sites.

Album Statistics

100%: artist
92%: title
85%: tracks
77%: release date
67%: label
62%: genre
62%: web-based purchase
59%: cover image
49%: price
26%: format
23%: sample
21%: length
18%: summary
15%: physical-based purchase
10%: publisher
10%: reviews

Shown below is the most popular information listed for songs. Keep in mind that along with the information listed below - for over 80% of the cases, album information was listed on the same page.

Song/Track Statistics

95%: title
69%: track number
67%: sample
62%: web-based purchase
59%: artist
54%: price
54%: length
26%: release date
15%: album
15%: genre
13%: format
10%: rating
10%: label

Existing Practices

Listed below is an overview of existing patterns and practices found in the wild for audio information and metadata.

Summary of common patterns discovered

There are two major forms of audio - single recordings and collections of recordings. Sometimes an audio collection can exist within a single file, with each recording playing back-to-back within the file. -- ManuSporny
On music service sites, the audio album is almost always described on the same page as the track listings. -- ManuSporny

Proposal

Early drafts
- audio-info-brainstorming
- audio-info-proposal
- audio-info-microformat

audio-info-examples

Contents

Audio Info

The Problem

A NOTE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING - USE TEMPLATES

Authors

Contributors

Real-World Examples

Speech

Individual Publishing of Speech

Music

Individual Publishing of Music

Audio Podcasting

Service Publishing of Music

In-active Music Services

Analysis of Music Sites

Existing Practices

Summary of common patterns discovered

Other attempts to solve The Problem

Proposal

See Also

Navigation menu

audio-info-examples

Audio Info

The Problem

A NOTE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING - USE TEMPLATES

Authors

Contributors

Real-World Examples

Speech

Individual Publishing of Speech

Music

Individual Publishing of Music

Audio Podcasting

Service Publishing of Music

In-active Music Services

Analysis of Music Sites

Existing Practices

Summary of common patterns discovered

Other attempts to solve The Problem

Proposal

See Also

Navigation menu

Search