Week 6 - Website Analysis of SeeqPod.com

How is your chosen site structured?

My chosen site (www.seeqpod.com) is an online playable music search which encompasses music, film (from YouTube) and play lists of the previously mentioned.
The entire site revolves around the search function, and once a user has searched for a given phrase they have the ability to chose from searching Music, Film or Playlists. These can then be placed into the users’ play list, organised by themselves and then viewed/listened to. From the home page there are other features, one of these is SeeqPod Mobile. This is an application you can install on your phone to provide the same features as SeeqPod (online music/film searching) on your mobile device, making SeeqPod portable. This is similar to the way the iPod works but it is giving the user more choice than with an iPod - where you have to purchase all the music and download it through the computer.
Another feature of the site is the “Echo” section, which allows new and upcoming musicians to advertise and distribute themselves through SeeqPod. Users search through “Echo” to find the new artists who have advertised themselves there. When a user has searched for specific music the “Discoveries” function can be used to show related shopping items such as band t-shirts, ringtones and Cds.
For first time users, there is a function called “PodCrawler” which displays randomly music, film and play lists from the entire site. This allows new users to see a snapshot of what is contained on the site and also allows experienced users to discover new material.

What is it about on a cultural level?

On a cultural level it can be viewed as functional, social and a way of discovering media. The functional aspect of the site is that it can be used purely for listening to music that one has already discovered/listened to or gone on recommendation. The user is using the site as a conventional music player without the attachment of loading in Cds or downloading files. The site is social on a cultural level because it can be used as a tool for introducing people such as friends to new music and can also be used for introducing people to the search function of the site allowing them to discover new music. This works well due to the fact it’s online based, it is easily accessible by anyone who has a computer and the internet.
As mentioned above, the site can be used for discovering new media. This comes about in the form of advertisements for similar artists (to the ones the user has searched for) and also by the PodCrawler function (random listing of media from the site). The adverts on the site point to merchandise such as ringtones and T-shirts etc. SeeqPod helps users to discover new music through it’s features for example when a user wasn’t intending to find new music.
The site is interactive in the sense that users can be produsers through the creation and uploading of their own play lists of music and film which can be arranged. The site is freely available to any internet user, membership to the site is offered (for free) but there is no obligation and non-members are not restricted in listening to music.

What is the appeal for you as the user?

The appeal as a user from my perspective is that the site is based purely around music without any other dialogue leading to anything non-music based. It allows the user an opportunity to find new music. I think one of the biggest appeals for a user is the fact that music can be searched, organised into playlists and played without any form of restriction or membership. This means that users can interact with the site whenever they please giving them freedom to use the site at any time. Rafaeli (1988) theorised that "user ralationships with interactive media should be understood in terms of the existing "Uses' and Gratifications" Theory. This applies when users visit SeeqPod as they seek entertainment - escapism, aesthetic enjoyment and relaxing.

As previously mentioned, when users visit SeeqPod they become "produsers". Bruns (2005) originally theorised that a user produces what they gain through the internet. This applies to SeeqPod because users can create their own playlist and also share that playlist with other users. I feel that SeeqPod can be seen as an "Ideology of Progress" (Lister et. al., 2003) as they are bringing together multiple services (mediums) - internet radio, portable music, searchable music and new music.