Category 1:
Chartbeat seems like a great resource, if you are a somewhat successful group starting a site. The problem, for me, is that it is a charge servicde. I hate to always proclaim my love for Google, but I get similar service free with Google Analytics.
This service seems like it could be worth someone's while... if that someone was really into internet toolbars. I recently professed my befuddlement of internet tool bars. It is like voluntarily accepting spam. Man, here I go again, but... in Chrome, my browser is my toolbar.
Pandora
Let's just start with the fact that Pandora is the "Music Genome Project". It is a human experiment in musical preference. Unlike 3 out of 5 of the sites on the list, Pandora is still relatively free. It also is cloud to the point of starting to eliminate the need to even own music, or the drive space to contain it. It is simple and clean, available via browser or phone app, and downright fascinating to watch it calculate your music preference. I have a Rihanna station that now plays everything from Coldplay to Miley Cyrus, to Blackflag, because I use it as my primary rating station.
RdioSo, let me get this straight, Rdio: You are Pandora, minus the free service. Why would I use you?
UjamUjam quickly makes one feel like a musical genius and remedial at the same time. This application lets you post your personally-created songs to FB and share them instantly.
The interface is slick and clean, but the suggestion is to use the intro screens if your a musical amateur. There are some problems with shockwave crashes, but overall this is a fun site that allows a new level of musical interaction with the web.
OVERALL PICK: Pandora still rules.
