Sonora: Search & Listen to music (mostly from Youtube) blocking AI Music. Free.
28d 18h ago by lemmy.world/u/maxotto1 in AntiAIMusic
In Sonora, no login is required. You can filter AI music results from YouTube and search and listen (without interruptions) by artist (YouTube Music), mood, or genre. The platform makes an auto mix. It is mainly focused on desktop use via web app, Chrome extension, or Firefox add-on. You can also use it as a PWA app on Android if you use Chrome. It works as a search platform and also as a chatbot where you can request more information about an artist or check similar artists. I use it every day and I don’t miss Spotify.
I think it’s cool if you’re looking for a free alternative with no login required and anonymous browsing, and you can find everything because it uses YouTube Music’s catalog for artists.
It is also a non-profit project for promoting indie artists. We are musicians and we know it is really difficult to get heard on the main streaming platforms, so the idea is to select new artists and promote them above the results of mainstream artists and genres. We also give them a PWA app for their music. The idea is to change the artists’ model, which we think is not fair. Sonora is in beta version (although it already has global recurring users every day) and we will add more features in the future. All feedback is welcome.
So... using an AI to find non-AI music on Youtube. Not sure what to make of this. How does it find out whether music is AI or not? There's that black box problem again.
About the app itself:
- there's no obvious way to browse artists
- the music stops whenever I navigate
Thank you for your comment. It's actually a search engine that uses the YouTube API; AI helps with certain tasks in the system for filtering and for obtaining more information about the artist you searched for on the same page. Filtering is done through multiple approaches simultaneously—patterns, text, track release years, etc. (though it's not 100% perfect, and we're gradually refining it).
I don’t know how you listened to the music, but on desktop (it’s designed more for desktop), there are no issues—you can open another tab, for example. On mobile, due to YouTube Music's limitations, if you navigate away, the music stops playing; there's nothing to be done about that.
It's in beta, so there are still things to improve. The main idea is to promote indie artists and rank them better when users search for mainstream music or genres, removing the logic based on stream counts, followers, etc., and rewarding activity over popularity.
Finally, about "there’s no obvious way to browse artists" — I didn’t quite understand you. There is a search box. From the beginning, the idea was for users to search for what they want to listen to without being overwhelmed. I find it very tiring that current platforms show thousands of artists on the front page; there’s an oversaturation of information in that sense, and in the end, you don’t know what to click play on.
I understand this system isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine—it’s not a project aimed at making money. In any case, thank you for trying it out and for your feedback, which is always valuable.
I don’t know how you listened to the music, but on desktop (it’s designed more for desktop), there are no issues—you can open another tab, for example. On mobile, due to YouTube Music’s limitations, if you navigate away, the music stops playing; there’s nothing to be done about that.
No, I meant navigating within the site.
Finally, about “there’s no obvious way to browse artists” — I didn’t quite understand you. There is a search box. From the beginning, the idea was for users to search for what they want to listen to without being overwhelmed. I find it very tiring that current platforms show thousands of artists on the front page; there’s an oversaturation of information in that sense, and in the end, you don’t know what to click play on.
Doesn't have to be front page, just a link? As it stands I cannot see the people this platform is ostensibly made for, at all. Except in those little bubbles at the top, which, imho, are distracting yet not very useful.
Anything that makes this more than a YT search should be visible & accessible.
OK, there aren't many registered indie artists yet, and they decide which searches they appear in from their artist dashboard. If it matches your search, they show up. 'No, I meant navigating within the site' — this could be done, yes.
What there is, though, are many daily searches and listens — there just aren't enough registered artists.
If you have any more constructive criticism, let me know here.
How does it find out whether music is AI or not? There’s that black box problem again.