Critical Metrics

Critical Metrics

URL	http://criticalmetrics.com
Commercial?	Yes
Type of site	Professional Reviews/Ratings of Entertainment Media
Registration	Free/Subscription
Owner	Critical Metrics LLC.
Created by	Joseph Anuff
Launched	March 2007

Critical Metrics is a web-based music recommendation service. Unlike user-driven sites like The Hype Machine and Pandora, Critical Metrics features only expert-generated content. Aggregating reviews and playlists from over 150 publications, both print and online, the site also encompasses historical sources. The site then ranks the songs mathematically, based on the information gathered. With a methodology based in the fields of bibliometrics and sentiment analysis, Critical Metrics quantifies these positive citations and sentiments into indices for media playlisting and consumption.

Streaming audio and YouTube videos are presented with the original recommendations, along with the option to purchase via iTunes or other online retailers. When the site was launched in April 2007, it hosted the streaming music itself. A licensing arrangement with Rhapsody removed the free music, but allowed unlimited listening and playlist-building for Rhapsody subscribers.

Critical Metrics was founded by Joey Anuff, the co-founder of Suck.com and a former VH1 executive. The site was praised by Boing Boing, the Wall St. Journal, and Business Week. Los Angeles Times senior music critic Ann Powers referred to the site as her "favorite snobby top 40 station."

Award nominations

• Michael Arrington, Kevin Werbach (June 2007). "Supernova 2007 - "Connected Innovators"". TechCrunch. http://www.supernova2007.com/go/connected-innovators. 
• Rafe Needleman (March 2008). "Webware 100 finalists". CNET. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9883960-2.html. 

References

• Ann Powers (2007-12-17). "The Best Music of 2007". Slate.com. http://www.slate.com/id/2179977/entry/2180068/. "..On workdays I often keep a window open to Critical Metrics, my favorite snobby Top 40 station, and try to absorb what's new..." 
• Jon Fine (2007-10-15). "Music, Critics, and Crowds". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_42/b4054025.htm. 
• John Jurgensen (2007-04-28). "Picks: A new site lets you find the songs that have the most critics buzzing". Wall St. Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117770850759185283.html. 
• Alec Hanley Bemis (2007-06-13). "MetaJournalism-dot-com". L.A. Weekly. http://www.laweekly.com/music/psychic-hipster/math-rock-mia-and-the-secret-of-itunes-plus/16611/. ""...I'm tempted to say it's the only site you need to keep track of new music."" 
• Mark Frauenfelder (2007-04-20). "Cool New Online Playlist Generator". Boing Boing. http://www.boingboing.net/2007/04/20/cool-new-online-play.html.