There is no doubt that streaming music has had a deep impact on how the audience experiences audio. Customers expect instant access to vast music libraries, a high degree of personalization, the ability to listen across devices in multiple zones, and access to high-quality, studio-level sound. Also, the gear used to create this magic should be minimalized.
“Users are prioritizing compact, wireless, and clutter-free setups,” says Andrew Haines, BluOS platform manager. “Traditional stacks of AV components are being replaced by soundbars, powered speakers, and wireless hubs — which is not as easy to do as you might think.”
That simple design also translates to the user interface, which brings its own challenges. “This is a constantly evolving thing,” says Haines. “We need to ensure that, as customer expectations, changes to UI, perceptions, technologies, and web designs change, BluOS adapts and is in tune with the audience. We will continue to develop the server-driven UI approach that we have today so that as new tools come forward, we can assess, access, and use them.”
Personalization has become a key part of the experience for the end-user or, as is the case in many situations, end-users. “Our platform will continue to evolve to support market requirements for personalization,” says Haines. “Earliest versions could focus on the behaviors of a single user. Today’s expectations now include multiple players, play queues, and the associated correct behaviors. These are exciting and dynamic times.”
Part of personalization is allowing customers to use the streaming service of their choice — a playing field that continues to grow. “Consumers pick the service or services that fit their lifestyle, and as a result they define what value means to them,” adds Haines. “For the on-the-go listener, a service with heavy algorithmic playlisting might be just right for how they like to consume music. The home listener, however, is more inclined to engage and we believe those fans value discovery and thoughtful expert recommendations. Deeper editorial pieces, more specific music categorizations, and better audio quality are examples of features we think make a difference for that consumer.
Related: Why Integrators Choose BluOS
“It is not an all-or-nothing scenario. We can think of convenience as a service that gives users what they want in every situation. For the same music fan that can be easy, lean-back mobile access on-the-go that includes an awareness of possible data or environment constraints, as well as high-resolution experiences when they are in a space where they can enjoy them.”
Haines sees AI as a resource that BluOS can utilize in creating the best experience for listeners. “AI is a tool,” he says. “We see it as an opportunity to expand music discovery. Software can accelerate decisions and AI does that quite dramatically. We also are clear about the difference between curation and creation. AI should not become a substitute for human creators — both musically and editorially.”
Keep up with the advancements in streaming BluOS is creating at https://bluos.io/.
