This summer I led a project, FLX radio. Our goal was to build a cool app for bands to find new fans, stream their music, and promote their events. Additionally, we decided we wanted any tools we made for bands and musicians to be free forever for them. The app is a music streaming app for the Finger Lakes region that only recommends music where the band or musician has an event in the region in the next year. In summary, FLX radio is a music streaming app for the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Design
For the first week we followed Jake Knapp’s book Sprint – Solve Big Problems And Test New Ideas In Just Five Days. While at Sabre, I had the opportunity to go through a similar design sprint developed by Travelocity. I feel strongly that this is probably the most important exercise of the project and is an excellent way to define goals, create a project roadmap, and quickly generate a prototype that we can review with potential customers and users. One takeaway from this exercise is that there are 3 user groups: 1. Bands and musicians, 2. Venues and attractions, and 3. Fans that actually listen to the music and go to events.
Features
The short version: listen to music from bands playing in the Finger Lakes, explore events in the Finger Lakes, and see Top Local Artists. We rank music by genre based on likes and listens. Users can sort and filter Finger Lakes events to find things to do. Bands can create a band profile and add songs and events to help grow their fanbase and promote their events. Venues and attractions can add events, create playlists of bands playing at their venue, and find bands to play at their venue. Search for bands, events, and venues.
Summary
I am really proud of the work we did this summer on FLX radio. Now I want to continue to work on this app and see if I can grow our user base and ultimately get subscribers and advertisers to make this a viable business. I have been really impressed with the music coming out of the Finger Lakes and I am excited to continue to connect music lovers with cool bands and events in the area. If you have any feedback, please let me know.
