“Words are the new UI/UX. I’m constantly iterating on individual words and sentences to make the bot’s messages feel more personal, and more like an integral part of the story.” — Max Pelzner from Thinkbox.io, developers of the Studiotime bot, which allows artists to quickly book studio time based on their personal needs.
Although chatbots aren’t new, incredible developments in AI and ML combined with messenger integrations and intelligent UX strategies are paving the way for a much more advanced conversational bots than ever used before. These automated helpers have gain substantial traction in many consumer-centered industries, and musicians are finally starting to take advantages of their use as well.
One of the many wonderful characteristics of chatbots that is helpful to music labels and artists is the ability to develop a more personalized and human style of brand messaging, in contrast to historical marketing tactics that often come across as impersonal and too generic to fully resonate with music fans.
Many bots already exist in the music industry, such as the Shazam-like AudioShot, new music release alert Record Bird, recommendation engines including Music Rover and Lazyset, and artist-centered bots that have been created for Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and others. More innovative examples include Sony’s Robot, a chatbot developed for Robbie Williams to allow fans to ask the singer about his music and tours, as well as discovering playlists, visiting the artist’s online store, and asking other questions.
So, where do we go from here?
There’s no question that the interest in bots and conversational interfaces is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, with both major and independent labels investing deeply in automation, while the consumer fascination with human-like, AI-driven machines is flourishing. Chatbots are increasingly being used in the music business, and not just as a customer engagement tool. Truly, the future possibilities for this technology are massive, such as the potential for bots to become an important distribution channel in the coming period. In fact, many music industry experts believe that chatbots are going to be the next big thing in the world of automated music.
However, many tech experts believe that the industry has barely scratched the surface of what is possible, and we are about to enter an era where this technology explodes, as new artists and labels find radical ways to use chatbots to connect with fans, enhance the live music experience, and market and distribute music.
The possibilities are only limited by people’s imaginations. At the same time, as is the case with any technological endeavor, expertise is an absolute necessity in order to ensure that development is efficient and the end product is exceptional. If you have a great idea for the next level of chatbots, consult with technology experts in the music industry to bring a new wave of excitement and functionality to personalized, AI-driven engagement and automation.
By Sergey BludovSenior Vice President, Media and Entertainment at DataArt