TastemakerX

Lead Front End Engineer · 2013–2014 · San Francisco

Lead Front End Engineer, building playlist conversion and generation tools across Spotify, YouTube, Rdio, and Bandsintown while contributing frontend and API work for the site redesign.

This was 2013–2014, the moment when streaming services were multiplying and playlist portability became a real user problem, with users juggling accounts across Spotify, YouTube, Rdio, and Bandsintown. I led two production efforts from that redesign — playlist portability and curator profiles — plus the site's core web relaunch.

• PHP
• CodeIgniter
• jQuery

• API integration

  Built auth, playlist management, search, and playback flows on top of Rdio's API.

• Discovery

  Built curator-led browsing and recommendation surfaces for finding new music.

• Social music

  Added sharing, following, and playlist flows around music curation.

1. 

   Playlist portability and music discovery

   Music interop

   Led frontend and API work for TastemakerX playlist conversion and discovery flows across Spotify, YouTube, Rdio, Bandsintown, and related music services. Turned platform fragmentation into a usable cross-service product, enabling users to discover and port playlists across streaming ecosystems.

   SourcesTastemakerX Lets You Convert Your Playlists Across Streaming ServicesTastemakerX RelaunchRdio Acquires TastemakerXRdio TastemakerX App
2. 

   Tastemaker and curator platform

   Platform

   Built a curator platform on Rdio's API enabling music discovery and playlist creation with authentication flows, playlist management, and playback controls. Designed discovery features and social sharing mechanics enabling users to follow curators and explore recommendations.

   SourcesTastemakerX Lets You Convert Your Playlists Across Streaming ServicesTastemakerX RelaunchRdio TastemakerX AppRdio Acquires TastemakerX

About TastemakerX

TastemakerX was a music discovery and curation platform built for a fragmented streaming market. The product helped listeners follow curators, discover playlists, and move music across services including Spotify, YouTube, Rdio, and Bandsintown.

Related context

• TastemakerX Hits Beta

  TechCrunch coverage of TastemakerX beta launch and "stock market for music hipsters" positioning.

• TastemakerX Raises $1.25M Funding

  TechCrunch coverage of TastemakerX seed funding and music discovery positioning.

• TastemakerX Relaunch

  TechCrunch coverage of TastemakerX platform relaunch and music discovery features.

• Digital M&A: Rdio Acquires TastemakerX

  MediaPost coverage of Rdio's acquisition of TastemakerX and strategic positioning in music discovery.

• Rdio Acquires TastemakerX to Replace The Echo Nest

  RAINews article on Rdio's acquisition of TastemakerX and role in music discovery infrastructure.

• The Guardian article

  Coverage of TastemakerX music curation platform built on Rdio.

• TastemakerX Crunchbase profile

  Public company context for TastemakerX.