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8tracks gives users the ability to create their own hand crafted online radio stations. Users can name their radio stations and add images to complete the effect or atmosphere of the music they contain. A tag system is also provided so users can categorize their stations or search through existing stations. The tags are very diverse, including options like indie pop, love, eclectic, soul, metal, easy listening, oldies, electronica, party, acoustic, folk, pop, punk, blues, country, alternative, rock and many more. A search tool is also provided so users can find specific stations by artist. Each station includes a short description written by the creator, the number of people who liked it and how many times it has been played. Users can also post comments to each station to share their opinions about the music.

8tracks was founded in October of 2006 by David Porter and Remi Gabillet. The application was intended to act as an online mix tape service. Based out of New York City, the current team includes CEO Porter, CTO Gabillet and Creative Director Gordon Cieplak. 8tracks currently boasts over 300,000 mixes.

8tracks allows its users to build a customized play list that they can share with others. The application empowers the user to enjoy their favorite tunes and create a theme or atmosphere for others to sample. The features also give users the opportunity to become popular within the community by creating mix tapes that others enjoy and return to often.

The 8tracks website uses a calm dark blue, black and white color scheme. The site has a white background with a dark blue and black header complemented by the white 8 Track logo. The homepage lists example mixes with their title, creation date, creator name and a thumbnail image. The white background works well to keep the focus on the user generated mixes. A box of tags along the right hand side allow users to find specific types of music while the small search bar just above the tags enable users to search by artist.

A new user can register for an 8tracks account by clicking the white “Sign up” link in the upper, right hand corner of the page. A white pop up box appears and invites the user to create an account. A blue Facebook button at the top of the box lets the user sign in with their Facebook username and password. If the user prefers to create a separate account, they can supply a username, email address and password. Two check boxes are found at the bottom of the form. One must be checked to confirm the user’s agreement with the 8tracks terms of use. The second is optional and allows the user to sign up for the 8tracks monthly email.

8tracks provides users with two membership options. The first is free access which is supported by advertisements. The second is a paid premium membership which removes all ads. The subscription costs approximately $25 for six months and includes a 14 day free trial for new users. DJs can create an 8tracks account to create and share their own mixes and receive a special icon on their profile.

8tracks is a great website for DJs and music lovers. The website gives the user the ability to create their own tailored mix tape and share it with others. Users can also gain popularity by submitting mix tapes others enjoy.

• Put together a themed mix tape of online music
• View number of favorites and listens for each station
• Add a description and image to go with your station
• Choose between a subscription and ad supported free membership
• Read or leave comments on user generated stations

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