Soundcheck

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

User generated content is the catch phrase of our time, behind sites like YouTube, MySpace, and now Midomi.com, a website that recognizes songs as you sing them. On today’s show, we look at the upsides and downsides of democratically produced content. Also: South African singer-songwriter Vusi Mahlasela performs live.

Listen to the whole show

Sing A Song With Me

A new Web site called Midomi.com gives you a whole new avenue for showing off your vocal prowess. All you need is a computer, a microphone and a song that you can sing or hum a few bars of. The site is designed to recognize that song and cross-reference it with a library of songs that includes versions by other members. We give the service a spin and talk with Midomi's VP of Business Development, Amir Arbabi, about how it works.

Wide Web of Exhibitionists

User generated content is the catch phrase of our time, behind sites like YouTube, MySpace, and now Midomi.com, a website that recognizes songs as you sing them. But is all this democracy such a good thing? Jeff Howe, contributing editor at WIRED, weighs in on the upsides, and downsides, of outsourcing to the crowd.

Jeff Howe's Blog

South Africa's Vusi Mahlasela

Singer-songwriter Vusi Mahlasela was one of the big voices of South African music during Apartheid. His latest album is called "Guiding Star" and he performs live in the Soundcheck Studio.

Vusi Mahlasela's website