Content-Based Filtering: Item Features

Pandora's 450-Feature Obsession

Pandora's Music Genome Project:

Trained musicians manually analyze every song

450 attributes measured:

• Melody complexity
• Harmonic structure
• Rhythm patterns
• Vocal style (raspy, smooth, energetic)
• Instrumentation (synthesizers, guitars, drums)
• Lyrical themes

Takes 20-30 minutes per song. A human listens, tags, scores.

Example for Billie Eilish: "whispered intimate vocals, minimal instrumentation, dark pop production, unconventional song structure"

This is content-based filtering: analyzing the THING itself, not user behavior.