Although iTunes and other sites are great for organizing music, none currently offer a way to trade favorite playlists outside their networks. To fill this gap, a new website, FIQL (www.fiql.com), has launched for fans to share MP3 playlists. The site, pronounced “fickle,” is free to join and is divided into musical genres and themed categories, letting users find playlists for any occasion or mood.
Depending upon one’s technical prowess, fans can create playlists from scratch by manually entering the information or upload existing playlists from their music libraries. The site also lets members stream audio samples and/or buy individual songs listed on the playlists through iTunes and MSN, allowing users to learn about new bands, while adding new MP3s to their digital music libraries at the same time.
The playlists on the site reflect the variety of musical tastes held by the average teenager and fits nearly any occasion from going to the gym to throwing a party. Genres span from classical to electronica, while playlists are grouped by mood and/or theme. The site allows users to rate and offer up comments about each other’s playlists.
