BBC launches music discovery service

The BBC has launched a new digital music discovery service that allows listeners to tag a piece of music they hear on the BBC and listen to it later on.

From Wednesday, BBC Playlister will enable audiences to find out what music is being played on BBC Radio, allowing anyone with a BBC account to create playlists and then export music to third party streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify.

Users will also be able to discover recommended tracks from BBC DJs and presenters.

Speaking to the BBC, Radio 1’s Zane Lowe said that the project puts the corporation “at the heart of what is happening now.”

“The whole essence of radio is to communicate: To be able to say ‘I love this song’,” he said.

According to Mark Friend, BBC controller for multi-platform radio and music, the new service is easy to use and accessible for everyone. Friend said that Playlister will ultimately “join up your BBC experienced with the music experiences you have on the rest of the internet.”

For the time being, Playlister will only be available on PCs and mobile web browsers, however the BBC has said that “significant developments” are to come over the next few months.