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"This post is part of Mashable\u2019s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.\nName: Shuffler.fm\nQuick Pitch: Shuffler.fm is like Pandora mixed with StumbleUpon \u2014 a music and blog discovery service. \nGenius Idea: Music fans, prepare to geek out. If you're really into checking out new music blogs/always knowing about the latest music discovery and Internet radio services, Shuffler.fm was tailor-made for you. It's basically Pandora for music blogs \u2014 shuffling through thousands of sites to display both blog content and new jams.\nThe site, which launched in alpha last week, is the brainchild of the Tone\u00A0collective, an interactive media and entertainment agency. The first version is pretty simple; merely surf over to Shuffler.fm, choose a channel \u2014 anything from Alt-country to Dubstep \u2014 and let the music listening/blog-reading begin. \nWhen the first blog pops up, the most recently loaded MP3 will begin playing (a la Pandora). You can choose to skip said blog and song and go to the next, or let it play out. Once one song ends, you're taken to a new blog site, where another jam takes over. You can also pause a song and finish exploring the site in question. At present, you can't browse a blog whilst listening to the entirety of the featured MP3s, but that feature is coming in the next iteration.\nSome of you might be wondering how this service differs from ExtensionFM, a Chrome add-on we featured in a past Spark of Genius. Well, that extension functions more as a music scraper than a discovery system. After installing the plugin, you can surf to various music blogs, where ExtensionFM yoinks all available songs and transfers them to a playlist. A lot of my music blogger friends were not too keen on this plugin, actually, since they felt like it detracted from the content of the blog. Not so with Shuffler.fm. \n\"We take users page by page,\" Co-Founder Tim Heineke tells us. \"We give bloggers\u00A0page views, and help users experience [new blogs]. The next flip of thumb \u00A0could open a hidden door with music gems on a cool music blog.\" Currently, the service includes 1,600 blogs, but more are being added every day (you can even submit yours, if you so desire). Actually, Heineke tells us Shuffler.fm and ExtensionFM work quite well together \u2014 simply use Chrome to play with Shuffler, and lift songs that you enjoy for later listening via ExtensionFM.\nShuffler.fm plans to add more features as it continues to grow, including premium accounts and iPhone and iPad apps (in case you were wondering how the Tone dudes plan on making money). Currently, the free service is a great way to learn more about music via blogs, while also discovering some new tunes. You can also share selections with friends via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. Now, if you would excuse me, a really awesome Thermals song just popped up and this blog looks rather rad... Goodbye, productivity.\n[img credit: The Cleveland Kid]\nSponsored by Microsoft BizSpark\nBizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/08/24/shuffler-fm/>