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Here at Web Directions we are big fans of DJ Shadow, one of the world’s great DJ/Producers.
Quite by accident the other day I came across a project he’s doing with Nokia (incidentally this seems like a way better way of spending one’s marketing budget than putting up posters and banner ads and the like).

You can upload samples of the sounds of your city that you think are distinctively part of the city, and Mr. Shadow may just take those and create a track using them.

He’s already done San Francisco, and looking for other cities. San Francico is well worth a listen (there’s a link on that page).

Now, though, a couple of criticisms.

This is a cool idea. But

1. I can only listen to the track streamed via flash audio (as far as I can tell). Where’s the downloadable MP3?
2. While from what I can tell Nokia/Shadow maintain their rights over the tracks created, you have to give them “unlimited rights to use, sample and modify your audio files in any manner whatsoever without notifying you.”

Here’s what I’d do to remedy this, I’d offer the track in a remixable, reusable form, and licensed to allow that – a fair quid pro quo to the crowd from which you are sourcing all the raw materials.

So, one step forward and one step back on this. Still a cool idea and great track though.