How can Epidemic Sound improve its music search functionality to help users find tracks faster?

Introduction

Improving Epidemic Sound's music search functionality to help users find tracks faster is a critical challenge that directly impacts user satisfaction and productivity. As we dive into this problem, we'll explore user behaviors, pain points, and innovative solutions to enhance the search experience. I'll structure my approach as follows: clarifying questions, user segmentation, pain point analysis, solution generation, evaluation, and metrics for success.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions

• Looking at Epidemic Sound's position in the market, I'm curious about the primary use cases for the platform. Could you share insights on whether it's primarily used for content creation, commercial projects, or personal enjoyment?

Why it matters: This helps us tailor the search functionality to the most common user needs. Expected answer: Primarily used for content creation, especially by YouTubers and podcasters. Impact on approach: Would focus on search features that support quick discovery for time-sensitive projects.

• Considering the evolving music landscape, I'm wondering about the size and diversity of Epidemic Sound's music library. Can you give me an idea of how many tracks are available and how frequently new content is added?

Why it matters: The scale of the library impacts the complexity of the search problem. Expected answer: Over 100,000 tracks with hundreds added weekly. Impact on approach: Would emphasize advanced filtering and recommendation systems to handle large, dynamic catalogs.

• Given the importance of user engagement, I'm interested in understanding the current search behavior. What's the average number of searches per session, and how often do users download tracks after searching?

Why it matters: Helps identify if the problem is with search initiation or result relevance. Expected answer: Users perform 5-7 searches per session, with a 20% download rate. Impact on approach: Would focus on improving result relevance and reducing the number of searches needed.

• Considering the competitive landscape, I'm curious about Epidemic Sound's unique value proposition. What sets your search functionality apart from competitors like Artlist or PremiumBeat?

Why it matters: Helps align improvements with the company's core strengths and market position. Expected answer: Known for high-quality tracks but lagging in search speed and accuracy. Impact on approach: Would prioritize speed optimizations and accuracy improvements in search algorithms.