Systems and methods control presentation of audio-only content that is broadcast to a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives media content that is currently received in a channel of a broadcasted media content stream; determines whether the currently received channel is a type of channel that provides audio/visual content or a type of channel that provides audio-only content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio/visual content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio/visual content; controls presentation of the received media content using at least one audio-only content control function in response to determining that the currently received channel is the type of channel that provides audio-only content, wherein the at least one audio/visual content control function is different from the at least one audio-only content control function.

A computer system including a server having a processor and a memory, the memory having a video database and a music database, the video database storing at least one video file having a plurality of video file markers, and the music database storing at least one music file having a plurality of music file markers, wherein the server receives and decodes encoded data from computer readable code, identifies and retrieves from the music database a music file based on the decoded data, synchronizes the retrieved music file with one of the video files by aligning the video file markers of the video file with the music file markers for the retrieved music file to produce a synchronized video--music file, and transmits the synchronized video-music file to a display, wherein the video file markers are generated for each video file and the music file markers are generated for each music file.

Methods and apparatuses to deliver at least a portion of an advertisement to a viewer at normal playback speeds after receiving a command from the viewer to fast-forward through an advertisement faster than normal playback speeds are described. In one example, a portion of the advertisement may be delivered to be played at normal playback speeds, and the remaining portion may be delivered to be played at a playback speed that is faster than the specified playback speed so that the combination of the portions delivered at normal and faster playback speeds is delivered to the user at the specified playback speed. In another example, at least a portion of the first advertisement may be delivered at normal playback speeds, and one or more other advertisements may be delivered to the viewer simultaneously with the first advertisement with the audio information muted based on the specified playback speed.

An example method involves receiving, by a playback device in a media playback system, limited-access media, where the limited-access media corresponds to a limited-access playback device characteristic. The method may further involve determining, by the playback device, that a particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system. Based on determining that the particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system, the method may further involve causing the media playback system to play back the limited-access media.

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved techniques to process and manage media content and associated intellectual property rights associated with the media content. Intellectual property rights associated with media content can include copyright, trademarks, licenses to composition, synchronization, performance, recordings, etc. In particular, various embodiments provide media licensing management and monetization based on media licensing using a centralized registry of media content and associated asset rights.

A method and computer readable medium for exploring similar users and items of a media service includes generating a user interface. The user interface displays a user selectable indicia representing a similar member function for allowing a user to search a media service for at least one other user. The one other user has a degree of similarity with respect to the searching user. Another method includes facilitating the search of such a similar user within a media service.

An example method involves receiving, by a playback device in a media playback system, limited-access media, where the limited-access media corresponds to a limited-access playback device characteristic. The method may further involve determining, by the playback device, that a particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system. Based on determining that the particular playback device having the limited-access playback device characteristic is active in the media playback system, the method may further involve causing the media playback system to play back the limited-access media.

Systems and methods for determining whether a first electronic device detects a media item that is to be output by a second electronic device is described herein. In some embodiments, an individual may request, using a first electronic device, that a media item be played on a second electronic device. The backend system may send first audio data representing a first response to the first electronic device, along with instructions to delay outputting the first response, as well as to continue sending audio data of additional audio captured thereby. The backend system may also send second audio data representing a second response to the second electronic device along with the media item. Text data may be generated representing the captured audio, which may then be compared with text data representing the second response to determine whether or not they match.

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to systems that incorporate digital downloading jukebox features and improved user interfaces. For instance, a smart search may be provided, e.g., where search results vary based on the popularity of songs within the venue, in dependence on songs being promoted, etc. As another example, a tile-based approach to organizing groupings of songs is provided. Groupings may involve self-populating collections of songs that combine centrally-promoted songs, songs in a given genre that are popular across an audiovisual distribution network, and songs that are locally popular and match up with the given genre (e.g., because of shared attributes such as same or similar genre, artist, etc.). Different tile visual presentations also are contemplated, as are different physical jukebox designs. In certain example embodiments, a sealed core unit with the “brains” of the jukebox is insertable into a docking station.

The present invention relates to systems, methods, software applications and devices for the broadcasting of short-lived personal internet radio stations. Embodiments include software applications for live broadcasting over an internet network comprising a host mode and a recipient mode, wherein the software application may be executed on a connected mobile device to broadcast to many other recipients in a substantially synchronous manner. Embodiments provide for the live broadcasting of music and video content from a personal device to many listener or viewer devices, where content may be sourced from any number of locally stored or cloud-based content repositories.