I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “Lollapalooza,” I think about beer, grunge rock and application programming interfaces. Wait, what?
Okay, so maybe an API isn’t exactly what comes to mind, but this year, the rock festival that once helped propel bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam is looking to launch something else entirely: an open API chock-full of real-time scheduling data, stage geolocation and more.
The 20-year-old festival announced today on its blog that it would be opening up its festival data for the first time this year for anyone to use. In addition to releasing the data, Lollapalooza is launching HackLolla, a contest for the best mobile, web and desktop apps created using their API.
Lollapalooza is offering over $5,000 worth of prizes and tons of promotional exposure for the best mobile, web and desktop apps created using their API. Developers can access data on artists, events, stages/venues and updates for Lollapalooza 2011. Prizes will be awarded for apps that help fans get the most from their Lollapalooza experience before, during and after the Festival. Winners will be promoted on the official Lollapalooza website and to fans via email, Facebook, Twitter, and the jumbotron screens at the Festival.?
The HackLolla website has the full list of rules and deadlines.
If music and hacking are your thing (and let’s face it – you’re here, so they are) then you might also want to check out this weekend’s San Francisco Music Hackday, which is being sponsored by Lollapalooza. The company will be making a more in-depth announcement on HackLolla. Immediately following, San Francisco will be home of the SF Music Tech Summit.
In all, it’s a good time to be a music-loving hacker.
