overchoiced

Recently I joined Rhapsody, a music subscription service where I now have access to 4,000,000 songs. In iTune parlance that’s about 152 years of continuous music listening, assuming an average of 4 minutes a song.

Instead of being overjoyed, I find myself overwhelmed. Jennifer May, who heads up our interactive area, tells me that my music anxiety is due to bad interface design.I don’t’ buy that user interface is the answer. I think it’s the nature of my brain and how I manage choice. Lately I’m starting to feel overchoiced. I’m not afraid of decisions, but is it in my best interest to have to review 150 brands of wine when I’m looking for a nice red? Before you answer that question, take a look at what studies have been showing for the last few years.

Check out the American Psychology Association’s view, then read the New Yorker and finally take a look this USA Today article.

And if this isn’t’ enough info, you can read 384,000 entries listings when you Google “too many choices”.

Maybe you’re not like me and can relax in a sports bar simultaneously watching women’s field hockey, cage fighting, the NFL, NCAA whatever, NBA, PGA, not to mention ESPN the Ocho.

Too much of anything tends to be a bad thing. But are marketers really listening, or are they addicted to the easy money that comes with brand extensions and shiny new labels?  In some ways choice reminds me of urban sprawl. Instead of making what you have better, more new is created and more doesn’t always mean better.