CROWDSOURCED PAIR-BASED MEDIA RECOMMENDATION

1 . A method of generating media pair similarity ratings, comprising:

presenting a user with a first media item;

querying the user regarding one or more additional media items that are most similar to the first media item;

receiving input from the user indicating the one or more additional media items that are most similar to the first media item; and

setting a pair similarity rating for the first media item and at least one of the one or more additional media items based at least in part on the input indicating the one or more additional media items most similar to the first media item.

2 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting the user with at least one candidate media item;

receiving an indication from the user that the at least one candidate media item is known to the user; and

using the indicated candidate media item as first media item.

3 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving an indication that the user does not know any of the at least one candidate media items; and

presenting the user with at least one additional candidate media item.

4 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item comprises typed user entry of a similar media item name.

5 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item comprises user selection from a presentation of two or more additional media items.

6 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item comprises one or more additional media items of a different type than the first media item.

7 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 6 , wherein types of media items include movies, television, music, websites, apps, magazines, newspapers, radio stations, sports, and blogs.

8 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein users comprise media recommendation system users.

9 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 8 , wherein the first media item comprises a media item for which the user has a rating or other indication of familiarity.

10 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein the first media item comprises a trap media item with a predetermined anticipated input from the user indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item, such that the user's input for one or more other first media items is disregarded if an input other than the predetermined anticipated input is received from the user.

11 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , wherein the user is paid to provide the input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item.

12 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 11 , further comprising pay users who provide good data more than users who provide bad data, wherein the determination of whether the user's input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item is good data or bad data is based at least in part on correlation with input from other users or on trap first media items.

13 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 11 , wherein the user is paid more for more difficult first media items.

14 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 11 , further comprising paying the user to familiarize themselves with a new or unknown media item as the first media item.

15 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , further comprising disregarding input from users who provide bad data, wherein the determination of whether the user's input indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item is bad data is based at least in part on poor correlation with input from other users or on incorrect input in response to trap first media items.

16 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 1 , further comprising using the similarity rating between first media item and at least one of the additional media items to provide a user media recommendation for one or more media items.

17 . A media pair similarity rating system, comprising:

a processor; and

a media pair similarity rating module comprising instructions executable on the processor that are operable when executed to:

present a user with a first media item;

query the user regarding one or more additional media items that are most similar to the first media item;

receive input from the user indicating the one or more additional media items that are most similar to the first media item; and

set a pair similarity rating for the first media item and at least one of the one or more additional media items based at least in part on the input indicating the one or more additional media items most similar to the first media item.

18 . The media pair similarity rating system of claim 17 , wherein receiving input from the user indicating the one or more additional media items that are most similar to the first media item comprises user selection from a presentation of two or more additional media items.

19 . A method of generating media pair similarity ratings, comprising:

presenting a user with a first media item for which the user has a rating in a media recommendation system;

querying the user regarding which of two or more additional media items are most similar to the first media item;

receiving input from the user indicating which of the two or more additional items are most similar to the first media item; and

setting a pair similarity rating for the first media item and at least one of the two or more additional media items based at least in part on the input indicating which of the two or more additional media items are most similar to the first media item.

20 . The method of generating media pair similarity ratings of claim 19 , wherein setting a pair similarity rating for the first media item and at least one of the two or more additional media items comprises setting a pair similarity rating for the first media item and the additional media item indicated most similar to the first media item.