Why doesn't iTunes Genius support classical?

I grudgingly use iTunes (on a MacBook) - crappy software, but if you have an
iPod it's the easiest path...

I do like the Genius function - it looks at any particular track and builds a
25 song play list based on the properties of that track. So put in a song by
Led Zeppelin and you'll likely get Rolling Stones and The Who in the list as well.

So why does it not support classical? Of the 25,000+ tracks in my iPod, easily
10,000+ are classical. You would think you could tell Genius to build a list
around Bach and Genius would give you Lotti, Telemann and Scarlatti...

Nope. "Genius cannot build a list" or some such. You'd think, given the
intelligentsia elite crowd that Mac tends to be known for, that Genius would
be spot-on with classical music.

Does anyone have any insight as to WHY Apple chooses to ignore this entire
mountainous body of music?

Jedi

 

They are not ignoring it, they simply do not know it is there.

I have just taken to making my own playlists, or allowing iTunes do make one at random.



The only thing I can think of, is iTunes contacts Apple servers when building a Genius list. One thing I have noticed is if the music was bought from iTunes, then iTunes will have an easier time to create a genius list. If the music was added by you, from your own collection, then Apple will not have that music type associated with your iTunes account.

That explains the "contacting iTunes store" message when Genius is compiling a playlist.
The only thing that can explain iTunes not being able to gather information on music added by you, is privacy. For Apple to gather info on personal data (which it is, since it did not come from iTunes) they would have to actually browse through your personal computers file system.

If iTunes only uses data gathered from purchases made in iTunes, then they can not be accused of gathering personal information.