A method and system for time-shortening one or more songs to generate time-shortened
versions of the one or more songs are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a song
editor time-shortens one or more songs and provides the time-shortened versions
to a music provider. The music provider can then distribute one or more of the
time-shortened songs to one or more listeners. Alternatively, in another embodiment,
a song editor enables a music provider to time-shorten one or more songs. The song
editor can enable the music provider by providing the music provider a procedure
to time-shorten a song, where the song is provided by the song editor or is obtained
separately by the music provider. The music provider can then apply the supplied
procedure to the song to generate a time-shortened vision. Alternatively, the song
editor can enable the music provider by providing one or more characteristics of
a song selected for time-shortening. These characteristics can be provided to the
music provider as identifiers embedded in the data representative of the song or
as identifiers provided separately, such as in a table. The music provider can
then use the supplied characteristics to time-shorten the song according to a procedure
available to the music provider. Various embodiments of the present invention can
be performed manually or by using an automated process, such as a software application
executed by a computer.