A computer implemented method is for generating a media playlist including a plurality of tracks to be played on a listener's mobile or stationary
client device with
Internet radio capabilities, the
client device intended to be connected to
the Internet. The method comprises: obtaining, as a listener's input into the listener's
client device, a playlist definition; selecting, from a plurality of tracks, tracks meeting the playlist definition to form the playlist, wherein the playlist is formed by playlist entries that include track identifications referring to selected ones of the plurality of tracks; tracks present in a remote master media inventory, tracks present in an Internet-based cloud memory environment, and tracks present in a local
media content inventory of the listener's client
device form the plurality of tracks; selecting tracks that meet the playlist definition includes comparing the playlist definition with entries for tracks in a
metadata encyclopedia which includes
metadata derived from a master
metadata encyclopedia referring to the tracks present in the remote master media inventory and the tracks present in the cloud memory environment, and the local
media content inventory kept in the local listener's client device; the metadata
encyclopedia is kept locally in the client device; and each entry in the local metadata encyclopedia refers to a respective track and includes at least one track descriptor and at least one
similarity data descriptor; and providing the playlist to the listener's client device for obtaining the tracks indicated on the playlist for playing the tracks in the playlist in an order defined in the playlist.