The LinkedMusic Project is a 7-year initiative to transform music research by constructing a global digital music library that integrates diverse music data sources into a unified system. Despite advances in text search technologies, music searches remain constrained by disparate formats and incompatible metadata schemas. By applying linked data principles, we are developing new tools that will enable seamless access across music database platforms. Central to the project is the integration of the Resource Description Framework (RDF) for standardized data representation with Natural Language Query to SPARQL (NLQ2SPARQL) for intuitive search capabilities. By transforming heterogeneous music databases into RDF and leveraging natural language processing capabilities of large language models (LLMs), the project creates a robust, scalable framework that ensures data integrity while enhancing accessibility. To facilitate user access to this vast and interconnected digital library, we are developing SESEMMI, an open-source metasearch engine that enables simultaneous searches across multiple databases without requiring any modifications to their underlying schemas. A distinctive feature of the LinkedMusic Project is our commitment to multilingual and culturally sensitive search capabilities, empowering users to explore global music genres, traditions, and performers through culturally sensitive terms and queries in multiple languages. Our goal is to enhance access for scholars and the public, fostering research and creative output.
Ichiro Fujinaga (Wed,) studied this question.