CAPSTONE PROJECT REPORT
Report 1 – Project Introduction
–HCM, Jan 2026 –
Table of Contents
I. Record of Changes............................................................................................................................................................
II. Project Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................
1. Overview.....................................................................................................................................................................
1.1 Project Information............................................................................................................................................
1.2 Project Team......................................................................................................................................................
2. Product Background...................................................................................................................................................
3. Existing Systems.........................................................................................................................................................
3.1 Spotify................................................................................................................................................................
3.2 Online Radio & Podcast Shows (e.g Quick & Snow Show).............................................................................
3.3 Youtube & Youtube Music................................................................................................................................
3.4 Gap Analysis......................................................................................................................................................
4. Business Opportunity..................................................................................................................................................
4.1 Market Context..................................................................................................................................................
4.2 Identified Problems............................................................................................................................................
4.3 Solution..............................................................................................................................................................
4.4 Target Opportunity............................................................................................................................................
5. Software Product Vision.............................................................................................................................................
6. Project Scope & Limitations.......................................................................................................................................
6.1 Major Features...................................................................................................................................................
6.2 Limitations & Exclusions..................................................................................................................................
I. Record of Changes
Date A* In charge Change Description
M, D
1/1/2026 A Tran Ho Quoc Anh Adding Project information & Team, Existing systems
8/1/2025 A Nguyen Duc Anh Adding Product Background & Business Opportunity
Minh
8/1/2026 A, M Tran Hoang Nam Modify Existing systems & Adding Limitation & Exclusions
8/1/2026 A Tran Ho Quoc Anh Adding Business Opportunity & Software Product Vision
12/1/2026 A, M Tran Ho Quoc Anh Modify Product Background, Business Opportunity & Adding
Gap Analysis, Major Features, Limitations
*A - Added M - Modified D - Deleted
II. Project Introduction
1. Overview
1.1 Project Information
• Project name: SOUNDMATES
• Project code: SP26SE021
• Group name: SEP490
• Software type: Web, Mobile App
1.2 Project Team
Full Name Role Email Mobile
Tran Ho Quoc Anh Leader anhthqse182634@[Link] 0906178691
Nguyen Duc Anh Minh Member minhndase182641@[Link] 0398608545
Doan Cong Thanh Member thanhdcse182625@[Link] 0703543011
Tran Hoang Nam Member namthse170016@[Link] 0905079414
Phan Minh Duc Member ducpmse170021@[Link] 0769425445
2. Product Background
In today’s Vietnamese society, music has become an essential part of daily life, especially among
young people. Music is not only a form of entertainment, but also a way to relax, express emotions,
and create connections between individuals. With the rapid growth of digital platforms and online
communities, the demand for more interactive and personalized music experiences is increasing.
Recognizing this trend, the Soundmates team, together with our mentor, proposes the development of
an online livestream music platform. This platform allows users to listen to music in real time while
actively engaging with the stream by sending song requests accompanied by personal messages. These
messages can be public, dedicated to specific individuals, or sent in private mode, depending on user
preference.
Soundmates aims to create a space where users can connect with others through music, share
emotions, and build meaningful interactions beyond traditional music streaming. The primary target
users are young people and music lovers in Vietnam who seek not only to listen to music, but also to
communicate, express feelings, and connect with others in a more human and interactive way.
3. Existing Systems
The development of SoundMates draws inspiration from several existing platforms that have
successfully integrated music, interaction, and community elements, while also learning from their
limitations.
3.1 Spotify
Description:
Spotify is a global music streaming platform that provides on-demand access to millions of songs,
personalized playlists, and podcast content. It operates on a freemium model with both ad-supported
free access and premium subscriptions.
Link: [Link]
Strengths:
● Extensive music catalog with millions of tracks covering diverse genres and languages
● Advanced personalization through machine learning algorithms that create customized
playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix
● High-quality audio streaming with options up to 320 kbps
● Cross-platform availability on mobile, desktop, web, and smart devices
● Collaborative playlist features allowing multiple users to contribute songs
● Social features including friend activity feed and sharing capabilities
Weaknesses:
● No real-time interaction or live engagement features between users or with artists
● Purely transactional music consumption without emotional connection or community building
● Absence of song request or dedication features that allow personalized messaging
● Limited social functionality beyond following friends and sharing tracks
● Premium subscription required for full feature access, which may be a barrier for price-
sensitive users in Vietnam
● The platform feels isolating as users consume music individually without shared experiences
3.2 Online Radio & Podcast Shows (e.g Quick & Snow Show)
Description:
Quick & Snow Show and similar programs represent radio-style livestream shows that combine music
with storytelling, emotional sharing, and listener interaction. These shows typically broadcast through
platforms like Facebook Live or YouTube Live on fixed schedules.
Link: [Link]
Strengths:
● Strong emotional connection through human hosts who create warm, authentic atmospheres
● Curated music selection aligned with emotional themes such as heartbreak, motivation, or
nostalgia
● Dedicated community of loyal listeners who regularly engage with hosts and content
● Listener participation through song requests and message sharing
● Cultural relevance as content deeply resonates with Vietnamese youth culture and
communication styles
● Free and accessible to all users without subscription barriers
Weaknesses:
● Fixed broadcast schedules limit accessibility—users can only participate during specific times
● Predominantly one-way communication where hosts control content and listener input is
delayed or limited
● Scalability issues as the format struggles to support large concurrent audiences without quality
degradation
● Outdated user interface and experience that lacks modern design standards
● No on-demand access or replay functionality for past episodes
● Absence of personalization as all listeners receive identical content regardless of individual
preferences
● Technical limitations including inconsistent audio quality, stream interruptions, and poor
mobile optimization
● No content management tools allowing listeners to save, organize, or revisit favorite moments
3.3 Youtube & Youtube Music
Description:
YouTube Music is Google's dedicated music streaming service that leverages YouTube's massive
video and audio content library. The platform offers official music tracks, music videos, live
performances, covers, and user-generated content in both free ad-supported and premium subscription
formats.
Link: [Link]
Strengths:
● Massive and diverse content library including official releases, remixes, covers, live
recordings, and rare content not available on other platforms
● Seamless integration between audio and video modes allowing users to switch freely
● Intelligent recommendation algorithms that suggest personalized content based on listening
history
● Background playback and offline downloads available through premium subscription
● Deep integration with Google ecosystem services including Google Home and Android Auto
● Support for livestream music sessions where artists can host real-time performances
● Access to independent artists and unique user-generated content
Weaknesses:
● Frequent and intrusive advertisements in the free tier that disrupt listening experience
● No background playback on free tier forces users to keep the app open continuously
● Premium features locked behind subscription paywall limiting accessibility
● User interface less intuitive and polished compared to competitors like Spotify or Apple
Music
● Inconsistent audio quality across content as many user uploads have poor sound quality
● Limited social and interactive features with no real-time engagement or emotional sharing
tools
● Overwhelming content volume can lead to decision fatigue and difficulty discovering relevant
music
● No emotional context layer or community engagement beyond comments and likes
3.4 Gap Analysis
While each of these platforms excels in specific areas, they all share a common limitation: none
effectively combines real-time emotional interaction with modern streaming convenience.
Spotify and YouTube Music prioritize content delivery and personalization but lack human
connection. Radio shows and podcasts provide emotional engagement but sacrifice accessibility and
modern user experience.
This creates a clear opportunity for SoundMates to bridge this gap by offering a platform specifically
designed around emotional expression, live interaction, and community building through music.
4. Business Opportunity
The Vietnamese digital music and entertainment market has experienced significant growth over
recent years, driven by increasing smartphone penetration, improved internet infrastructure, and
changing consumer behaviors especially among younger demographics. This growth, combined with
specific unmet user needs, creates a compelling opportunity for SoundMates.
4.1 Market Context
The shift toward digital entertainment consumption accelerated dramatically during and after the
COVID-19 pandemic, with users spending more time on mobile applications and livestream
platforms. Livestream services in particular have seen substantial adoption in Vietnam, with millions
of users regularly engaging with live content on platforms like TikTok Live, Facebook Live, and
YouTube Live. This demonstrates a clear appetite for real-time interactive experiences beyond
traditional on-demand content.
Simultaneously, there is growing awareness and discussion around emotional wellness and mental
health among Vietnamese youth. More young people are seeking spaces where they can express
emotions authentically, find community support, and connect with others who share similar
experiences. Music, as a universal emotional language, naturally fits this need but current platforms
do not adequately facilitate this type of connection.
4.2 Identified Problems
Current solutions in the market force users to choose between convenience and emotional connection:
Problem 1: Isolation in Music Streaming Major streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube
Music treat music as individual consumption. While they offer vast catalogs and personalization, they
provide no meaningful way for users to share emotional experiences in real-time or connect
authentically with others through music. Users listen alone, without opportunities for genuine human
interaction or emotional expression beyond superficial likes and shares.
Problem 2: Inflexibility of Traditional Radio Radio-style shows and podcasts like Quick & Snow
Show successfully create emotional connection and community atmosphere through human hosts and
curated content. However, they operate on fixed schedules that limit accessibility. Users cannot
participate when convenient for them, and there is no on-demand access to content. The user
experience often feels dated with limited interactivity and no modern features like saving favorites or
personalized recommendations.
Problem 3: Missing Emotional Context No existing platform is specifically designed around
emotional expression through music. Users cannot easily dedicate songs with personal messages,
share emotional stories through audio, or participate in live sessions focused on specific moods or
emotional themes. The platforms treat music as content to consume rather than as a medium for
emotional communication and human connection.
4.3 Solution
SoundMates addresses these problems by creating a platform that uniquely combines:
● Real-time live music sessions with human hosts and interactive participation, providing the
emotional warmth of radio shows with modern accessibility
● Podcast letter features allowing users to create and share emotional audio messages with
music, enabling personal expression in ways that feel safer than video or text-only platforms
● Song request and dedication systems that let users send personalized messages attached to
music during live sessions, creating meaningful shared moments
● Modern design ensuring the platform is accessible, intuitive, and optimized for the primary
device young Vietnamese users use to consume content
● Flexible scheduling allowing users to participate when convenient while still maintaining the
intimacy of live interaction
This combination creates a unique value proposition that existing platforms cannot match.
SoundMates is not competing directly with Spotify on catalog size or YouTube on content variety.
Instead, it occupies a distinct position as an emotional community platform where music serves as the
primary language for connection.
4.4 Target Opportunity
The primary target users are Vietnamese young adults and teenagers aged 16-35 who are emotionally
expressive, digitally native, and actively seeking authentic connections online. This demographic
demonstrates strong engagement with music, livestream content, and platforms that facilitate
emotional sharing and community building.
By focusing specifically on this underserved need for emotional connection through music,
SoundMates can establish a differentiated position in the market and build a loyal user base that
values the platform for its unique emotional and social benefits rather than competing solely on
catalog size or audio quality metrics.
5. Software Product Vision
For young people and music lovers in Vietnam who seek a more meaningful and interactive music
experience, Soundmates is an online livestream music platform that enables users to listen to music in
real time, send song requests with personalized messages, and engage emotionally with DJs and other
listeners.
Soundmates transform music from a passive listening activity into a shared emotional experience,
where users can express feelings, dedicate songs, and build connections through live interaction.
Unlike traditional music streaming platforms that focus on individual consumption, Soundmates
emphasizes community, communication, and human-centered engagement.
By integrating livestream audio, real-time messaging, and flexible interaction modes, Soundmates
creates a digital space where music becomes a bridge between people, fostering companionship,
empathy, and meaningful social connections while remaining accessible, scalable, and aligned with
modern user experience standards.
6. Project Scope & Limitations
The SoundMates platform will deliver nine core feature groups designed to create a comprehensive
emotional music experience ecosystem.
6.1 Major Features
FE-01: Account, Identity & Profile Management.
● Register account with OTP verification
● Profile preferences (optional)
● Adding Voice Reference
FE-02: Podcast Letter Lifecycle Management
● Workflow: Draft Preview Publish
● Privacy scope: public/ private/ anonymous/ system-generated
● AI audio generation
● Listener reactions & Comments
FE-03: Live Session Core Engine.
● Schedule states:
○ Schedule Live Paused Ended
● Join as listener
● Real-time interaction & messages
FE-04: Song/postcast letter request & music interaction during live sessions.
1. Song request:
● Request states:
○ Pending Approved Played/Rejected
● Host queue management
● Auto notify requester when:
○ Approved
○ Played
○ Rejected
2. Podcast letter request:
● Submit podcast letter request:
○ Text message
○ User voice
● Request states:
○ Pending
○ Staff Moderated (Generated audio ready)
○ Host speaking/ AI audio generation playback
● Host can save approved podcast letter into system for later publish
● Staff can create podcast letter requests by AI Script
FE-05: Music & Playlist Experience.
● Mood-based playlists
● Shared listening during live sessions
● Favorites management
● Listening history
FE-06: Interaction & Notification System.
● Event-based notifications:
○ Session started
○ Song request approved/played
○ Podcast letter replied
● In-app notification center
● Realtime & Async notification handling (design-level)
FE-07: Moderation & Safety
● Content reporting
● Chat moderation tools (basic)
● Admin review & moderation queue
FE-08:Analytics & Session Insights (Lightweight).
● Session statistics
○ Total listeners
○ Number of requests
● User engagement summary
● Simple aggregation only (no big data / ML analytics)
FE-09: Member Subscription & Voice ownership
● Member subscription registration
● Subscription benefits
○ Use personal voice for AI podcast generation
○ Higher limits for song requests
○ Higher limits for podcast letter requests
● Real-time podcast letter request in livestream
FE-10: System Administration & Configuration.
● Role & permission management
● Live session approval workflow
● System announcements & broadcast messages
● Platform configuration
FE-11: Community Feed & Content Sharing
● View community feed
○ Podcast
○ Music playlist
○ System live highlights
● Interaction (like/comment)
● Content filtering
● Privacy scope
○ Public
○ Anonymous
Soundmate Mindmap
6.2 Limitations & Exclusions
LI-1: The system does not support multi-language interfaces or advanced personalization features in
the current version.
LI-2: System scalability, high-concurrency performance, and real-world streaming latency have not
been fully evaluated in a production-scale environment and are out of scope for this academic project.
LI-3: Music copyright management and commercial licensing are not handled by the system and
remain the responsibility of content providers.
LI-4: The project focuses primarily on mobile applications for listeners; a dedicated web-based client
for listeners is not fully implemented.
LI-5: AI-generated voice and content are provided for academic and demonstration purposes only and
may not comply with commercial copyright regulations.
LI-6: Live stream audio sessions are not recorded or archived for playback after the session ends.