The Story Behind the Real World Computing Music Database: An Interview with Masataka Goto

Abstract

The Real World Computing (RWC) Music Database has been a widely used and valuable resource in music information retrieval (MIR) research for over two decades, offering high‑quality audio recordings and comprehensive annotations for a variety of MIR tasks. In light of recent efforts to transform the RWC into an open‑domain and community‑driven dataset, this editorial presents a revised transcript of an interview with Masataka Goto, one of the original creators of the RWC. Conducted on February 18, 2025, by Stefan Balke and Meinard Müller, the interview explores the origins of the RWC, the motivations behind its development, the challenges involved in its production and annotation, and its long‑term impact on MIR research. The conversation also reflects on the evolution of dataset practices in MIR and discusses future directions for open, collaborative dataset initiatives. This transcript has been carefully edited for clarity while preserving the authenticity of the questions and responses. Beyond its immediate relevance to the RWC, the interview provides a unique historical perspective on MIR, capturing firsthand insights from a key figure whose work has significantly shaped the field. By making this interview available, we aim to contribute to broader conversations on dataset sustainability, open access, and the role of community‑driven research in MIR.

Authors

• Meinard Müeller
• Stefan Balke
• Masataka Goto