Discord Stage Discovery: Find Live Audio Events

Discord Enhances Community Discovery with Stage Discovery

For those unfamiliar with Discord, a key difference from other platforms is the absence of a continuously scrolling feed filled with advertisements. Instead, Discord centers activity within interest-specific servers. The company is now focused on simplifying the process of finding and joining these communities.

In late March, Discord introduced Stage Channels, functioning as voice event spaces similar to Clubhouse. Building upon this foundation, a new portal named Stage Discovery will launch in June. This feature will showcase events – such as open mic nights and book clubs – providing a pathway for users to connect with vibrant communities.

The Impact of Stage Channels

Rick Ling, Discord’s Product Manager, reports that Stage Channels have been well-received. The company recognized that these events could serve as an entry point, introducing new users to the platform’s core communities.

During a press conference, Ling explained that the primary objective isn’t simply participating in audio conversations. Soon, servers will have the ability to advertise public events, extending an invitation to anyone interested in attending. Discord also revealed that the new discovery tool will debut alongside collaborations with prominent partners, playfully hinting at one collaborator “rhymes with Grimes.”

Additional Features on the Horizon

Discord is also preparing to release several other new features. Threaded conversations are scheduled for release this summer. Furthermore, a pilot program will soon commence to test paid, ticketed audio events.

This latter feature represents a significant opportunity for creators, who have previously lacked avenues for monetization on the platform. It also provides Discord with a new potential revenue stream, while maintaining its commitment to avoiding targeted advertising.

Discord is clearly observing Clubhouse’s approach – live audio event discovery is central to Clubhouse’s functionality – but Discord’s established network of communities positions it to deliver a more comprehensive experience. The company benefits from a five-year lead and widespread recognition among younger demographics, with the majority of its 150 million monthly active users falling within the 18-24 age range, a key segment of Gen Z.

A direct competition with Clubhouse isn’t necessarily Discord’s aim; in many respects, it predates Clubhouse’s innovations. While Discord has adopted some successful features, Clubhouse’s download numbers are declining, and it may need to demonstrate its ability to compete with Discord and other established social networks.

Discord's Future Development

The introduction of Stage Discovery represents a significant shift in Discord’s approach. Previously, accessing live events required initial entry into a specific server. Given the platform’s strong community focus, individuals interested in a particular subject, such as a specific Twitch broadcast, frequently joined relevant servers from other locations.

While Discord possesses some discovery and search capabilities – allowing users to browse popular and featured public servers via its Discover tab – these features have historically been quite limited. By expanding its “discovery surface,” Discord is poised to attract a wider audience, including those unfamiliar with the application or who perceive it solely as a voice chat tool for gamers.

Enhanced Event Discovery

This new discovery feature will be integrated into the home tab, presenting a directory of ongoing live voice events. The core benefit lies in its potential to onboard new users, connecting them with active communities that offer much more than just events. Users will be able to view voice events where their friends are participating, events hosted by servers they’ve joined, and other live events to which they aren’t currently connected.

Jesse Wofford, a spokesperson for Discord Product Marketing, explained to TechCrunch that the primary aim is to provide a gateway to communities and facilitate joining them. Wofford stressed that Discord isn’t seeking to create an endless scrolling experience; rather, the intention is to link users with the vibrant communities the platform is known for.

Brand Refresh and Core Values

Alongside this new feature, Discord is also marking its sixth anniversary with a visual update. This includes a brighter color palette and subtle refinements to Clyde, its iconic purple controller mascot. (Discord maintains that Clyde’s color is officially “blurple.”) The company aims to maintain a playful atmosphere while ensuring its visual identity is “more inclusive and welcoming” to a broader range of users.

Commitment to Community

Despite the improvements to discovery, Discord’s fundamental product philosophy remains unchanged. “There are no feeds, no likes, and no mechanisms for content to go viral,” stated Discord founder and CEO Jason Citron, emphasizing that the platform was designed from the outset to prioritize community building.

Discord has evolved significantly over time. Initially popular among gamers, the app unfortunately attracted extremist groups, including those involved in the Charlottesville rally. In the past, dangerous far-right ideologies flourished on Discord, while the company largely avoided the negative publicity experienced by other social media platforms.

Trust and Safety Improvements

Beginning in 2017, Discord actively began removing neo-Nazis and other harmful communities. By 2021, the company was able to present a more positive narrative. Currently, 15% of its workforce is dedicated to the Trust and Safety team, focused on user protection and content moderation policies. While originally built for gamers, Discord is expanding its reach and actively engaging with users to understand how it has helped them combat isolation during the pandemic.

Future Outlook

The company’s ambitions extend beyond the gaming world. Unlike the ad-saturated feeds of Instagram or the overwhelming nature of Twitter, Discord continues to offer a user-friendly experience. This ease of use isn’t a deceptive tactic; revenue from Nitro subscriptions and other paid features is growing rapidly, and the company has no plans to introduce targeted advertising.

Discord’s successful campaign during the pandemic to attract non-gaming communities – including musicians, study groups, and even fantasy baseball leagues – is yielding positive results. User growth is substantial, and the platform is consistently adding valuable new features. The future appears bright for both the company and its users, a notably positive alignment.