SoundCloud Now Shows What Your Friends Are Listening To

SoundCloud Enhances Platform with New Social Features

The music streaming service, SoundCloud, is undergoing a transformation, evolving to prioritize community engagement. New features designed to foster interaction among users were unveiled by the company on Thursday.

These updates include playlists generated based on the listening preferences of friends and artists you follow. An automated compilation of tracks currently enjoyed by your connections is also now available.

Competition and Social Integration

The introduction of these features is a strategic move by SoundCloud to increase social interaction. This positions the platform to better compete with established music streaming leaders like Spotify.

Spotify has also been actively working to integrate social elements into its service. A recent addition is a direct messaging function, enabling users to share playlists and individual songs directly with their friends.

Among the most prominent new additions to SoundCloud are functionalities that allow users to view the listening activity of their friends and preferred artists.

Key Features: "Liked by Your Crew" and "Liked by Playlists"

A feature called “Liked by your crew” provides a daily updated list of tracks that are being enjoyed by both friends and followed artists. This list is prominently displayed on the user’s homepage.

Furthermore, “Liked by playlists” offers a scrollable selection of playlists. These playlists are curated from the listening habits of friends and artists, providing a new way to discover music.

Discovering Trending Music

SoundCloud has also implemented a new Trending Trackwall. This feature showcases popular tracks currently gaining traction on the platform.

Filters are included within the Trending Trackwall, allowing users to refine their search and quickly locate music that aligns with their interests, without extensive browsing.

Availability Across Platforms

These new features are now accessible on the web, as well as through the SoundCloud applications for both iOS and Android devices.

Mobile-Exclusive Features

In addition to the features available across all platforms, SoundCloud has launched two functionalities exclusive to its mobile app.

One such feature is a daily personalized track recommendation, labeled “Hot for you.” This track is selected based on trending music and tailored to the user’s individual musical taste.

The other mobile-exclusive feature provides suggestions for users to follow. These recommendations include fans with similar musical preferences, individuals the user may know personally, and artists that align with their listening habits. This appears as a carousel on the homepage.