Nola
Well-known member
http://www.magneticmag.com/2016/08/soundcloud-discontinues-groups-feature-amid-user-backlash/
Since a lot of guys use SC to host, I figured you should all know they did this, since it's extremely anti-artist.
Groups were basically a funnel where if you liked, say, "ragtime mixed with punk mixed with metal" you could find (or create) a group for it and find similar minded people and listen to their music/share your music with them. Maybe small artists grew their base using groups b/c you'd know exactly where to go and share your creations. SC decided to remove that, reportedly because Spotify might buy them (not sure how groups makes SC less attractive). My guess is that they're hoping people create user accounts for genres instead of groups, and then they can say they're user base is growing, making them attractive to a buyer. They prefer "aggregators" and bots over online communities.
I moved to hearthis.at because they have groups and you can import all your songs from SC with one click, but it looks like a small site right now, but cool features and artist-friendly. Bandcamp should get on this and make groups. We'll see where the bees swarm. Interestingly, Hearthis introduced Groups just days after SC removed the feature, so clearly they see the importance of them whereas SC didn't. What a blunder!
Since a lot of guys use SC to host, I figured you should all know they did this, since it's extremely anti-artist.
Groups were basically a funnel where if you liked, say, "ragtime mixed with punk mixed with metal" you could find (or create) a group for it and find similar minded people and listen to their music/share your music with them. Maybe small artists grew their base using groups b/c you'd know exactly where to go and share your creations. SC decided to remove that, reportedly because Spotify might buy them (not sure how groups makes SC less attractive). My guess is that they're hoping people create user accounts for genres instead of groups, and then they can say they're user base is growing, making them attractive to a buyer. They prefer "aggregators" and bots over online communities.
I moved to hearthis.at because they have groups and you can import all your songs from SC with one click, but it looks like a small site right now, but cool features and artist-friendly. Bandcamp should get on this and make groups. We'll see where the bees swarm. Interestingly, Hearthis introduced Groups just days after SC removed the feature, so clearly they see the importance of them whereas SC didn't. What a blunder!