Music streaming platform SoundCloud is planning some significant changes that will affect creators and listeners that use the streaming service. SoundCloud is adding a "suggested tracks" feature, which is intended to facilitate a more personalized listening experience, and also planning to disable the ability for artists to add visual art to accompany their uploaded tracks.
The "suggested tracks" feature was officially announced by the company and has many users wondering how it differs from the "recommended tracks" that are already displayed regularly on the platform. The company explained the distinction, stating that the new function "uses your listening activity to automatically find new tracks and artists based on likes and plays, and then will refresh frequently with tracks you won't find on any other music platform."
In other words, the old system only offered a generic list of tracks related to the one currently being played, which was displayed to every listener of that song, while the new feature now incorporates each user's prior musical tastes and selections to offer a personalized list of potential tunes. The company claims the personalized selection is based upon a new algorithm that improves the selection process the more the user listens to SoundCloud.
Another change in store from the platform hasn't been officially announced, but has leaked in the form of an email in which creators on the platform will be informed that the visual art accompaniment function, in which artwork can be displayed behind uploaded tracks, will be permanently disabled come July 15.
"Dear Friends, Creators. and Partners:
Beginning July 15, 2016, SoundCloud will retire the visual track feature which displays a full-screen visual behind the waveform.
The visual track feature will remain intact for those tracks with existing visuals in place as of today, as well as any content which has been branded through ad support.
Why is SoundCloud doing this? While we know many of you are fans of this feature, we do not see it impacting fan engagement for you, therefore, we are shifting our resources from the maintenance of this feature to the creation of better tools and features that will help you drive fan engagement on SoundCloud.
Any questions, please let me know."
Note that the leaked email indicates that any artwork displayed prior to the date of disablement will remain intact, meaning that artists and creators wishing to display art behind their tracks can continue to do so prior to July 15 and the artwork will remain displayed indefinitely.
