Music streaming app SoundCloud is evolving into a more social platform with the introduction of new community-oriented features. On Thursday, the company announced features like playlists based on the likes of friends or followed artists, an automated list that compiles all the tracks your friends are enjoying, suggested follows, and more.
The features aim to enhance social interaction on the platform as SoundCloud competes with music streaming giants like Spotify.
Spotify has been making strides to become more social; it recently launched a direct messaging feature that allows users to share playlists and songs directly with friends.
The two most notable features SoundCloud launched let you see what your friends and favorite artists are listening to. “Liked By Your Crew,” for instance, is a daily updated list of tracks that your friends and favorite artists are enjoying. It appears on your homepage and shows what’s popular among the users you follow.
Another feature is “Liked By Playlists,” a scrollable carousel of playlists curated from the likes of friends and favorite artists.
Additionally, SoundCloud has a new Trending Trackwall, which displays popular tracks currently trending on the platform, along with filters to help you find what matters to you without having to dig through hundreds of playlists.
These features are now available on the web, as well as on iOS and Android devices.
SoundCloud also launched two features exclusive to its mobile app, including a “Hot For You” daily personalized track that’s trending on the platform, curated to your music taste.
The other new mobile feature recommends people to follow, including fans with music tastes similar to yours, users you may know in real life, and suggested artists. This appears as a carousel on the homepage, making it easier to connect with others on the platform.