A new virtual music hangout offers more than 100 million songs as a result of deals with major labels.

Turntable Labs, Inc. has created a new virtual community listening platform – Hangout – that offers a new way for fans to enjoy and share music while interacting with one another. Although this platform is new, it definitely feels very 2010s, so it’ll be interesting to see if it does reinvent music and social media’s relationship. Before we make our minds up, let’s have a closer look at the platform and its features.

Launched by Joseph Perla, founder of Turntable.fm, this new platform shifts the focus of music sharing away from algorithms and AI, and back to genuine human connection and contact. The platform allows users to create and share music experiences in real-time. Its aim is to bridge the gap between fans and artists by enabling social-powered music discovery. This human-first approach stands out in a landscape increasingly dominated by AI-generated playlists.

The launch comes at a time when many music fans feel fatigued by the repetitive suggestions of algorithm-driven playlists. It’s easy to feel in a rut with your listening habits when all your mood-based Spotify-generated playlists feature the same songs and artists. While AI can recognise patterns and offer music that matches a listener’s past preferences, it often misses the mark on introducing fresh and diverse tracks. Hangout seeks to fill this gap by enabling human curation and fostering shared experiences among users.

Key Features of Hangout

  1. Interactive rooms: Similar to Turntable.fm, Hangout features virtual spaces where users can share music and interact with others in real time.
  2. Community discovery: The platform encourages discovering new music through communities, making it a perfect space for independent artists to showcase their work.
  3. Direct fan engagement: Artists can use Hangout to connect with fans more intimately, creating opportunities to grow their audience organically.

Another of Hangout’s standout features is its extensive catalogue of songs, supported by licensing agreements with major record labels such as Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group. This partnership ensures users have access to a diverse range of tracks across genres.

How can independent artists benefit?

For indie musicians, Hangout FM provides a unique opportunity to reach new audiences. The platform’s emphasis on human interaction over algorithmic recommendations aligns well with the grassroots approach many independent artists rely on. It’s a chance to build genuine fan relationships and stand out in a crowded digital music space.

Perla explained the thinking behind the new platform: “Music needs more and more compelling ways to reach people and bring them together. Hangout accomplishes both, as one of the first truly participatory places online for music enjoyment and real-time social interaction.”

A potential benefit of Hangout is that, so far, its user base is pretty small. This means there is potential for early adopters to establish a presence on the platform before it becomes popular. Although, independent artists wanting to create a buzz around their work on the platform may need to bring an already assembled crew of fans with them at first.