I did quite a bit more research on what other similar sites exists and so here is follow up review. New-comers to streaming services online include SoundCloud (Musicians) and MixCloud (DJs) which focus on playlists and are popular with users which include DJs. Many of these services have been invested in before they actually started making money. Soundcloud started out with brands like Squarespace, independent artists and others like Maker studios.
SoundCloud also enables non music related brands to help them generate income by sponsoring musicians who can then get more exposure. Through their On Soundcloud – creator programme. Music is categorised by genre and you can get suggestions of popular music, upload a file and start a new recording. Selections prompt suggestions on who you should follow and you can also follow music that is trending. You can also create groups and become a member of groups of people who enjoy/listen to similar music as well as like new playlists, tracks.
MixCloud lets users login through Facebook. They also enable DJs to participate in DJ competitions online and DJs can promote their content to increase their visibility across Mixcloud and easily reach new audiences. This costs 6.99 pounds per day. They provide a basic free service for all users a premium services for listeners and a pro service for uploaders who are primarily DJs. Similar to the LinkedIn model Mixcloud provides the service for free but is able to generate income through having DJs provide for premium services, targeted campaigns, Custom Digital Solutions (Bespoke apps, web-pages). Like SoundCloud, MixCloud also works with a variety of brands to support branded content.
One example of a DJ social media site is Topdeejays. Topdeejays uses an algorithm that measures overall social media influence by combining Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, SoundCloud, MySpace, Last.fm and YouTube fans, subscribers and followers. It uses a unique measurement – TDJ points to rank artists by popularity.
One site that attempted to turn music lovers into DJs was the site Turntable.com. They existed for only 2 years and closed in 2014. Following the rules of the traditional music industry that went with licensing music was one of the reasons they cited for failure and inability to truly innovate. They also failed to migrate their service to mobile platforms at the key moment that music was increasingly being listened to on mobile rather than desktop. Turntable was best experienced on a desktop computer at a time when the rest of the world was going mobile. In what they called a virtual club, users could select avatars, listeners could highlight their favorite songs and DJs could upload original tracks to test out on listeners. Casual listeners could explore new genres in a very interactive environment through a chat window. They could also DJ and their fans could reward them with points for buying new avatars.
Plug.dj is trying however to pick up where Turntable left. It is a real-time social media experience combining music and video discovery in a fun and interactive online environment. Users can choose from an array of avatars including dancing avatars and can create parties with friends and peers around the globe. They can join and create virtual rooms to discover and share music and videos, and communicate with international party-goers using real-time chat translation. Musicians and DJs alike can engage with and attract fans in real-time.
DJ List is another site that exists and says it is the ‘largest directory of DJs of around the world’ though the site is not very interactive. DJs but also labels, clubs/venues and agents can create profiles, specifically for electronic/dance music. Fans, and DJs follow DJs through a music and social media feed of the latest content being generated by DJs online. Information on DJs, promoters, agents, publicists and their events are also made available online and they also all login via Facebook.
Other sites like AliveNetwork allows users to hire DJs but don’t have the social media or music streaming element. Tastebuds.fm lets you connect with new people via music and even find others who would go to a party or concert with you. However, you are unable to chat with musicians or DJs or follow them on the site. It is however integrated with Facebook.
On the other hand Live Nation Entertainment, revealed that concert attendees use their mobiles heavily for tweeting, texting, Facebook and Twitter, photos while there. More than in previous years. Eventbrite found that electronic dance music, has risen in popularity in part due to the social media savvy of its fanbase. It follows that combining social media in the DJ context can prove very useful.
