Hangout: Social Music platform debuts with Major Labels, group listening

Hangout social music platform offers a new way for music fans and artists to connect online. Explore its unique features and how it could reshape the social music experience.

Hangout: Social Music platform debuts with Major Labels, group listening

by Stacy Simons Santos of Celebrity Access

 Hangout by Turntable Labs, Inc., a new virtual listening community connecting users through music discovery and curation, has launched on the web, iOS and Android. Featuring songs from the world’s leading music companies, Hangout provides its community with access to over 100 million tracks, including licensed content from across the recorded music catalogs of Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for the world’s leading independent record labels, distributors and other music rights holders.

Users can sign up, select an avatar, invite friends to their personal space, known as a Hangout, and take turns playing songs from their favorite artists in the virtual DJ booth. Hangout was built to be a refreshing social media alternative where appreciating and enjoying music as a community is central to the experience. Inspired by queuing up the jukebox or putting on a favorite album with friends, Hangout’s online listening spaces allow users to unite over mutual favorites, discover new artists alongside their peers across the globe, and express their musical passions together via the virtual dancefloor and the chat function.

[ I recently spent a couple of hours on Hangout and while a bit glitchy, I enjoyed the group listening experience and interacting with others “hanging out.” But so far, adoption seems to low. On Wednesday morning only about 20 fans were on the platform. That could mean fertile ground for those wanting to be pioneers. But unless an artist or creator can bring their own audience, most will want to wait before they devote much time to Hangout. – Bruce Houghton/Hypebot ]

Execs weigh in

“With our broad global partnerships across the music companies in place, Hangout begins its journey to redefine the intersection of music and social media,” said Joseph Perla, Founder and CEO of Hangout. “Our vision has always been to create a platform that celebrates the joy of music but also helps support the music industry. Today marks a monumental step toward that goal.”

Said Mark Piibe, Executive Vice President, Global Business Development & Digital Strategy, at Sony Music, “We’re pleased to support the continued growth of opportunities for fans to experience and listen to Sony Music artists in shared social spaces that fairly value their work. We look forward to working with Hangout to enable its users to build communities around their favorite stars and discover and curate music together.”

“UMG has always strived to support the development of innovative new licensing models that drive music consumption and increase fan engagement, so we are delighted to announce our strategic alliance with Hangout. Social listening continues to become a key component of the fan experience, driving loyalty and conversation amongst engaged artist communities and Hangout will help power these fan experiences in a unique and compelling way,” said Kristen Bender, SVP, of Digital Innovation Strategy and Business Development at Universal Music Group.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Hangout to bring our diverse catalog of artists to this innovative music platform,” said Rachel Scarpati, VP, of Business Strategy and Business Development, at WMG. “This partnership underscores WMG’s commitment to pioneering new avenues for music discovery, fostering community, and providing fans with dynamic ways to engage and share their love for music.”

“Community is at the center of independent music,” said Ryan McWhinnie, VP of Business and Legal Affairs at Merlin. “This partnership with Hangout brings new opportunities for our global membership and their artists to connect with fans and broaden their communities. It represents our commitment to creating innovative revenue streams and delivering unmatched opportunities for our membership.”

Through its strong partnerships with the music industry, Hangout is committed to benefitting artists by cultivating an environment that fosters creativity, connection and collaboration.