SoundCloud is a popular online music platform. The site allowed users to upload, listen to, and promote music in a way that is fun and interactive. During an interview in 2009, SoundCloud co-founder Alex Ljung stated that he and fellow co-founder, Eric Wahlforss, created the site to give people a way to share and receive feedback on their work. Thanks to Wahlforss and Ljung, the concept of listening to music and providing instant feedback is no longer is now a part of many music lovers’ daily lives. While SoundCloud has been around for seven years, and currently boats boasts 40 million registered users and 200 million listeners, there are still many things about the website that people – users or otherwise- may not know. Here is a list of five things you didn’t know about SoundCloud.
5. SoundCloud is Swedish
SoundCloud was initially founded in Stockholm, Sweden;however, the company’s founders, both natives of Sweden, established the company in Berlin in August of 2007. Today the company’s headquarters is in Berlin, Germany.
4. Paid Subscriptions.
While most SoundCloud users have signed up for a free subscription, the site also offers paid subscriptions for users who want to upload more content and have access to more features. These paid memberships can cost $38 per year or $130 per year, depending on the users needs.
3. SoundCloud.com is blocked in Turkey
Earlier this year, the Turkish government blocked access to SoundCloud.com after a hacker named haramzadeler used the platform to upload seven secretly recorded telephone conversations. The leaked conversations revealed illegal activity and bribery within the Turkish government and which were linked to the country’s 2013 corruption scandal.
2. Large numbers in uploads.
Reports have indicated that, on average, 12 hours of audio is uploaded to the site every minute. These uploads come from small time musicians looking to make it big, as well as some popular artists who have already achieved great mainstream success.
1.Storywheel
In 2012, after reaching 10 million users, SoundCloud introduced a compatibile app called Storywheel which developers hope will become “the YouTube of audio.” Storywheel allows users to use Instagram to import photos and add use voice narration. The audio narration is hosted by SoundCloud and helps push the company’s idea that “sound is more than music.”
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