Turntable.fm is returning to the Internet, in addition to a new Turntable.org version. The service shut down back in 2013, following issues with financing. Considering many people are still socializing virtually to stay safe as COVID-19 remains a global issue, music lovers are likely to be excited with this dual development, as it offers another way to connect with friends online.
Launched in 2011, Turntable.fm allowed users to create their own online radio stations, playing a curated list of songs to a virtual room. It also offered the ability for others to join in, represented by avatars. The idea of listening to a self-made playlist with friends certainly hasn’t become any less popular over time. In fact, just last year, Spotify created a remote listening feature for its Premium users, allowing them to listen to a playlist together when not in the same room.
Turntable.fm already appears to be back online while Turntable.org looks set to launch in April of this year. Unlike Turntable.fm, Turntable.org will require a subscription fee and will be a mobile-first product. However, the new Turntable.fm includes a chat feature where participants can talk with each other, and users are able to share DJ duties. According to The Verge, the upcoming .org version apparently has some of the original Turntable.fm team working on it, including the artist who created the original avatars that populated virtual rooms.
At the moment, the relaunched Turntable.fm requires a password to get in. To get the password, those interested will need to join the waitlist by emailing their favorite song to waitlist@turntable.fm. As for Turntable.org, the service is currently in a beta state and so it requires an invite for access. Once invited, however, it’s easy to get started. Users can simply log in with their phone number, at which point they can create a room or find a room that sounds good to them. To add a song to their playlist, they can either search for one in the Turntable database, or add the song themselves.
The room is hosted by the DJs and Turntable cycles through them as it moves through the playlist. To become a DJ in an established room, the user simply needs to hit the “Play Music” button when it pops up. They will then be added to the queue and eventually cycled around to. If a user likes the song that's currently playing, they can hit the Awesome button and their avatar will bob their head. However, there is also a Lame button for songs users don't like and if enough people hit the button, Turntable will skip to the next DJ. As part of the pre-launch stage, Turntable.org is currently looking for backers and offering a number of rewards in return, including varying discounts (depending on the donation amount) on the subscription cost.
Source: Turntable.org, The Verge
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