deadmau5 has taken to Twitter to share a theory on how to save Soundcloud.
SoundCloud recently laid off 40% of its staff and closed two of its international offices in London and San Francisco, with a spokesman declaring the move was taken in a bid to “reduce costs” and “ensure our path to long-term, independent success.”
Dance music superstar deadmau5 shared his thoughts on the move over the weekend, commenting that the site’s extensive user database is “a db a record label wants”, and predicting the sale SoundCloud “to the highest bidder”.
He then shared an extensive plan involving the retooling of the service as a site through which independent labels can seek out and license new artists.
In conclusion, deadmau5 states: “In summary, sure. I could turn the SoundCloud shitshow around with a decent team. But why fix someone else’s fuckup after paying for it?” before noting, “It might have been worth pointing out that sc is a Berlin based company and they manage to dodge a ton of US copyright laws…”
Check out the extensive tweet thread below.
Congrats on your new boat anchor. https://t.co/7pr3mcGu8C
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
The only real value to it is the email / Facebook and twitter account db it has amassed over the years. That's a db a record label wants. https://t.co/iemO7tPJKv
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
We still have hope, I've got my 40 bucks on Spotify waving a cheque in someone's face for their user db. https://t.co/8B1FmsIfcq
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Oh trust me. They will. That's the whole point… you think Chance would likely hold up in a bidding war against Spotify? ok. https://t.co/PsNJkGYQq2
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Discovering talent on Soundcloud to me is like taking a chick on a date and she's on instagram all day. I'd rather deal with a person.
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
And I'll tell you what's going to happen, it's going to the highest bidder or tanking indefinitely… neither option benefits indie artists.
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
First of all, I'd put money into securing the service, and stop collecting user data outside of userIDS, then I would rebrand it. https://t.co/tiX89agR3M
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
After that, I would integrate a Creative Commons liscense for independent labels to seek liscense from its users on a person to person basis
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
From there, indie artists can then continue to use the platform without being buried by "sponsored content" from whore mongering labels
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Uploaded content can still be screened by most "published music" algos to prevent users from uploading someone's published works. https://t.co/c7EYEFd2cf
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Well there's the rub. A free service is good and great, but data services and hosting isn't free… so you have to get creative there. https://t.co/3IzkqQvH7d
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
This is the single smartest thing anyone has ever said about "free services" on the internet. Ever. This is all you need to know. https://t.co/Do5jAYdryL
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
I think you could provide a SoundCloud-like environment by involving label investments, agency subscriptions…
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Has no one ever thought of charging the major labels to use the site as a bespoke / staffed music resource for new acts? Okay.
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Like fuckin charge Spotify to have liscense to the users catalogues on liscense to rebroadcast music. They can pay artists and site fees.
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
In summary, sure. I could turn the SoundCloud shitshow around with a decent team. But why fix someone else's fuckup after paying for it?
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
It might have been worth pointing out that sc is a Berlin based company and they manage to dodge a ton of US copyright laws… but ☕️?
— Goat lord (@deadmau5) July 14, 2017
Last month, deadmau5 slammed EDM duo The Chainsmokers on social media, declaring that he is “100% convinced” that the EDM duo are “shit.”
deadmau5 tweeted: “sorry, i just made the terrible mistake of listening to a chainsmokers song. at least the first 6 seconds of it. i was trying to do something.”
He then tagged The Chainsmokers’ Twitter handle in his next tweet, before declaring: “I ALSO NEED TO LEARN HOW TO UNROLL A SUIT@thechainsmokers i used to just say you were shit for fun. now im 100% convinced you’re shit.”
““You know what i did tho?” he continued. “for real. listened to the ‘top whatever songs’ just to see if i was about to be blown away. nope. just dead inside.”