Turntable Labs has launched a new music social platform called Hangout.

Turntable Labs has recently launched Hangout, a social music platform reminiscent of the popular Turntable.fm from the 2010s. This new service is available both as a web client and on apps for Android and iOS, allowing users to become virtual DJs with access to over 100 million songs.

The experience in Hangout is very similar to its predecessor, featuring a stage, turntables, and cartoon avatars that evoke the style of South Park. When I created a room to explore, I discovered a surprising number of songs that I really enjoy. This extensive selection is due to the partnerships the company has established with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, as well as featuring the catalog of Merlin, which represents numerous independent labels and rights holders.

Turntable Labs describes its platform as an experience comparable to "gathering around a jukebox or listening to records with friends." In my case, this was confirmed when an unknown user entered my room and started playing their music. The platform's dynamic allows several people to take turns being DJs, with the capability for five participants at a time, playing in a round format with their favorite songs.

One of the most significant differences from Turntable.fm is Hangout's solid catalog, made possible through agreements with record labels. The original platform did not have such agreements and had to rely on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and a deal with ASCAP. This imposed certain restrictions on users, limiting the number of people in a room and how many songs could be played in an hour. Apparently, those limitations are a thing of the past.

Turntable.fm ceased operations in 2013, and despite some attempts to make a comeback in 2021, it failed to regain its popularity. Now, Hangout could offer a fun dose of nostalgia at a time when music recommendations from people are less common than those generated by algorithms.