SoundCloud cuts jobs, closes SF and London offices

Post by panic » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:41 PM UTC

ohsnapman wrote: post #34

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

420 still seems like a rather unreasonably large number (to me) for something that is basically a file hosting service with a couple barely maintained mobile apps and a web site. Quite a few artists I follow are on Soundcloud primarily for new material. I would happily pay for Soundcloud if they'd bother to update their app for Android Auto and Android TV.

What's up with reductionist posts like this every time a company announces layoffs? Scaling out a global business takes a lot more work than it does to run a no-SLA side project. And you hire people to build out businesses that don't yet exist. When you've overreached, or targets are consistently not being met, you re-org, or, if that isn't possible, you scale back.

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:44 PM UTC

lukashed wrote: post #100

tqkxzugoaupvwqr wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe to limit the damage notified (and thus possibly upset) employees can cause.

That must've been an interesting calculation. Now they're paying dozens of employees that literally aren't able to work three months worth of salary.

Post by wellle » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:45 PM UTC

aaronlevin wrote: post #19

SoundCloud employee here. If you are hiring, please reach out to people from SoundCloud. The decisions of who to let go were not based on performance. A lot of amazing people, both attitude and technically.

Post by phreeza » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:47 PM UTC

camus2 wrote: post #91

skylark wrote: post #50

This is a perfect example of how strong software engineering from competitors can result in you getting completely left in the dust. YouTube and Spotify have great algorithms for suggesting new songs - I feel like when my current song is done, I have a really high chance of hearing another song that I've never heard, but will enjoy. This is not the case on SoundCloud, where I'm almost always jolted back to reality wh…

Neither Youtube or Spotify make any real money. Recommendation algorithms are the least of Soundcloud's worries as the platform just doesn't have any real business plan and just can't play the "growth game" anymore. There is just no real money in selling access to or hosting digital music. Soundcloud used to be a place for DJs. They died when they tried to go mainstream instead of focusing on DJs and selling them ser…

Post by revx » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:48 PM UTC

aaronlevin wrote: post #19

SoundCloud employee here. If you are hiring, please reach out to people from SoundCloud. The decisions of who to let go were not based on performance. A lot of amazing people, both attitude and technically.