Skip to main content

SoundCloud takes a cue from every other streaming service, adds Stations to apps

SoundCloud is on a roll when it comes to adding features. Last month the indie-focused music streaming service added top charts to give users a glimpse at what tracks were being played the most, and now it’s adding another key music discovery feature.

Added to the service’s iOS and Android apps yesterday, a new feature called Stations is very similar to Spotify’s Radio or iTunes Radio. While it didn’t have a name, this feature has been available to those using SoundCloud on the Web. Thanks to its arrival on mobile devices, music lovers on the go don’t need to worry about tracking down the next song on their own.

Recommended Videos

SoundCloud StationsReady to get started? Simply open the menu on any track and select “start track station” and you’re on your way. It seems that, in addition to the track you started the station from, Stations uses a combination of what you’ve “liked” and what other music you’ve played in the past to determine what to play next.

SoundCloud said in the blog post announcing Stations that the new feature can provide an “endless stream of awesome audio,” and considering the sheer amount of music on the site — the company says the track count tops 100 million — that could be the case. And don’t worry about losing track of stations once you find a few that are to your liking, as they can be accessed from your Collection once played for the first time.

Considering how it started, 2016 could be a big year for SoundCloud. Last month the company signed a deal with Universal Music, making Sony Music the only major company that hasn’t signed a deal with SoundCloud. While Sony is likely to be a tough nut to crack, this still leaves SoundCloud with a lot of partners, which is key to a site that depends as much on remixes, mash-ups, and other music featuring other artists’ creations as a key component.

If you’ve already got the SoundCloud app installed, the update is available to you now. If you haven’t got it installed, it can be found in the iOS App Store or on Google Play.

Kris Wouk
Former Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
How to download music from SoundCloud on desktop and mobile
Soundcloud Interface on a Macbook.

If you're a die-hard music fan, you probably keep a curated library of playlists packed with your favorite artists and albums on Spotify, Apple Music, or whatever your favorite music streaming app is. But how do you discover the best indie artists today? Some music-streaming platforms are better than others at celebrating the ‘unsung gem’ acts, but one of the most reliable forums for new, off-the-grid tunes is SoundCloud.

Founded in 2007, SoundCloud has always prioritized music that’s a bit under the radar. With over 320 million tracks in its library, the platform will even let you download a majority of its songs and albums.

Read more
The best kids headphones of 2025: for fun, safety, and sound
Two kids using the Puro Sound PuroQuiet Plus to watch something on a tablet.

Kid-friendly consumer tech is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise that there’s an entire market of headphones designed exclusively for young ones. But when we think “kid-friendly,” sometimes we imagine products that are built to be a bit more throwaway than their adult counterparts. That’s not the case with the products on our list of the best headphones for kids, though.

We want our child-tailored headphones to include parental-controlled volume limiters, to ensure our children aren’t harming their eardrums. Pretty much every entry on our list checks this vital box, but we also wanted to point you and yours toward products that offer exceptional noise-canceling, built-in mics for phone and video calls, and long-lasting batteries for schooldays or a long flight.

Read more
How to master your equalizer settings for the perfect sound
An equalizer from eqMac.

Casual listeners might boot up Spotify or turn on the radio to listen to music without giving the balance or sound stage much thought. Audiophiles on the other hand like to dig a bit deeper and customize their experience. One common way to tinker with how music sounds is adjustments to the equalizer, which offers the freedom to tweak every aspect of the sound booming out of headphones or speakers. Even some streaming services now have built-in EQs, giving you more ways than ever to play with your music and find something that best fits your ears.

Shaping the equalizer to your preferences can be daunting to newcomers, as there are tons of cryptic settings you can manipulate. And if you mess with the wrong one, your sound quality might take a nasty hit. Thankfully, learning the basics isn't too difficult.

Read more