Is Turntable.fm already so... last month? Has the fickle internet already chewed this site up, spit it out, and moved onto something else?
It sounds unthinkable, given that Turntable is just a few months old. Until you look at the traffic stats, which show an incredible surge in June, followed by a subsequent slide back to Earth.
Like this unique visitor count from Compete.com.
And, an almost unbelievable match from Google search trend data.
Or, this ranking data from Alexa, which displays a remarkably similar story.
The traffic data seriously challenges the industry hype - and the hyper-growth story being told by Turntable itself. In a recent interview with VatorNews, cofounder Seth Goldstein pointed to a growing registered userbase that is already past one million, and a growing number of hardcore users. "We have a passionate core of 20,000 to 40,000 users, who use the service 10-20 hours a month," Goldstein relayed.
Then again, there are factors inhibiting growth. Like international licensing, or lack therof. Currently, Turntable.fm is flatly illegal outside of the US, given the absence of DMCA protections. "We had to shut off international access very early on, because the DMCA provisions don't support international access," Goldstein continued. "And early on, Japan, Brazil, and some of these other countries were huge consumers."
That could be solved by major label licensing, which would also theoretically open a range of new usage possibilities not covered by DMCA licensing. Those discussions are happening, but there's one glaring problem: big licenses cost big money, and investors rarely see a big return on those investments.
Comments Closed
Ben Patterson Tuesday, November 22, 2011
40,000 core users online for a free service is nothing. Especially when licensing costs, even minute ones, are in play. But we all saw this coming right? Turntable.fm would have made SO much money as an Xbox or PS3 game at $50 a pop 3 years ago, now it is in the user aggregation game and users just don't have the time to spend dj-ing on the web these days. Or days before or days in the future.
@jasonspitz Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Jason Spitz
...nails it
dvl_music Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Good call, Ben. I like your post.
Also noted: XBox has an amazing market of users...a lot of potential for music through Zune (the service, not the device), XBox and Windows Mobile outlets.
not surprised Tuesday, November 22, 2011
It quickly got old palying music with the same people with an audience of 4 people and looking at all of the shitty music rooms where you can't get a DJ slot.
Nice idea, but i have better things to do. Rdio, Netflix, Nook.
Frontman Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The smart rooms had and HAVE a 3 song rotation.
Come see the one I like... http://turntable.fm/80s_altnew_wave
Katrina Tuesday, November 22, 2011
It is a ridiculous site that makes me weep for the future of our country when it will be run by a bunch of sheep bobbing their heads, and liking music for totally meaningless points. I'm actually surprised it has lasted as long as it has.
I wonder Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Who are the investors?
mnew Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Even if they do manage to license it elsewhere it will likely be the same story, great for a month and then users will fall away pretty rapidly! It's a great toy, but that's really all it is. Once you've had your 5 minutes of fun on it it's soon forgotten about. I thought that was pretty obvious from the get go, that they managed to raise $m's of investments is laughable, some of these backers will literally throw money at anything!
@bsstoner Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Brian Stoner
I don't think so, too much early hype, it's still a killer product.
@fingertipsmusic Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Jeremy Schlosberg
Turntable.fm's rise and fade: a cautionary tale for an industry immune to cautionary tales
@YolandMoutama Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Yoland
Was Turntable.fm just a fad? It looks to be that way.
@Jeff__Benjamin Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Jeff Benjamin
I wondered this too...I don't think so though.
Company done, concepts live on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Collaborative listening
Gamification
These concepts are long overdue in music and will live on. TT was just the first company to innovate here in a real way. They are likely 'done', but the ideas should mark the beginning of a real movement in these area.
Drew Iwanicki Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Amen.
@jamesaviaz Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The innate trouble for TT is that collaborative listening requires time and effort. For most people, listening is a private personal experience that happens when they have time - not when everyone else does.
TT's biggest strength looks to be event-based listening - album releases, parties, special guests. Bringing brands into the mix at this point = $$$.
T Sun Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Too bad but I am not surprised. I stopped going to this site after a few visits and I get the same emails every day - the same guy has started DJing the same room. These "DJs" must be employees or insiders. There are better places to discover new music.
Brent Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Seth and his team area smart bunch. I believe, that in time, they will secure the licenses required to go international and build this into a real business. They're early to market and have the time and runway needed to succeed. While it's a different model, it took Pandora 10 years to turn a profit (which apparently they just did). They had many of near death experiences and were often considered "done". Yet, here they are. I believe Turntable can get there. It may not become as big of a business as Pandora but it's got real potential.
Brent McCrossen
CEO - Audiosocket
twitter.com/audiosocket
Scott Carmichael Wednesday, November 23, 2011
It was a press hype bubble. I read about it. I signed up. Tried it. Thought it was kind of fun. Won't go back...
@davidklineberg Wednesday, November 23, 2011
David Klineberg
I find myself back on Pandora.
@johndrossjr Wednesday, November 23, 2011
John D Ross Jr
Is the party over at Turntable.fm?
Looks like it!
@jamesaviaz Wednesday, November 23, 2011
James Aviaz
Turntable.fm traffic heading south for the winter
@tgone Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Anthony Polis
Not surprising - it's a cool but overhyped service.
@graubart Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Barry Graubart
It's a feature, not a platform; it will be acquired though.
Yes Thursday, November 24, 2011
Yes I agree with this. I think the tech industry often struggles with this concept. What is a feature and what is a sustainable platform? What is a creative one off event and what should be turned into a business?
I think Turntable is creative but they were doomed from the start for a few reasons all of which don't even matter because at the end of the day Wallstreet HATES music. Every music company that IPO's fails (labels, pandora etc etc) even if they are successful, Wallstreet just doesn't believe in long term sustainability of music and they're probably right about it.
Their only option is to scale fast and sell but they're far from the best service, most hyped or most used. There are far better programs with actual business models ahead of them in the game. Unfortunately they're doomed to fail, I hope they enjoy it while it lasts.
YUUP!! Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I'm on there daily, during my whole shift. If there's a queue, and a good group of users, it's great!! Not about the points, but about sharing music! I love introducing others and myself being introduced to new music!!
@mySpoonful Wednesday, November 23, 2011
mySpoonful
Is this game over for Last.fm? We hope not...it's a lot of fun!
Me Monday, November 28, 2011
I think the introduction of Spotify in the U.S. put a huge dent in Turntable's numbers.
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