Table Of Content
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somafm.com
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What is SomaFM?
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Why is SomaFM different from other radio streaming networks?
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History
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Why should you stream SomaFM?
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Amazing Community
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Original content with handpicked channels
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Well-curated Playlists
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Design
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Header
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Hero Section
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Body
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Inner pages
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Footer
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Content
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Desktop/Mobile experience
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Plans & Pricing
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Suggestions I have for SomaFM
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Conclusion
somafm.com
The rise of music streaming services has been taken into account by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This recent development shows that the music industry as a whole has transformed and transcended the traditional boundaries. Music services including radio coverage and podcasts have taken center stage in this paradigm shift. For instance, Kanye's album "The Life of Pablo" became the first album to receive platinum-based online plays rather than physical sales. These days, the success of an artist/band is judged by the number of plays they are getting on streaming platforms.
The reason I mentioned the rise of streaming platforms is that it comes with a cost. For example, when it comes to the music industry, small and independent services are absorbed by rival companies. For instance, Rdio was acquired by Pandora and AOL ran out of business. Major music networks similar to TV networks absorb the smaller ones and so there's a constant shakeout every quarter. One particular independent streaming network with steady popularity that stands out as a powerful presence in the radio streaming industry is SomaFM.
What is SomaFM?
SomaFM is an internet-only music streaming network that began in 1999 as a micro-power radio station in San Francisco. The success of the channel meant that Rusty Hodge, the founder of SomaFM, could launch a full-time internet radio station within a year. Soma in recent decades has become a perfect pleasure music drug for listeners around the world.
Why is SomaFM different from other radio streaming networks?
Most of the streaming music networks have free or paid streaming tiers. So, either you pay a subscription fee or you listen for free with ads throughout the website. If you're a free listener, you don't get access to premium features like song-skipping and must watch pre-roll ads. Thus, streaming on those music sites makes sense only if you're a casual listener.
With SomaFM, you can enjoy access to all the premium features, including skipping songs and on-demand playback. You can explore the depths of each section on the website too.
History
2002 was a dark patch for internet broadcasters when the Digital Millennium Copyright Act came into effect. The law required broadcasters to pay a per-song per listener royalty, which was hard on SomaFM as the channel allegedly had to pay over $1,000 USD per day if it were to continue its operation. But in later that year, royalties were reduced by half, and Soma still found it difficult to carry on as expenditure exceeded revenue.
In 2002, SomaFM ceased broadcasting, and Hodge had to appear before US Congress in a bid to reduce the royalty rate. Finally, things worked out as Congress passed the Small Webcaster Settlement Act (SWSA) which enabled small broadcasters to pay lower rates. Thus, after three months of hiatus, SomaFM was back on the air.
After the troublesome period, SomaFM found itself getting back on its feet and continuing to improve year after year. In 2005, it entered into a partnership with Orban. In 2007, it was active part of ?Internet Radio Day of Silence? in protest against Copyright Royalty Board's decision to raise royalty fees. In 2013, it partnered with ?Aha? by Harman International which was a breakthrough collaboration as it allowed SomaFM to make their content available via ?Aha? apps. In 2014 SomaFM partnered with Qualcomm to include ?Allplay? - AllJoyn open-source software for wireless speakers in their mobile apps.
Why should you stream SomaFM?
You can stream SomaFM for free. There are no disruptive ads or irritating pre-roll ads. You can browse the website without being bothered by mistimed clicks or intrusive ads.
Amazing Community
Since the SomaFM community runs and creates this channel, it's safe to say that it has a great and active community. You can add your email address, name, and message to the guest book by clicking on the 'Add Your Name' button. As soon as you do this, your message will be visible to other users. If you like what you're hearing and want the platform to continue thriving, you can donate custom amounts using the 'Donate' column on the right.
Original content with handpicked channels
Compared to other directories with over 30,000+ radio channels, SomaFM features only 30 channels and offers its unique content for free. It is an independent network with original channels where music is handpicked by the top DJs and music producers. With SomaFM, it's more about quality content than a quantitative approach which often leaves you confused.
Well-curated Playlists
I have seen hundreds of streaming music networks, but none had playlists as satisfying as SomaFM. These playlists are updated in real-time, featuring top artists, tracks, and newly added songs by the members of the platform. For instance, you'll find unique playlists such as "Americana Roots music for Cowhands, Cowpokes and Cowtippers?", "Blips ?n? beeps backed mostly with beats by clip hop IDM?", "Deep ambient electronic, experimental and space music?" by Deep Space One, "Music for Hacking?" by DEF CON Radio. These are just a few of the many custom playlists available on SomaFM.
Design
Although everything until now may have felt like a paid review, the reality check is inescapable. In 2020, looking at SomaFM's website feels like it hasn't been updated in over a decade. The use of dated fonts, colors, and graphics sets you twenty years behind the curve. If you're new to this radio network, you'll think it's a scam page and quickly leave.
Header
The header section on SomaFM has a large logo on the left and different texts listed in the center. These include - listen, news, support/donate, store, playlists, mobile, podcasts, features, mailing list, guest book, about and contact. Almost everything you'd want in a drop-down menu or well-arranged section is neatly arranged within a large space.
Hero Section
After a disappointing header, it's time to move on to an even more horrible hero section. It's divided into two sections. The left section, which covers ¾ of the page - has a donation CTA in green followed by supporting texts and album arts. On the right, there's a donation column along with live stats. At the time of reviewing this website, there were 10090 active people on the website. As for the donation, you can choose between $20 to $365 and can even add a custom donation amount.
Body
The 4-channel arts area at the top of SomaFM's body section is filled with channel art and details. As you scroll down, you'll find up to 10 such rows. Beneath each art is information about the artist, including their website, biography, and music videos. The right column at the bottom of SomaFM's body section features donation information and dominates the space.
Inner pages
The inner pages of the DJ app offer insights, but they're disappointing from a design standpoint. There's a channel name on the top, a short description, Listen now button, Channel information, active listeners data, and a donation callout. On the left are five options - Tune In, About Your DJ, Song History, Artists and Direct Stream Links.
Footer
The footer is similar to the entire website in that it is extremely cluttered. There is little to no valuable information in this section, so there's not much to take home from it.
Content
SomaFM is a network where the listeners run it. There is no directory nor sponsored content. The 30 channels have a mix of commercial-free, underground music broadcast to the world. Each channel has a dedicated award winning DJ who picks the music for their station.
Desktop/Mobile experience
When you click on a particular channel, a small window opens and the channel starts playing a track. The channel name, music director, time, artist, song details, and options to buy or star mark the songs will be displayed. Below these are five options - All Stations, Favorite Station, Favorite Songs, Community and Now Playing.
I checked the website on a 1920 x 1080 resolution and it seemed okay. Even the mobile version seemed responsive and didn't have any issue when I was browsing around the website and playing music.
The playback was smooth and there were no discrepancies. The quality of audio was great, and the sound selection was unique too.
Plans & Pricing
SomaFM is a free music streaming service that allows you to donate to support the channel.
Suggestions I have for SomaFM
I would love the developers to work on the graphics of the website. It looks outdated. Moreover, I would advise them to reduce the number of donation CTAs because it comes off as spam-like. Lastly, it would be great if they could add more exclusive channels on the network.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a great streaming platform where you can enjoy some exclusive tunes that you wouldn't hear on mainstream networks, SomaFM is definitely worth checking out. The graphics and website layout could use some improvement, but the audio quality is definitely something to be vouch for.
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