Discord’s Rythm music bot has made a comeback with a new mission to revolutionize shared listening experiences. Three years ago, YouTube cracked down on Discord music bots like Groovy and Rythm, prompting the latter to shut down. This left a void in the shared music listening space, which Rythm is now aiming to fill.
The revamped Rythm now functions as an activity app on Discord, enabling friends to listen to music together. Creator Yoav Zimet highlights the new full UI, allowing users to create collaborative queues, control music, view album art, and even enjoy a music visualizer. Originally developed by Zimet at the age of 14 to facilitate music sharing during Discord calls, Rythm gained immense popularity before being taken offline by Google in 2021.
Zimet, along with co-founder Oliy Barrett, is looking to revive the Rythm community and transform it into a social network for shared music experiences. The project has garnered support from various investors and music management firms. Rythm offers both free and premium options, with the latter allowing subscribers to create playlists for up to 20 people to enjoy. Revenue generated from premium subscriptions is shared with labels and publishers.
The platform provides access to over 50 million songs, with plans to expand the library further. While ads may be introduced in the future, free users currently enjoy an ad-free experience. Rythm is set to launch a mobile app later this year, in addition to dedicated apps for iOS, Android, and desktop platforms.
Unlike traditional music streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music, Rythm aims to cater to those seeking a more social listening experience. By enabling groups of users to listen to music together, Rythm hopes to carve out a unique niche in the music industry. The vision is to have users come together to listen to new releases or curated playlists, fostering a sense of community around music.
Overall, Rythm’s relaunch marks a new chapter in shared music listening, offering a fresh and interactive approach for music enthusiasts. With its innovative features and commitment to social listening, Rythm is poised to make a significant impact in the music streaming landscape.