Photo Credit: HARMAN
HARMAN launches Drops, a new music discovery app designed to help people find their next favorite artists and songs through inspiring moments.
On Monday, HARMAN announced the launch of Drops, a new music discovery app designed to help people find their next favorite artists and songs through the moments that make listeners want to hear more. Drops is available for iOS and Android in the U.S., and aims to unite music, people, and personal perspectives to create a more human way to discover what to listen to next.
While music has never been more abundant, finding something that resonates can still feel like a challenge. Drops is built on the idea that great music discovery often starts with a recommendation from someone who already knows your taste.
On Drops, users listen to 10 to 30-second moments from songs in connection with lyrics, licensed artist images, album artwork, and a caption that adds personalization. Whether it’s a standout lyric, an unforgettable hook, an unexpected beat, or a moment that simply captures a feeling, each Drop gives people a reason to stop, listen, and discover.
Along the way, Drops is designed to create countless opportunities for users to uncover emerging artists who are on the cusp of breaking through and to find the next big thing before they become widely known. The result is a discovery experience driven not only by what a song sounds like but also by why someone thinks it is worth hearing.
“The way we discover music is evolving, but the most meaningful recommendations have always come from people we trust,” said Clare Hunter, General Manager, Drops, HARMAN. “Drops brings that human element to the forefront, giving people a new way to find music through the moments that make a song special and the perspectives of those who share their taste. We see an opportunity to make music discovery more personal, more social, and more connected to the way people listen today, and we’re excited to introduce Drops to music fans across the U.S.”
Users can explore Drops shared by friends and tastemakers on the platform, creating a constantly evolving stream of music recommendations rooted in real people and shared taste. When users unearth a song they want to revisit, they can save it to one of their collections, a personal set of music clips discovered through Drops. These collections give users a place to keep track of songs that catch their attention and build a library to explore beyond the moment they first encounter them. Drops aims to put people and their personal taste at the center of discovery.
It’s also designed to complement the streaming services people already use, making it easy to move from uncovering a song in short-form to quickly listening to it in full length through a streaming service provider. The experience is supported by a growing ecosystem of music industry leaders spanning the broader music landscape, including labels and distributors such as Universal Music Group, Beggars Group, Symphonic Distribution, EMPIRE, and UnitedMasters, as well as music publishers and PROs, and data providers like LyricFind, Xperi, and MusicBrainz.
“So much of music discovery is built to recommend what’s already popular. Drops is built to surface what’s next, and UnitedMasters is built to help artists get there,” said Andrew Migdail, VP, Distribution & Sync Operations, UnitedMasters. “We’re proud to partner with HARMAN to bring this opportunity to our community of independent artists driving culture forward.”
“Independent artists need more ways to be discovered through the music itself and the people who believe in it,” said Jorge Brea, Founder and CEO of Symphonic Distribution. “Drops puts those personal recommendations at the center, giving listeners a fresh way to connect with emerging artists and giving great music a chance to find its audience.”
Drops will connect with leading streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Qobuz, and TIDAL, helping users seamlessly continue their listening journey beyond the initial Drop. At launch, Drops will be an invite-only experience, with users in the U.S. able to join the waitlist for an invitation to experience Drops on iOS and Android.
