This week’s news headlines may be dominated by the arrival of Apple Music, but that has not stopped SoundCloud, a popular music streaming and sharing application, from rolling out an update to its iOS app. (via 9to5Mac)

The update brings new features to help users discover new music and share their discoveries with others and includes related tracks, shuffle, direct playlist editing, and simpler sharing options.

By tapping “Play Related Tracks” in any track, the app – using an “improved algorithm” – creates a stream of similar music from a library of 100 million tracks on SoundCloud.

Illustration via SoundCloud.com

Users of the updated iOS app will also be able to shuffle their liked tracks and playlists. To shuffle liked tracks, there’s a new Shuffle button in the upper right corner of the screen and, for playlists, the three dots next to a playlist brings up a new set of options, including Shuffle.

The update also adds the ability to add or remove tracks from playlists directly inside the app, rather than doing it via SoundCloud in a browser. To access this feature, tap the same three dots next to a playlist and add or remove tracks in playlists.

The updated app also boasts new social sharing features. Users can repost songs to SoundCloud and share tracks from their list of liked tracks or directly from the search screen.

Given the timing of the update, it is perhaps not too much of a stretch to think SoundCloud has rolled out these new features in response to Apple Music.

SoundCloud has always been targeted at independent artists and new talent, but Apple Music has a big focus on that market too. Apple has signed the biggest indie labels to Apple Music and the service lets independent artists share content with followers via its Connect social sharing platform. In addition to this, users of its GarageBand app for iOS and Mac can now publish music directly to Apple Music Connect.

SoundCloud is not the only music streaming service to react to Apple’s entry into the market. Last week, Google announced it is adding a free, ad-supported tier to its Google Play Music service in an effort to attract more paid subscribers.

The updated SoundCloud iOS app is available on the App Store now.

Image credit: Kaboompics_com via Pixabay.com