UPDATED 22:46 EST / APRIL 19 2021

APPS

Hello, Clubhouse: Facebook to release new audio products this summer

Facebook Inc. announced today a slew of audio-only products that it says will be rolled out in the coming months.

First the company will release an audio app very similar to Clubhouse, joining a host of tech companies doing the same. Called “Live Audio Rooms,” it will first be available to Groups and later to public figures, after which it will roll out to everybody on Messenger.

In a blog post, Facebook explained that creators will be able to get paid for their content by charging people a subscription fee to join a room or join a room for one time only. Creators will first drum up interest by sharing their conversations, which should entice people to get in on the act.

The company said it’s also introducing an app called Soundbites, which will feature more on the main News Feed. It said these short clips will mainly be for “capturing anecdotes, jokes, moments of inspiration, poems, and many other things we haven’t yet imagined.”

Again, this will first be available to a small group of people and later roll out to everyone. Facebook described the app as “sound studio in your pocket,” explaining that pure audio can be edited to have certain sound effects, background music and voice effects. In a nutshell, it sounds something like TikTok but for audio only.

Lastly, Facebook said it’s getting in on the podcast game, stating that already more than 170 million people listen to podcasts through the platform. “Until now, you had to leave the Facebook app to listen to these episodes,” said Facebook. “Within the next few months, you’ll be able to listen to podcasts directly on the Facebook app — both while using the app or when the app is backgrounded.”

All this will work in tandem, or could work in tandem: The company explaining that conversations in audio rooms can be recorded and then edited and turned into podcasts. As people regularly do already with podcasts, short clips can be made and distributed to get people to listen to the entire thing. These clips can be made using Soundbites.

Photo: Randarey/Flickr

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