The key facts
- Drops was launched by Harman (a Samsung subsidiary) on iOS and Android in the US, currently by invitation only
- The format is a vertical feed of 10–30 second song snippets with lyrics and album art
- Full tracks open via Apple Music, Qobuz, and TIDAL; plays are credited to streaming services and rights holders
A new way to discover music
Harman, a Samsung subsidiary, on Monday launched Drops, a music app, built on the model of TikTok's vertical feed, but instead of videos users swipe through song snippets lasting 10–30 seconds. Each clip is accompanied by song lyrics, album art, artist photos, and captions. The app is available on iOS and Android in the US, for now by invitation only — other users can join a waitlist. TechCrunch reports on this.
The social vision and the Roon connection
According to Drops general manager Claire Hunter, the idea behind the app is to bring music back into a social space: people used to learn about new songs from friends, blogs, and online communities, not from algorithmic recommendations. Harman acquired the company Roon in 2023 , a developer of a platform for managing music across multiple devices and rooms, which is also confirmed by Harman's press release about that deal.
How the app works
Drops has tabs called
Relationships with the industry and AI
The company emphasizes two points. First, Drops does not use generative AI for audio or visuals: songs appear in their original form, with official album art and licensed artist photos. Second, the app pays rights holders and shares listening data with them; among its named partners are Universal Music Group, Beggars Group, Empire, Symphonic Distribution, and UnitedMasters. Plays are also credited on streaming services, meaning Drops is positioned not as a replacement for subscriptions but as a complement to them.
