What is a listening session in music?

A listening session is a group of people hearing the same music at the same moment, usually with the artist or a host in the room to introduce it. In the music industry the term started with private album previews for press and friends before a release. Today it also means an online room where everyone hears the same track in sync and reacts together.

Why artists hold listening sessions

A session turns a release into an event. The artist hears honest reactions track by track, tells the story behind each song, and the people in the room become the first fans who talk about it. It works like a release party, without the venue.

How a listening session works on SODAMNTUFF

On SODAMNTUFF a listening session is a room with one host. The host controls playback, and everyone in the room hears the same track at the same moment, with a live chat next to it.

• Invite-only: sessions are private. The host shares a join code, and only people with the code can enter.
• Shared queue: the host and everyone in the room can add tracks to the queue.
• Host controls: the host can pause, resume and skip, remove a participant, and end the session.

Music, mic and mix

• Music: only the queued tracks play.
• Mic: the host talks live to the room, for example to introduce a track or answer questions.
• Mix: music plays under the host's voice, radio-style.

How to join or host

You need a free account. To join, open Sessions and enter the code the host sent you. To host, start a session, give it a title, add tracks and share the code. The step-by-step version is in how to listen to music together online.