Update: A Soundcloud PR person has got in contact to clarify the changes, “We will not be imposing a streaming limit on SoundCloud embeds on other websites – the daily rate limit just applies to API play requests.”
So there you go, embeds will not be affected by the changes to the service’s API.
Soundcloud has announced new changes to the way it handles streaming via the company’s API – from now on, tracks can only be streamed 15,000 times every 24 hours.
Basically, the move is aimed at certain apps and services that are abusing Soundcloud’s generosity, and presumably saving Soundcloud on bandwidth, which has been increasing as the service continues to grow.
“We’re dealing with an increasing number of applications that abuse creator content. To help us limit this type of behaviour, we’re introducing a daily rate limit on API play requests,” explained the service via press release.
“Beginning July 1, client applications will be limited to 15,000 play requests per 24 hour period.”
“Only a small number of developers will be affected by this change, and we’ll be contacting them via email to ensure a smooth transition.”
What this basically means is: if a blog hosts a track that achieves more than 15,000 streams in a 24 hour period then it’ll blocked any further plays until the daily reset.
At the moment, there can’t be many blogs, if any, that produce that many plays, but it does happen on the odd occasion especially when the track is incredibly popular.
It’s just another example of how the service is changing, as it begins to roll out ads across the platform. Apparently there won’t be any limits on streams that come from the site itself, only tracks that are embedded.
But it does pose a question: how is this new change going to effect Hype Machine? We’re not quite sure, but it’s likely to have some effect, which will become clearer in the coming weeks.
One thing it will do is effect artists who have incredibly popular tracks on the service. We’ll update the story once we know more about its possible impact.
Brace yourselves, limits are coming.
Read the full statement here.
