Sometime around mid August 2022, Smule did another one of their "Maintenance & Update" to the Smule app. I remember this particular update because it was how things go berserk!
I wrote to Smule Support asking them why "every song featured in their HOT tab are expired invites" and here was what they had to say:
"Our system automatically chooses which recordings to be featured on the trending lists. This is based on different factors such as likes, shares, views, comments, stickers, etc.
Every week new users can be featured and while we would love to help you out, we cannot interfere with these playlists and the algorithm."
If you ask me whether their system works? Hell yea, would be my answer. IF they are targeting to lose renewing subscribers, that is!
I will explain why. You see, ever since Smule introduced the ’HOT’ tab(which they also referred to as’trending lists’), in their VIEW INVITES screen, they have unknowingly compromised many singers who opened up new invites which would go under the RECENT tab, from getting joins and more especially, getting noticed. All this, is because when users click on VIEW INVITES the defaulted screen they see next, is the HOT tab screen. So, when you are just looking for someone to sing with, but not sure who, and you are looking at all these OCs(open calls) in the HOT tab, you definitely will not bother to look any further but pick one right out of that HOT tab instead, right? Well, I know I would, because I would think they are there for a reason? HOT!
Unfortunately, when you are dealing with coders, robots and machines that gives you algorithm, HOT just means plenty of "likes, shares, views, comments, stickers, etc."! Now, this HOT tab’s existence was still somehow acceptable BEFORE, the mid August 2022 update because the OCs featured there, at least used to be active OCs, meaning OCs that were actually current, until their 7 days expiration date. Then some newer, but current OCs(containing of course, the more than usual, likes, shares, views, comments, stickers, etc.), would automatically replace these expired HOT OCs in the HOT tab. Yes, I’m fully aware OCs don’t really expire anymore these days, but they just magically disappear from your INVITES tab after 7 days. Excuse me for the lack of a better word.
Now here comes the ’things go berserk" part. After their mid August 2022 update, they’ve coded their app to bring out the REALLY "HOT" OCs and this simply means OCs containing many, many, more "plays, likes, shares, views, comments, stickers, etc." to you and me. It also means IRREGARDLESS OF DATE the OCs were recorded. So, you are seeing and joining some OCs that dates all the way back to the year 2020 in that HOT tab! I am not exaggerating here. As an example, go and look for the song BABY SHARK DANCE, uploaded by @_V_HOPE_LUV, click on SING button and click on VIEW INVITES button. Spoiler alert! You can forget about opening invite on this particular song upload, because chances are, you’ll never beat @urfavweeb with his 2, 124 plays(still growing) and 107 likes(still growing) for his OC recorded in the year 2020, from this particular song upload. It would take madness(I’m exaggerating, of course) and additional clicks for users who are too free with their time and is somehow Uninterested in @urfavweeb’s OC, to look for your OC, under the many other buried OCs in the RECENT tab. You catch my drift?
So, the point I’m trying to make is, no matter how good your singing is and no matter how many OCs you start, you’re not gonna be able to generate that many "plays, likes, shares, views, comments, stickers, etc." in the short span of time, to make all your OCs appear in the HOT tab but the folks who are already under the HOT tab will continue to be there, because guess what? They are the ones getting the joins continuously from the moment the update took place. You are nothing if you are not in the HOT tab too! Unless, of course by some sheer chance or algorithm hiccup, the system "picks" on your recording and it gets featured in Smule’s EXPLORE page, where most attention is given.
I’m pretty sure, I’m not the only one with low to zero joiners on my own OCs after the mid August 2022 maintenance and update(sad face). Here’s also where I want to emphasize the point on Smule targeting(cluelessly, of course) to lose renewing subscribers in the long run. If you are singing actively and beautifully always, but don’t get the fair amount of joiners, followers, likes, etc. would you still continue to pay and sing on this app? I’m thinking, why bother paying for subscription if I could sing any song I feel like at any time, by joining OCs, am I right? About a handful of my Smule friends are already doing just that and I’m seeing a pattern of many VIPs dropping their subscription but still actively singing. After all, there’s always gonna be HOT singers in the HOT tab! Oh! Don’t forget, you can now sing with many, many artists and celebrities too! Just don’t expect to be friends with them and get any likes nor comments from them! Way to literally KILL your app, Smule! Add more artists and celebs to your app, please!
Attached are some screenshots(I hope they get uploaded fine) to show you the folks that would forever be under the HOT tab and growing their popularity, unless. Smule finds or comes up with better super codes or coders!
Anyway.relax. IT IS JUST Smule! Hahaha!