Matthew Drooker, Chief Technology Officer at SoundCloud and former leader at Turner and CNN Digital, shares insights on the platform's evolution from a user-generated content hub to a cloud-native powerhouse. He discusses the strategic shift toward modern programming practices like GraphQL, the integration of FinOps in engineering, and the complexities of Kubernetes. Additionally, Matthew highlights how AI is revolutionizing music creation and discovery, balancing technological advancements with the essential human touch in artistry.
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Quick takeaways
SoundCloud's strategic shift to a cloud-native infrastructure under Matthew Drooker enhances operational efficiency and scalability, addressing modern audio content demands.
AI integration at SoundCloud is transforming user experience and democratizing music creation, enabling better recommendations and supporting artists with diverse capabilities.
Deep dives
Matthew Druker's Background and Role at SoundCloud
Matthew Druker's extensive experience in technology began at Turner Broadcasting and included significant roles such as CTO at CNN Digital. After a long tenure at Turner, he transitioned to SoundCloud, looking to apply his digital expertise in the evolving audio landscape. His position involves overseeing technical advancements and steering the company toward cloud-native solutions while continuing to enhance the platform's technological capabilities. This change reflects a strategic shift to address the increasing demands of audio content sharing and interaction.
Evolution of the SoundCloud Platform
SoundCloud was founded in 2007 to provide a space for artists to share their music with fans directly, distinguishing itself with a user-generated content model. The platform has grown substantially, accumulating around 40 million creators and handling approximately 170,000 uploads daily from a global audience. As the platform evolved, it faced opportunities and challenges relating to its infrastructure and technological stack, necessitating a move towards modernization and improved performance. This focus on evolution has positioned SoundCloud as a central player in the contemporary audio sharing sphere.
Transition to a Modern Tech Stack
Under Druker's leadership, SoundCloud has prioritized becoming more cloud-native, reducing reliance on on-premises resources and embracing modern technology frameworks. This includes the adoption of languages such as Go, TypeScript, and Node, alongside implementing architectural patterns like GraphQL for more flexible data interactions. By integrating cloud services and containers such as Kubernetes, SoundCloud aims to enhance operational efficiency and scalability while managing technical debt effectively. These changes facilitate a more agile environment where engineers can innovate and adapt rapidly to changing industry demands.
The Role of AI in SoundCloud's Future
AI is increasingly integral to SoundCloud's strategy, enhancing user experience through improved music recommendations and capabilities for creators. Tools developed through AI technology allow for the categorization of music uploaded to the platform, ensuring that users receive relevant suggestions based on their preferences. The platform is also exploring innovative features that enable artists to create content without needing extensive musical skills, thus democratising music creation. As SoundCloud navigates the balance between leveraging AI and preserving the artistic essence, its goal remains to foster genuine connections between creators and fans.
SoundCloud is an online platform and music streaming service where users can upload, promote, and share their music or audio creations. It was founded in 2007 and is known for its community-driven approach, allowing artists to interact directly with their fans and receive real-time feedback on their work.
Matthew Drooker is the Chief Technology Officer at SoundCloud. He previously worked at Turner and has deep experience as a technologist and leader in the media industry. Matthew joins the show with Jordi Mon Companys to talk about his background, the evolution of the SoundCloud platform, its current tech stack, and much more.
Jordi Mon Companys is a product manager and marketer that specializes in software delivery, developer experience, cloud native and open source. He has developed his career at companies like GitLab, Weaveworks, Harness and other platform and devtool providers. His interests range from software supply chain security to open source innovation. You can reach out to him on Twitter at @jordimonpmm