Music discovery today is largely a battle of algorithms. Whether you’re scrolling Spotify, TikTok or YouTube, software is constantly deciding what it thinks you should hear next. But a new platform called Corus is betting that human taste still beats machine learning.

Launched by Cymbal co-founder Gabe Jacobs, Corus is a new social platform built around music and film discovery through shared recommendations and conversation. The idea is that, instead of relying on algorithms to find your next favourite artist or movie, you discover them through people whose taste you trust. A few early adopters of Corus include artists such as Nikki Nair, Daedelus, Conducta, and DJ Noir.

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Available on mobile and desktop, Corus blends social networking with media discovery, allowing users to share favourite songs, albums, playlists and films while connecting with others who gravitate towards similar creative interests. The platform currently integrates with SoundCloud, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Deezer, making it relatively painless to share what you’re listening to across services.

The project marks a return to familiar territory for Jacobs, who previously co-founded Cymbal, a music-focused social platform that ran between 2015 and 2018. While Cymbal borrowed heavily from Reddit’s charting and upvote system, Corus takes a different approach, leaning into visual design and personal expression in a way that feels closer to Instagram or Letterboxd.

“Corus… It’s going to be about connecting and celebrating the art we love that we share in common,” says Jacobs. “It doesn’t feel like there’s a really comfy place on the internet to express yourself and connect to others over the art we love. Current social media hurts to use and is full of ads, bots, and algorithms that pigeon-hole us. I want this to be different, more human and authentic.”

The platform operates on both free and premium membership tiers. Free users can share up to five posts per day, while subscribers ($3.99 a month, or $24.99 a year) gain access to unlimited posting, profile customisation options, playlist exports and a dedicated Favorites feed. Jacobs has also committed to keeping the platform free from advertising, with subscriptions intended to support the service long term.

The company is already rolling out additional discovery and community engagement tools, including feeds that surface trending conversations and notable releases from the previous 30 days. Looking further ahead, Jacobs says Corus is also exploring ways to help artists generate more income through the platform.

For more information or to sign up, visit Corus.

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