Download gates are a useful tool for Soundcloud networks, independent artists, and free content makers. However, as already stated various times in the past, people often exaggerate them. Users, for downloading a song, have to pass through many steps, liking and following artists on various socials, Spotify, and, obviously Soundcloud. Sometimes, those steps are slightly exaggerated.
Today, I found the most invasive download gate of my life. This article is purely based on my personal opinion about the process. There is nothing inherently illegal about download gates but I feel that there should be a limit on what they can do with the access they’re given to user’s accounts. Keep reading to learn more.
So, let’s start our trip.
I was scrolling through my Soundcloud stream and found this interesting cover art that was in a similar style to the Strange Fruits’ label. I checked this Italian label’s channel then, called Hoop Records, and a comment impressed me. It was about the surprise at the end of the article, so… No spoilers!
Curious, I tested this download gate.
Facebook gate (Bangerang Network)
The first gate by Bangerang Network asked me to like an artist’s Facebook page but there seemed to be some technical issues.
Another Download Gate
The second gate forced me to leave a comment. After which, a strange .rar file began downloading onto my computer. It’s weird, I was expecting a .mp3, but whatever.
I open it, and that’s what’s I found.
In the file, there was a short, low-quality preview of the song and a .txt file…
Wait, WHAT?
I found this to be completely unfair. The expectation of a download gate is to receive the song for free in return for supporting the artist.
Getting a .txt. and a 3MB preview is not an appropriate “gift” for the amount of access and support given to the gate and the artist. The comment I read before was complaining about this fact: that fans should follow various steps for downloading… basically anything because those links are already in the description on Soundcloud and the preview IS UPLOADED ON SOUNDCLOUD.
Well, at least, I just had to leave a comment, right? Third party-apps should notify you if they will make an action with your profile. It’s written in Soundcloud’s rules.
When I checked my Soundcloud after deleting the useless .rar file, I found that the gate followed 38 new accounts on my behalf! Unbelievable!
Before
After
Plus, I’ve liked and reposted other two tracks without even listening to them, and not being alerted of that.
That’s the final point of my story.
I’m not pissed off because I have an insane number of repost channels and networks on my following lists to remove, and not because I’ve received that in exchange of a .txt file with a buy link. I didn’t receive any notification about it.
That’s shady behaviour, apart from being extremely annoying to fans of the label. It’s also forbidden by Soundcloud’s policy.
I’m not asking for a lot, I’m usually happy to support an artist that is working for free and gives me good music. Apart from the “free” part being absent in this story, I found the fact that I have to follow more than 30 accounts after that is extremely unsettling. This means that all the channels that asked for my “follow” will have at least a completely unaware and unengaged fanbase, and, in my case, an instant “Unfollow”.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment