New “ad and algorithm-free” social network Corus challenges algorithm-driven status quo in music discovery

A new music discovery and social networking platform, Corus, has officially launched, positioning itself as an "ad and algorithm-free" alternative to mainstream social media and streaming ecosystems.

The app, which debuted in May, was created by Gabe Jacobs, co-founder of the music discovery platform Cymbal. Before shutting down in 2018, Cymbal earned a reputation among music fans as the "Instagram for music", combining social interaction with music recommendation and discovery.

Corus adopts a similarly familiar design language, featuring an "Instagram-inspired" interface built around a scrolling feed and grid-based user profiles. Unlike many contemporary platforms, however, Jacobs says the app operates without recommendation algorithms, AI-generated content or advertising.

The platform will also offer an optional subscription tier priced at $2.99 per month. Subscribers will gain access to additional profile "customisation options" while contributing to the platform's continued development.

In a statement accompanying the launch, Jacobs outlined the thinking behind the project.

“Music has always been about community. We make mixtapes. We go to shows together. We bond over shared taste,” Jacobs wrote.

“Somehow though, the internet and big-tech turned music discovery into a solo experience, where an algorithm just feeds you more of what you already like. Social media is packed with ads. AI slop is filling up every corner of the internet. We've been pushed to present versions of ourselves that don't really reflect who we are. The original promise of the internet was to bring us closer together, and I used to believe in it. Money and bad incentives got in the way. With Corus, I'd like to push back in the other direction,” he continued.

Find out more about the platform here.