Gabe Jacobs has launched Corus, a new social platform for music and film discovery that relies on human recommendations rather than machine learning algorithms.
The app runs on mobile and desktop. It connects users through shared tastes, letting them post songs, albums, playlists, and movies. Early users include artists Nikki Nair, Daedelus, Conducta, and DJ Noir.
Corus integrates with SoundCloud, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer. This setup lets people share what they are listening to across different services without friction.
Why the shift?
Jacobs previously co-founded Cymbal, a music social network active from 2015 to 2018. That earlier project used a Reddit-style upvote system for charts. Corus moves away from that model.
Instead, the design focuses on visual expression and personal style, aiming for a feel closer to Instagram or Letterboxd.
“Corus… It’s going to be about connecting and celebrating the art we love that we share in common,” Jacobs says. “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 service uses a free and premium tier. Free accounts allow up to five posts per day. Subscribers pay $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year. Premium features include unlimited posting, profile customisation, playlist exports, and a dedicated Favorites feed.
Jacobs has stated the platform will remain ad-free. Subscriptions are intended to fund the service long term.
Additional tools are rolling out soon. These include feeds for trending conversations and notable releases from the last 30 days. The company is also looking at ways to help artists earn more income through the site.
What it means
The change moves control from software to people. Users decide what surfaces next based on who they trust. This removes the constant stream of ads and automated suggestions that dominate current social networks.
For creators, the goal is a space where connection happens without bots or pigeon-holing. The platform aims to be a genuine alternative to the algorithmic feeds found on major streaming services.
Users can sign up at corus.fm.
