Tuned Global expands Social Radio with real-time tipping
Tuned Global has unveiled a major upgrade to its Social Radio platform with the introduction of real-time tipping, enabling fans to financially support artists, DJs, and creators during live streams. This new monetisation feature adds to Social Radio's interactive capabilities, allowing DSPs (digital streaming platforms) to integrate dynamic fan experiences while saving extensive development time and costs. Drawing inspiration from platforms like Twitch and TikTok, Tuned Global's latest innovation responds to growing industry demand for more immersive and participatory music streaming.
The Social Radio platform transforms traditional audio streams into live, fan-driven broadcasts. Listeners can join virtual rooms where hosts curate music, interact with fans, and now receive direct tips. With tipping rolling out in Q3 2025, fans will be able to reward their favourite streamers in real time, further strengthening the artist-fan connection. The SDK also supports features like live voice overlays, AI-assisted transitions via AutomixIQ, and instant audience interaction.
This update arrives at a time when DSPs are under increasing pressure to deliver social-first experiences that move beyond static listening. As Spotify's CEO recently highlighted, fostering meaningful artist-fan connections is becoming essential for platforms looking to stay competitive. Tuned Global's Social Radio offers a turnkey solution to meet this demand, blending monetisation, emotional engagement, and nuanced fan data into one powerful tool.
Con Raso, Tuned Global's Managing Director, explained: 'Social Radio turns static streams into the interactive experiences listeners now expect. Fans don't just want to listen; they want to participate, support, and belong. Social Radio turns a traditional streaming experience into something social, expressive, and monetisable. The platforms that move first will define the standard for what streaming looks like in the fan-driven era.'
At the core of Social Radio's evolution is Tuned Global's 2023 acquisition of AI music tech company Pacemaker. Its patented technologies, including the Recipe format and advanced backend infrastructure, now power the interactive features of Social Radio.
Jonas Norberg, Tuned Global's Head of AI and founder of Pacemaker, added: 'Pacemaker's patented Recipe format, proprietary backend, and advanced AI-driven mobile creation tool—with over 20 man-years of dedicated development—offer a market-proven solution that will save DSPs years of development time, significantly accelerating their entry into interactive audio experiences.'
Social Radio's unique data capabilities also offer streaming platforms a fresh way to understand user behaviour. Beyond measuring what was played, the platform captures emotional reactions, social sharing, and real-time engagement—insights that can enhance recommendation engines and help platforms foster deeper loyalty.
With strong global interest already emerging, particularly from regions where fan culture is deeply ingrained like Asia, Tuned Global is positioning Social Radio as the essential social layer for DSPs aiming to turn casual listeners into committed superfans. Upcoming updates include show replays, creator tools, and user follow options, further expanding the toolkit for platforms ready to embrace the next generation of music streaming.
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