Ali, R. (2021, February 22). 'Unfiltered Access': Why Kevin Hart, Elon Musk, More Celebs Are Connecting with Fans on Clubhouse. Retrieved April, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/02/22/clubhouse-app-explainer-celebrities-how-to-get-unfiltered-access/6780989002/

 

Ali focuses on how celebrities’ appearances promote the app Clubhouse. But Ali goes one step further than other authors by analyzing how this “star power” is different than it is on other social media platforms. The distinction is authenticity: it's “unfiltered access from the celebrity to their fans and gives fans access to the celebrity.” The audio-only and synchronous nature of the app gives users a sense of intimacy. Another point of this article is that the limited number of listeners in a room creates this sense of intimacy, too. A celebrity can have two million followers on Instagram, but they may not even have 2000 listeners in a Clubhouse chat room. 

 

Chen, J. (2021, March 4). Clubhouse Success Reverberates across China's‘ Ear Economy’. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.theasset.com/article/43044/clubhouse-success-reverberates-across-china-ear-economy-

 

The article mainly discusses the reason Clubhouse was successful in China and the possibility of echoing its popularity across the world. The author compares some apps with Clubhouse and analyzes their differences. Then, the author provides some data about the users of Chinese online audio platforms to illustrate users' preferences. Finally, the author discusses how the audio platform as a product is dominant in the Chinese market during the pandemic. 

 

Jacobsen, K. (2021, January 20). Will Clubhouse Replace Podcasting? Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://medium.com/diy-podcasts/will-clubhouse-replace-podcasting-116b20a6654e

 

The author discusses the difference between Clubhouse and traditional podcasts. Firstly, she points out that the clubhouse is formatted differently than podcasts because Clubhouse only has live audio chat rooms. There is no recording for people to listen to again. Secondly, Clubhouse is exclusive because it is invite-only for iPhone users. Finally, some people still prefer talking over text or picture sharing.

 

Kelion, L., & Molloy, D. (2021, April 08). Clubhouse: Is the Audio App Really Worth $4BN? Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56676214

 

This source was used and analyzed by two group members. 

 

Summary #1: In this article, the authors discuss the app Clubhouse’s potential ability to seek funding close to $4 billion. They point out that the most powerful advantage that Clubhouse has is its 13.4 million users as of late March. They also discuss the profitability of the app. Namely, the app can insert pre-roll promotions in audio rooms. Another option, the app’s creators preferred one, is to take a share of the payment from the listeners to room hosts.

 

Summary #2: The authors analyze the financial risks of Clubhouse. First of all, Clubhouse might not be "sticky" enough for its users: "you can't share it, you can't record it, you can't quote it, and it often takes speakers ages to get to their key point." Secondly, the authors try to answer the question of how Clubhouse can become profitable. The traditional way for social networks to make money is through advertisement. But a live audio-only format makes that difficult. Lastly, the authors point out that regulating live audio is also a lot harder than using algorithms to detect aggressive text-based comments. 

 

N.A. (2021, April 12). Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces are the Goldilocks zone of conversation - they're just right. Indian Technology news. https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.georgetown.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:62DV-S6R1-DYDW-72P4-00000-00&context=1516831.

 

This piece talks about why audio-based conversation is such a sweet spot for the app. Conversations are something we do every day, and comes more naturally to us than any other method of interacting with a social media app. The randomness of conversations is extremely appealing, and since you are only using one sense, it does not require as much focus as a video chat app or text-based app. 

 

Radcliffe, D. (2021, February 26). Audio chatrooms like Clubhouse have become the hot new media by tapping into the age-old appeal of the human voice. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://theconversation.com/audio-chatrooms-like-clubhouse-have-become-the-hot-new-media-by-tapping-into-the-age-old-appeal-of-the-human-voice-155444

 

In the article, the author gives a basic introduction to Clubhouse. The author talks about the attractiveness of Clubhouse. First of all, audio is an intimate medium. Secondly, there is this sense of serendipity for early users. Lastly, audio is a great background medium. People do not have to pay close attention when using this app.

 

Roberts, N.F. (2021, February 28). Need for Human Connection Creates Unexpected, Positive Use of Clubhouse. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleroberts/2021/02/28/need-for-human-connection-creates-unexpected-positive-use-of-clubhouse/?sh=1fe3bf972341

 

In this article, the author connects mental health with Clubhouse. She argues that audio media does impact people’s mental health. She explains that Clubhouse can bring a deeper and quicker connection among users because of its live nature. 

 

Strielkowski, W. (2021, March). The Clubhouse Phenomenon: Do We Need Another Social Network?. Preprints 2021, 2021030503 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202103.0503.v1).

 

Strielkowski provides possible outcomes for Clubhouse post-pandemic. He posits that Clubhouse was able to become as popular as it is now because of a lack of avenues for social interaction due to the pandemic. He points out several unique features about Clubhouse, saying it is the “first social network app that does not require users to look at their screens.” The combination of this “purposeless” chatting on the app combined with the appeal of the possibility of a celebrity popping in to participate is the biggest draw to the app. But it is uncertain if the app can keep its momentum after the outbreak ends.
 

Swithinbank, R. (2021, April 5). Can the Gleam of High-End Watches Thrive on Audio-Only Clubhouse? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/fashion/watches-clubhouse-audio-chat-app.html?searchResultPosition=1

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The writer analyzes the future development of Clubhouse. Right now, Clubhouse is trying to build a content platform for creators to monetize their audiences. Audio is the most frictionless way to communicate. Clubhouse creates a direct connection between humans, emulating real-life conversations. But the author argues that Clubhouse will have to find a way to keep the traction and find a model for monetization. And it will have to deliver metrics to brands and content creators so that they will invest in the app.

 

Taulli, T. (2021, April 10). Clubhouse: Why Has It Taken Off? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomtaulli/2021/04/10/clubhouse-why-has-it-taken-off/?sh=22058bba6c9f

 

This article briefly introduces the new social platform Clubhouse. It mostly provides the comments from different social media influencers and other celebrities on Clubhouse - one of its most important advantages.

 

Ting, D. (2021, February 12). Why Are Celebrities and Billionaires Flocking to New Social Voice App Clubhouse? Retrieved April, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3121321/who-are-celebrities-and-billionaires-flocking-clubhouse

 

The author starts the article by enumerating celebrities who joined the bandwagon of Clubhouse. Then, he goes on to present his main argument, indicating that the appearance of high-profile figures will attract more megastars in entertainment, technology, and even politics to the audio-based app Clubhouse. The celebrity effect, in turn, will draw more users to the app.