Hangout@Work: A New Chapter in Music-Driven Team Culture
By Joseph Perla, CEO & Founder of Hangout
I’m Joseph Perla — the founder behind Turntable in 2011 — and I’m thrilled to introduce you to Hangout@Work, a platform born from my passion for music and its undeniable power to bring people together. Having witnessed firsthand how Turntable inspired social interactions online, I knew it was time to reimagine that experience for the modern workplace.
From Turntable to Hangout@Work
Turntable was more than just a fun website — it was a community where music sparked spontaneous conversations, laughter, and genuine connections. As work environments evolved into remote and hybrid models, I realized that the magic of shared musical moments was missing in our daily professional lives. That’s why I created Hangout@Work: to offer a dedicated, social space where your team can experience the joy of music together, regardless of where they work.
What Makes Hangout@Work Special
• A Fully Licensed Music Library: Enjoy access to over 100 million tracks — any genre, any era — ensuring that every musical taste is celebrated and every moment is legally sound.
• Effortless Integration: Designed for teams of all sizes, Hangout@Work is as simple to set up for a small startup as it is for a large enterprise.
• A Non-Work, Social Space: Unlike your typical business tools, Hangout@Work creates a relaxed environment. It’s not about work talk; it’s about letting your team connect over the universal language of music.
My Journey in Creating Hangout@Work
During the growth of Turntable, I saw a gap in how digital workspaces were fostering — or, more accurately, not fostering — genuine human connection. I wanted to create something that could dissolve the barriers of distance and isolation. With Hangout@Work, my goal was clear: reintroduce the personal, memorable moments that make work feel a little more human.
From our initial beta tests to the early adoption by several startups and enterprises, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Teams are using Hangout@Work to kick off their mornings, take creative breaks, and even wrap up the day with a shared musical moment that leaves everyone energized and connected.
How You Can Bring Hangout@Work to Your Team
Ready to transform your team’s culture? Getting started with Hangout@Work is easy:
1. Visit Our Website: Head over to Hangout’s official site and click on “Get Started.”
2. Create Your Hangout: Set up your team’s space with just a few clicks. Our intuitive interface makes it a breeze.
3. Invite Your Team: Whether your team is in-office (with everyone on headphones), remote, or hybrid, share your unique room link via email or Microsoft Teams or Slack or your favorite chat tool. It’s actually most fun in-office!
4. Start Your First Session: Kick off with a themed playlist or ask each team member to share a song that inspires them. Watch the magic unfold as conversations flow and connections deepen.
5. Make It a Routine: Integrate Hangout@Work into your regular schedule — be it a weekly session or spontaneous drop-ins 24/7 — to continually boost team spirit. Feel free to set up and share a calendar event, for a weekly session. Or if the hangout is continuous and people drop in and out freely casually, that’s fun too. Fridays often have fewer meetings so that can also be an all-day hang.
Why Now, More Than Ever
In today’s fast-paced, digitally dominated world, the need for genuine human connection is critical. Hangout@Work isn’t just another productivity tool — it’s a way to bring your team together, boost morale, and create an environment where every member feels valued and inspired.
If you’re ready to experience the power of music to transform workplace culture, join us today. Let’s make work a place where creativity, laughter, and collaboration thrive — one song at a time.
Welcome to Hangout@Work. Let’s build a better team together.
Joseph Perla
CEO & Founder, Hangout
Founder of Turntable
