Speaking as a music creator, I like using Soundcloud (for example) to share a new mix with colleagues / clients, who can easily comment at specific times on the recording. Or to share A/B comparisons between different settings. And all of this can be on private URLs shared with only the intended parties.

I don't use it to find new music to "just" listen to, and I never have. But I would happily pay to use it for what I do get out of it. I haven't paid for it yet, because their free tier has so far covered everything I needed...