The sounds.json file is ignored in resource packs.
Steps to reproduces:
1. Write the sounds.json file incorrectly.
2. Reload the resource pack and watch the launcher where the invalid sounds.json file which could be found in 16w32a no longer appears and any vaild sounds within sounds.json no longer work correctly. Sorry if I got this all wrong but I will include my sounds.json in the attachments (valid sounds.json)
Are you loading the resource pack as zip or as a folder?