SoundCloud has always been where artists share music, find their first fans and build communities. Now, we’re making it easier for those relationships to translate into direct support.
Today, we’re introducing the beta of direct music purchases, allowing a select group of Artist Pro creators to sell tracks directly from their SoundCloud profiles. Fans can discover, purchase and download music without leaving SoundCloud, while artists gain another way to earn from the audiences they’ve already built. SoundCloud takes no commission on purchases, with artists receiving the proceeds from each sale, less applicable fees and taxes.
Artists and fans are already telling us about this need. More than 250,000 artists have linked over 2.4 million tracks to external music platforms, while each year SoundCloud sends more than half a million users to external parties to purchase music. In our own research, 28% of surveyed artists either already sell downloadable music or want to—14% in each group.
The need is already there. We’re bringing it directly to SoundCloud.
Turning discovery into direct support
SoundCloud is already the place where creators upload music, find fans, build communities, and engage directly with listeners. Direct music purchases add another way for artists to build on those existing relationships, while giving fans a more meaningful way to support the music and artists they care about.
That opportunity is becoming increasingly important. Our research shows that superfans can spend up to five times more on music and artists than casual listeners, underscoring the value of giving an artist’s most engaged supporters more ways to participate.
“Artists should be able to build their audience in one place, on one platform,” said Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. “SoundCloud has always been where artists find their first fans and build real communities. We’re continuing to bring more of what they need to grow their careers into that same experience, while letting fans directly support the music they love.”
More of an artist’s career in one place
Direct music purchases are also part of SoundCloud’s continued evolution beyond upload, discovery and streaming into a more complete platform for independent artists.
Artists can already earn through Fan-Powered Royalties, Fan Support, on-demand vinyl, ticketing and other tools. Adding direct music purchases brings another part of the artist’s journey onto SoundCloud.
Built with creators
We’re beginning the beta with approximately 200 US-based Artist Pro creators so we can learn directly from the artists and fans using it.
Participating creators can set the price of eligible tracks, make streamed music available for purchase, and track their sales through Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard. Fans can purchase and download music in the format provided by the artist when the track is made available for purchase, such as MP3 or WAV.
Starting with a smaller creator group gives us a direct feedback loop: what’s working, where there’s friction, and what artists want us to build next. We’ll use those learnings to refine the experience as we gradually expand access, with broader availability planned for eligible creators this fall.
This is one more step toward making SoundCloud a more seamless place to build a career as an artist and giving fans more ways to support the music they love.
*Beta Details
The beta will initially be available to approximately 200 U.S.-based Artist Pro creators with Fan Support enabled. Access will expand gradually throughout the beta before becoming available to all eligible creators later this fall. Participating creators will be able to:
- Sell music directly from their SoundCloud profile
- Keep 100% of each sale (excluding standard fees and taxes)
- Add another revenue stream alongside Fan-Powered Royalties, Fan Support, vinyl, and ticketing
