SoundCloud lets artists sell music directly on profiles in new beta
SoundCloud is testing a feature that lets artists sell music directly from their profiles, with no commission taken by the platform.
The beta is initially available to 200 US-based Artist Pro subscribers, with plans to expand to more creators this fall. Artists can choose which digital formats to offer and track sales through SoundCloud's Artist Studio and Fan Support dashboards. SoundCloud said it will not take a cut of sales, though artists will still be responsible for payment processing fees and local taxes.
The feature gives emerging artists another way to earn directly from their work. By comparison, Bandcamp takes a 10 to 15 percent cut of sales, and artists on Beatport receive roughly 50 to 65 percent of their sale price. SoundCloud already offers artists revenue from ticket sales and on-demand vinyl pressings.
SoundCloud said the limited rollout is intentional. "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," the company said.
The move is part of SoundCloud's broader effort to become more than a streaming and discovery service, allowing creators to "get heard, connect with fans, and earn—all in one place." It follows SoundCloud's launch of an All-in-One artist subscription last November, which gives creators 100 percent of their distribution royalties.
The announcement comes as independent music sales platforms face uncertainty. In June, Bandcamp laid off most of its engineering team, renewing fears about the platform's future after its owner previously cut half of the company's staff in 2023.