Artists Can Now Sell Their Music Directly on SoundCloud

SoundCloud has opened up a new revenue stream for artists on the platform: direct purchases. As of now, the feature is in beta, and SoundCloud is taking zero commission on purchases.

How it works:

• 200 Artist Pro creators can currently use the feature.

• All eligible creators will have access this fall.

• Artists can set their own prices and choose the download format.

• Sales information will be available in Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard.

The numbers:

• According to a press release, over 250,000 artists on SoundCloud have put up 2.4 million tracks for sale on other platforms.

• SoundCloud sends over 500,000 users to external stores to make purchases every year.

• 28% of artists surveyed currently sell downloadable music or want to start doing so.

• Superfans spend up to five times as much money on music as casual listeners.

What they said:

• Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud: “Artists should be able to build their audience in one place, on one platform. 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.”