SoundCloud
Audio streaming platform for listeners, creators and advertisers.
Available information varies by company and source.
Profile record updated:
Company facts
- Official name
- SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG
- Entity type
- COMPANY
- Founded
- 2007
- Headquarters
- Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Company size
- 501–1,000
- Market role
- Publisher & Media Owner
- Official website
- soundcloud.com
What SoundCloud does
SoundCloud operates a multi-sided platform. It attracts listeners with free and premium audio streaming, attracts creators with hosting, distribution, analytics and monetisation tools, and monetises audience attention through advertising sold against its streaming inventory. The company creates value by combining discovery, community interaction, creator services and first-party audience reach in one ecosystem, then charging different payer groups based on usage and outcomes.
Category differentiation
SoundCloud is an audio streaming and creator platform, not a pure music label, DSP, or enterprise martech vendor. It differs from subscription-only streaming services by combining user-uploaded audio, creator tooling and ad-supported listening.
Strategic context
AI-supported assessment from the existing company research; distinguish interpretation from sourced facts.
SoundCloud is a consumer audio streaming and social platform founded in 2007 that lets users upload, discover, stream and share music, podcasts and other audio content. Its platform combines user-generated audio, independent music and licensed catalogue access, and it serves listeners across web, mobile and connected devices. In parallel, it provides creator tools for upload, analytics, distribution and monetisation, plus an advertising business selling audio and branded placements to marketers. The company generates revenue through a hybrid model: ad-supported listening on its free tier, paid consumer subscriptions via SoundCloud Go and Go+, and paid creator subscriptions through Artist Pro. It also monetises media inventory sold to advertisers and extends platform utility through developer APIs and integrations. Its customers therefore span consumers, independent artists and creators, advertisers, and developers integrating SoundCloud functionality.
Company news briefing
Briefing updated:
Following its acquisition of the decentralised music platform Nina Protocol, SoundCloud has further expanded its independent creator ecosystem by introducing direct music purchases with zero commission. This new feature allows artists to sell music directly to fans, building on the integration of Nina Protocol's tools and editorial archive. These initiatives reinforce SoundCloud's strategic focus on enhancing direct-to-fan monetisation models and supporting independent artists within its global platform.
Business model & monetisation
SoundCloud uses a hybrid monetisation model. Consumer revenue comes from recurring subscriptions for SoundCloud Go and Go+, which remove ads and add offline listening and broader catalogue access. Advertising revenue comes from selling audio, display and native-style inventory such as promoted tracks and branded profiles to brands and music marketers. Creator revenue comes from subscription pricing for Artist Pro, which bundles unlimited uploads, analytics, monetisation and external distribution. Additional monetisation likely includes distribution-related economics and revenue sharing tied to monetised creator content.
- Consumer premium subscriptions
- Content Subscription
- Advertising inventory sales
- Ad-Supported
- Creator subscriptions
- Software Subscription
- Developer and integration access
- Pay-per-Use
Products & capabilities
No products with linked sources are available in this view.
Products & market categories
Competitors & alternatives
- Deezer
Music streaming platform with subscriptions, advertising and partner monetisation.
- Spotify
Audio streaming platform with subscriptions, ads and creator tools.
- Audacy
US audio broadcaster, streaming platform, podcast network and ad seller.
- Stingray
Digital music, video and retail audio media company.
Side-by-side comparisons
Recent recorded signals
Dates refer to the source publication. Older entries are historical context, not evidence of a new event.
SoundCloud Introduces Direct Music Purchases with Zero Commission
Recorded impact score: 4.5/5
SoundCloud announces direct music purchases with zero commission, a new feature for artists and fans.
SoundCloud Acquires Nina Protocol
M&A · Recorded impact score: 3/5
SoundCloud announced on July 22, 2026 that it has acquired Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform that allowed independent artists to sell music directly to fans while retaining 100% of revenue. Financial terms were not disclosed and it is unclear if any Nina staff will join SoundCloud. As part of the deal, SoundCloud will take ownership of Nina’s editorial archive and genre map, offer a migration tool for artists to move their work to SoundCloud, and provide a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription through the end of the year. Nina had announced a shutdown on May 28 after failing to find a sustainable business model. Nina was founded in 2021 and built on the Solana blockchain with Arweave used for permanent storage.
- SoundCloud announced it has acquired Nina Protocol.
- Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Careers & open positions
Open positions indexed from verified career portals and applicant tracking systems.
| Position | Department | Location | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director - Internal Communications(Director) | Communications/PR | New York | |
| Senior Full-Stack Engineer - Artist Success(Senior) | Engineering & Infrastructure | New York | |
| Senior Principal Machine Learning Engineer - Recommendations(Lead) | Engineering & Infrastructure | New York | |
| Senior Machine Learning Engineer - Recommendations (Experience)(Senior) | Engineering & Infrastructure | Berlin, London | |
| Senior Product Designer - Creator Analytics & Tools(Senior) | Design | New York |
Explore company relationships
Questions about SoundCloud
What is SoundCloud?
SoundCloud is an audio streaming and social platform where users can upload, discover, stream and share music, podcasts and other audio content.
Who uses SoundCloud?
Listeners use it for free or premium streaming, independent artists use it for upload and monetisation tools, advertisers buy media inventory, and developers integrate its audio functionality.
How does SoundCloud make money?
It earns revenue from premium subscriptions, advertising sold against its free listening inventory, and paid creator plans such as Artist Pro.
Sources & coverage
This profile uses public, official and technically observable information. Missing information does not prove that a product or relationship does not exist. The list below does not imply that every profile statement has been verified.
21 publicly documented primary sources and citations linked across the market graph.
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