SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform founded by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlfors and based in Berlin, Germany. Users of the platform can easily upload, record, promote, and share their originally-created sounds. It is arguably the world’s largest music and audio platform. SoundCloud allows its users to explore and enjoy an incredible collection of music from the most diverse creator community.
Sound Cloud App was launched in 2008 and has since established itself as a leader in the music streaming business as a result of its unique content and features. One of the most outstanding features of the platform is that it allows users to share music and connect directly with artists. It also helps unearth breakthrough tracks, raw demos, podcasts and more. Music and audio creators use SoundCloud to share and monetize their content with a global audience, as well as receive detailed stats and feedback from the SoundCloud community.
SoundCloud Monetization/Subscription Services
Between 2014 and 2016, the company announced different processes of monetizing their services. This was via a new partnership program known as “On SoundCloud”. This was designed to allow “premier” partners to monetize their content through advertising units, pre-roll audio ads, sponsorship of channels, etc. The company has since gone further to announced record deals with most renowned content partners including; independent labels, and YouTube multi-channel networks.
Then, in February 2017, they launched a new subscription tier service named SoundCloud Go. The new subscription plan will be a mid-range option allowing users to skip ads and listen to songs offline for $5 per month. The original version of SoundCloud Go will be renamed SoundCloud Go+. And it’ll give its users access to over 150 million, offline playback, no ads, no previews, and premium music tracks for $10 per month.
SoundCloud Features
The platform allows artists to upload their music up to 180 minutes of audio to their profile at no cost. The platform has the ability to embed sound files to anywhere, it distributes music using widgets and apps. Users can install the widget on their individual websites or blogs. Then, SoundCloud will automatically post tracks uploaded to social media platforms like; Twitter and Facebook, reaching a wider audience.
Other standard features on the platform include its API which has been integrated into several applications, including GarageBand, Logic Pro, etc. This allows third-party applications or Smartphones to upload sound files, or download files if the user has permission to do so.
SoundCloud Sign up
SoundCloud sign up enables you to enjoy the full services available on the platform. The SoundCloud sign up option can be done with your social media accounts like Facebook and Google. Also, the process is pretty straightforward and takes very little time to execute. So, sign up now and start enjoying the services on the music streaming platform.
Criticisms
SoundCloud has been criticized for its continuous play feature on non-mobile platforms which cannot be turned off by users. The recent update on their website and application even though it made the interface more aesthetically pleasing, the interface has become more difficult to use. SoundCloud’s anti-piracy algorithm that was put in place to combat the staggering number of illegal music downloads has often been criticized for taking down music that was not illegally submitted or downloaded. Also, their partners such as; Universal Music Group has the right to take down any files on the platform. It goes as far as allowing the company to take down accounts, both premium and free. This has brought heavy criticism from users. The argument is that the right to manage or delete accounts should be reserved to SoundCloud itself.