SoundCloud is a Germany-based streaming platform founded in 2007 that also offers digital music distribution through its Artist Pro subscription. In November 2025, SoundCloud eliminated its 20% distribution revenue share, meaning Artist Pro subscribers ($99/year) now keep 100% of royalties from Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and 60+ other DSPs. SoundCloud bundles distribution with its streaming platform, giving artists unlimited uploads on SoundCloud, Fan-Powered Royalties, on-demand vinyl pressing, merch storefronts, and AI mastering credits. The platform is best for SoundCloud-native creators in lo-fi, hip-hop, electronic, and beats who want one platform handling streams, distribution, and fan monetization.
Pricing and Plans
SoundCloud offers multiple tiers following the October 2025 rebrand:
- Free (SoundCloud Next): Basic upload and streaming. No distribution to external platforms.
- Artist ($3.25/month or $39/year): Unlimited uploads (3-hour content limit), distribute 2 tracks per month to SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, and 60+ other platforms, 100% royalties, 1 professional mastering credit per month, up to 100 fans reached algorithmically, replace tracks 3 times per month.
- Artist Pro ($8.25/month billed annually, $99/year): Unlimited uploads, unlimited distribution to 60+ platforms, 100% royalties, Fan Support donations, on-demand vinyl pressing, merch storefronts with zero fees (keep 100% of profits), advanced analytics, unlimited track replacement.
The Artist plan at $39/year is cheaper than DistroKid ($24.99/year) but limits distribution to 2 tracks per month. Artist Pro at $99/year is more expensive than DistroKid but includes the full SoundCloud platform with Fan-Powered Royalties, vinyl, and merch.
The November 2025 Royalty Update
SoundCloud made a significant change in November 2025:
- Distribution revenue share moved from 80% to 100%. Every dollar earned on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, and the rest of the 60+ DSP network goes back to the artist.
- Tier renaming. Basic became SoundCloud Next, Repost became SoundCloud Next Plus, and Pro Unlimited became SoundCloud Artist Pro.
- Distribution bundled into subscriptions. Distribution is now included in Next Plus and Artist Pro, not a separate add-on.
According to campaign data from 2,400+ campaigns, artists who already have a working SoundCloud audience see 38% higher ROI when they consolidate distribution under Artist Pro versus running a separate distributor. The catch: if your fans live on Spotify and you have zero SoundCloud presence, the math flips.
What Sets SoundCloud Apart
- All-in-one platform: SoundCloud combines streaming, distribution, monetization, vinyl pressing, and merch in one subscription. No other distributor offers this combination.
- Fan-Powered Royalties: SoundCloud's unique royalty system pays artists based on actual listening behavior of their fans, not a pro-rata pool. This benefits niche and independent artists with dedicated fanbases.
- Fan Support donations: Fans can directly support artists with donations. Every cent goes to the artist. SoundCloud takes no cut. Top supporters appear on the artist's profile.
- On-demand vinyl pressing: Release your music on vinyl directly through SoundCloud with no upfront costs or bulk orders. This is a unique feature no other distributor offers.
- Merch storefronts: Over 200 artists are making and selling merch on SoundCloud with zero lift and zero fees. Artists keep 100% of merch profits.
- AI mastering credits: Artist plan includes 1 mastering credit per month. Artist Pro includes unlimited mastering.
- Track replacement: Swap out tracks without losing plays, likes, or comments. Artist plan allows 3 replacements per month. Artist Pro allows unlimited replacements.
- 100% royalties on all platforms: As of November 2025, SoundCloud takes 0% from distribution royalties on any platform.
- Algorithmic promotion: SoundCloud's algorithm helps get your music in front of the right listeners, up to 100 or 1,000 fans most likely to enjoy your sound. Best performing tracks get amplified on fan-powered playlists like Buzzing.
- 50 million monthly users: SoundCloud has 50 million monthly users, providing a substantial built-in audience for discovery.
SoundCloud vs. Competitors: Feature Comparison
| Feature | SoundCloud Artist Pro | DistroKid | TuneCore | CD Baby | Venice Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat subscription ($99/year) | Flat subscription ($24.99/year) | Per-release ($29.99 first 3, $49.99/year after) | Per-release ($9.99 single, $29 album) + 9% cut | Flat subscription ($60-$500/year) |
| Royalty retention | 100% (as of Nov 2025) | 100% | 100% | 91% (9% cut) | 100% |
| Store count | 60+ | 150+ | 150+ | 150+ | All major DSPs (200+ countries) |
| Delivery speed | Not prominently stated | 2-5 days | 2-5 days | Not prominently stated | Not prominently stated |
| Publishing admin | Not included | Add-on ($19.99/year) | Not included | Yes ($30 setup + 15% cut) | Not included |
| YouTube Content ID | Not prominently featured | Add-on ($4.49/year per track) | Not included | Add-on | Included at no extra cost |
| Sync licensing | No built-in sync service | Not included | Not included | Not included | Yes (Professional plan and above) |
| Royalty splits | Not prominently featured for distribution | Yes (free) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Split Pay, free) |
| Release protection | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| AI music policy | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| Music video distribution | Not included | Add-on ($4.49/year per video) | Add-on | Not included | Included at no extra cost |
| Built-in streaming platform | Yes (50M monthly users) | No | No | No | No |
| Fan-Powered Royalties | Yes (unique to SoundCloud) | No | No | No | No |
| Vinyl pressing | Yes (on-demand, no upfront cost) | No | No | No | No |
| Merch storefronts | Yes (zero fees, 100% profit) | No | No | No | No |
| Hidden costs | Payout processing fee (as low as $0.50) | Content ID, video, Shazam, cover songs all cost extra | Per-release fees add up for prolific artists | 9% royalty cut on all revenue | Stripe transaction fees |
| Free tier | Yes (limited) | No | No | No | No |
Submission and Upload Process
- Create a SoundCloud account.
- Choose a plan: Free, Artist ($39/year), or Artist Pro ($99/year).
- Upload tracks to SoundCloud. Artist plan has a 3-hour content limit. Artist Pro is unlimited.
- For distribution: Select tracks to distribute to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, and 60+ other platforms. Artist plan allows 2 tracks per month. Artist Pro is unlimited.
- Set up Fan Support, merch, and vinyl if desired.
- Track performance with analytics.
- Receive payments via your selected payout method. Balance updates at end of each month. Payments auto-deposit once earnings meet or exceed $25 USD. SoundCloud is net 60, so payments are 2 months delayed.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- $99/year for Artist Pro is expensive for distribution alone. DistroKid costs $24.99/year, Too Lost costs $19.99/year, and Magroove DIY costs $9.99/year. If you only want distribution, SoundCloud is not the cheapest option. The value comes from the bundled SoundCloud platform features.
- Artist plan limits distribution to 2 tracks per month. At $39/year, you can only distribute 24 tracks per year. If you release more frequently, you need Artist Pro at $99/year.
- Best for SoundCloud-native artists. If your fans live on Spotify and you have zero SoundCloud presence, Artist Pro is not worth it. The 38% higher ROI only applies to artists who already have a working SoundCloud audience.
- No publishing administration. SoundCloud does not provide publishing admin. You need separate PRO and MLC registration.
- No sync licensing. No built-in sync placement service.
- No YouTube Content ID. Not prominently featured as a standalone service.
- No royalty splits for distribution. Not prominently featured for external distribution. If you need automated collaborator splitting, use DistroKid, Too Lost, or Stem.
- Net 60 payment delay. Payments are 2 months delayed because it takes music platforms 30 to 45 days to pay SoundCloud, plus processing time.
- $25 payout threshold. You must earn at least $25 USD before payments auto-deposit.
- Small payout processing fee. The payout processor applies a small processing fee to each payout, as low as $0.50 USD.
- 60+ stores is fewer than competitors. SoundCloud distributes to 60+ platforms, which is fewer than DistroKid (150+), Too Lost (450+), or DistroVibe (450+).
Who SoundCloud Is Best For
SoundCloud is best for SoundCloud-native artists in lo-fi, hip-hop, electronic, and beats who want one platform handling streaming, distribution, fan monetization, vinyl, and merch. If you already have a working SoundCloud audience, consolidating distribution under Artist Pro gives you 38% higher ROI versus running a separate distributor. The Fan-Powered Royalties system benefits niche artists with dedicated fanbases more than pro-rata systems on Spotify.
SoundCloud is less ideal for artists whose fans live primarily on Spotify (DistroKid, Too Lost, or DistroVibe are cheaper for pure distribution), artists who need publishing admin or sync licensing (use TuneCore, Songtradr, or Ditto), or artists who want the cheapest possible distribution (Magroove DIY at $9.99/year or SoundOn for free). If you want maximum store coverage, choose a distributor with 150+ to 450+ stores.
This video explains SoundCloud's November 2025 update that eliminated the 20% distribution revenue share. Artist and Artist Pro subscribers now keep 100% of royalties from Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and 60+ other platforms. The video also covers the new Fan Support feature, which lets fans donate directly to artists with SoundCloud taking no cut.
Related Resources
- Music Distribution Services Compared - Broader distributor comparison
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project your earnings
- SoundCloud Official Website - Current pricing and sign-up
Similar Distributors
- Venice Music - Community-driven distribution with sync licensing
- DistroKid - Cheapest unlimited distribution option
- TuneCore - Per-release pricing with detailed analytics
- CD Baby - Per-release with publishing admin
- Music Distributors Directory - Browse all distributors
