Soundstripe is a Nashville-based music licensing platform founded in 2016 that provides a catalog of over 116,000 tracks by Grammy-winning artists to creators, agencies, and brands. The platform offers both subscription and single-song licensing, with $1 million indemnification on enterprise plans and perpetual rights on content published during an active subscription. Soundstripe has paid over $13 million in royalties to artists.
How Soundstripe Works
Soundstripe operates two licensing models: unlimited subscriptions and single-song licenses.
Subscription Plans
-
Personal ($19.99/month or $119/year): For personal social media content, school projects, and hobbyist videos. Includes unlimited access to Soundstripe Original music and sound effects. Covers one YouTube channel for monetization and copyright clearance. Does not include third-party collections like Warner Chappell Production Music.
-
Pro ($39.99/month or $239/year): For commercial content created by freelancers and professionals. Includes everything in Personal plus monetization for up to 5 YouTube channels, Content ID tools for client videos, project-based workflow tools, track stems for every song, and Premiere Pro integrations.
-
Pro Plus ($69.99/month or $399/year): For creators who need both music and stock video. Includes everything in Pro plus access to 100,000+ stock video clips in HD through 8K resolution.
-
Business ($999/year): For companies and agencies creating brand-owned or client-owned content within a single geographic market. Includes warranties, indemnification, and distribution limited to one designated market area.
-
Enterprise (custom pricing): For brands and organizations with national, global, or broadcast distribution needs. Includes everything in Pro plus multiple team seats, custom contract terms, role-based access, dedicated account manager, API access, and up to $1 million in indemnification.
Single-Song Licenses
For one-off projects, Soundstripe offers per-track licenses at four coverage tiers:
- Personal ($49+): Non-commercial personal projects
- Digital ($199+): Commercial digital use
- Expanded ($399+): Venues, events, out-of-home, gaming
- All Media ($1,249+): Broadcast TV, radio, streaming
Enterprise Features
Soundstripe's enterprise tier is built for brands and agencies that need comprehensive coverage. Key features include perpetual rights (content published during the subscription stays cleared even after cancellation), automated YouTube Content ID clearance, cue sheet support for broadcast, coverage for agency partners and influencers, and a dedicated account manager.
Real-World Example
A freelance videographer produces 10 client videos per month, each needing background music. They subscribe to Soundstripe Pro at $39.99/month. Total monthly music cost: $39.99 for all 10 videos. If they had licensed each track individually through traditional sync deals, the cost would be $200 to $2,000 per track, totaling $2,000 to $20,000 for 10 videos.
A national brand running a TV ad campaign subscribes to the Enterprise plan. They get $1 million in indemnification, perpetual rights on everything they publish, coverage across paid social, organic social, broadcast, OTT, and agency-created content, plus a dedicated account manager. A single national TV commercial using a Soundstripe track is fully covered with no per-placement fees.
Compare subscription costs against traditional per-placement fees using our sync licensing fee calculator.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Soundstripe pays artists royalties from subscription revenue, which differentiates it from platforms that pay flat upfront fees with no ongoing compensation. The company has paid over $13 million in royalties to date, with credits including 12 Grammy wins, 30 gold and platinum records, and 4 Billboard number ones among its roster.
For artists considering Soundstripe:
- The platform has an in-house, Nashville-based team of professional musicians plus global artist partnerships
- Music must be broadcast-ready with clean mixes and no uncleared samples
- Instrumental versions and stems are expected (the platform offers stems for every song)
- Complete metadata is required: songwriter credits, publisher info, ISRC codes
- Artists should understand whether they are granting exclusive or non-exclusive rights
- The royalty model means earnings depend on catalog volume and usage frequency
Artists with large catalogs (50+ tracks) tend to earn more through accumulated usage across the subscriber base. This contrasts with platforms like Epidemic Sound that pay upfront fees but take full ownership of rights. Read our guide to sync licensing companies vs music libraries to understand the differences.
If you are evaluating licensing agreements, check our guide to music licensing agreements for terms to watch for, including perpetuity clauses, territory restrictions, and indemnification caps.
Company Type and Business Model
Soundstripe is a royalty-free music licensing platform, not a production music library or sync placement agency. The company operates two models: unlimited subscriptions and single-song licenses. Unlike Artlist (which buys tracks outright), Soundstripe pays artists royalties from subscription revenue. Artists retain ownership of their music.
The platform has an in-house team of Nashville-based professional musicians plus global artist partnerships. Soundstripe handles all licensing negotiations and royalty payments so creators do not need to negotiate directly with artists. The company has issued over 5 million licenses and recorded 18 million downloads.
Catalog Size and Genre Coverage
Soundstripe's catalog includes over 116,000 tracks across all major genres:
- Pop, rock, country, folk, and acoustic
- Electronic, hip-hop, and ambient
- Orchestral and cinematic
- Sound effects library
- 100,000+ stock video clips (HD through 8K) on Pro Plus plans
The platform adds new music monthly. Every song includes stems for custom mixing. The roster includes artists with 12 Grammy wins, 30 gold and platinum records, and 4 Billboard number ones.
Client Base
Soundstripe serves creators across multiple segments:
- YouTube creators: Over 18 million downloads, with automated Content ID clearance for monetized channels
- Freelance filmmakers and videographers: Pro plan users creating client videos with commercial licensing
- Advertising agencies: Business and Enterprise plan users creating brand-owned content
- Podcasters: Creators needing royalty-free music and SFX for audio content
- Enterprise brands: National and global brands needing broadcast coverage, team seats, and $1 million indemnification
- Production companies: Studios needing perpetual rights and cue sheet support for broadcast
How Soundstripe Pays Artists
Soundstripe pays artists royalties from subscription revenue. This differs from platforms like Artlist and Epidemic Sound that pay upfront fees. The company has paid over $13 million in royalties to date.
The royalty model means:
- Artists earn ongoing revenue based on catalog usage and download frequency
- Artists with larger catalogs (50+ tracks) tend to earn more through accumulated usage
- Earnings depend on subscriber base size and how often tracks are used
- Artists retain ownership of their music (unlike buyout models)
Submission requirements for artists:
- Music must be broadcast-ready with clean mixes and no uncleared samples
- Instrumental versions and stems are expected for every song
- Complete metadata required: songwriter credits, publisher info, ISRC codes
- Artists should understand whether they grant exclusive or non-exclusive rights
Platform Demo
Comparison: Soundstripe vs Other Sync Licensing Platforms
| Feature | Soundstripe | Artlist | Epidemic Sound | Marmoset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company type | Royalty-free subscription platform | Royalty-free subscription platform | Royalty-free subscription platform | Boutique licensing agency |
| Licensing model | Subscription + single-song | Subscription (3 tiers) | Subscription | Per-placement + subscription (Track Club) |
| Starting price | $19.99/month | $9.99/month | $15/month | Custom per project |
| Catalog size | 116,000+ tracks | 700,000+ assets | 40,000+ tracks | Selective, limited roster |
| Artist payment | Royalties from subscription revenue | Upfront buyout | Upfront fee + royalties | 50/50 fee split |
| Artist rights ownership | Artists retain rights | Artlist owns tracks | Epidemic owns tracks | Artists retain rights |
| Stems included | Yes, for every song | Yes, for many tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Stock video | Yes (Pro Plus plan) | Yes (Max plan) | No | No |
| Indemnification | $1M on enterprise plans | Universal license covers all use | Included with subscription | Per-license terms |
| Perpetual rights | Yes (content published during subscription) | Yes (content published during subscription) | Yes | Varies per license |
| AI tools | AI search, AI song editing | Artlist Studio, AI voiceover | No | No |
Similar Sync Licensing Companies
- Artlist - Israeli subscription platform with upfront buyout model for artists
- Epidemic Sound - Swedish subscription platform with direct artist payments
- Marmoset - Portland-based boutique agency for curated indie and folk music
- PremiumBeat - Shutterstock-owned royalty-free music platform
- Audio Network - Production music library with global composer roster
Related Resources
- How to License Your Music for YouTube Creators - Understanding the YouTube music licensing ecosystem
- Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - How Soundstripe compares to other models
- Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Compare subscription costs vs per-placement fees
- Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - Understanding royalty models
- Soundstripe Official Website - Current catalog, pricing, and artist info
