Entertainment
The new global subscription service provides a streamlined experience for artists, combining all tools into one platform.
Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
SoundCloud announced a major upgrade to its global Artist and Artist Pro subscription tiers, expanding tools and payouts for creators on the platform.
Under the all-in-one plan, artists now retain 100 per cent of the royalties, including those earned directly from the platform from other streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and 50+ more), but also have access to features such as artist storefronts, merch rollout, on-demand vinyl, and fan support without fees.
SoundCloud will also stop taking a cut from direct fan contributions made through its “Support” button. The company says the update is designed to streamline how musicians manage distribution, discography, and merchandise in one place.
Tools like On-Demand Vinyl, which lets artists press and ship records to over 90 countries without bulk or upfront orders, and artist merch, which integrates merch sales directly into music pages, are meant to simplify the fan-to-artist experience. The Fan Support Without Fees feature — currently available only in the U.S. — allows direct contributions to go entirely to the artist.
“SoundCloud has always been about putting artists first. With this launch, we’re taking that mission further by giving artists a truly all-in-one subscription,” said CEO Eliah Seton.As debates around low streaming payouts continue to intensify, SoundCloud’s announcement signals a growing shift toward artist-centric business models. Other platforms like Tidal and Jeeni have previously experimented with higher per-stream payments and transparent royalty structures, indicating that the economics of the creator economy are steadily evolving.