If you are an independent artist and planning to get into SoundCloud, you must be wondering, “How to get started?” or “How to make money on SoundCloud?”
Independent musicians and producers get the opportunity to share their work and connect with their fans with Soundcloud.
According to SoundCloud, the platform currently has around 76 million active listeners.
SoundCloud offers creators multiple income streams. They range from plays and fan support to brand collaborations and distribution across major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned musician or just uploading your first track; eventually, you will find your way to get your paycheck from SoundCloud.
You will find the SoundCloud payment models, monetization options, account setups, and audience growth discussions here.
Let’s get started.
Understanding How SoundCloud Pays Artists
Let’s first understand how artists get paid on SoundCloud.
Does SoundCloud Pay Artists Directly?
Yes. Artists can earn revenue directly through SoundCloud’s monetization programs.
If you qualify for and enable monetization, SoundCloud will pay you for eligible plays and fan engagement. You don’t always need a separate distributor to collect for SoundCloud-only plays.
How Does the Payment Model Work?
SoundCloud’s payout models are different from many traditional streaming models.
Traditional (Pro-Rata) Model
Most streaming platforms pool all subscription or ad revenue together. Then they distribute it as per each artist’s share of total streams.
For example, if Artist X has 1% of all streams, they get roughly 1% of the payout pot.
SoundCloud’s Fan-Powered Royalties Model
Meanwhile, when a fan listens to an artist in a given month on SoundCloud, the artist will get a share of that fan’s subscription or ad revenue for the month.
If a fan only listens to you, you get a larger share of that fan’s revenue.
For example, you have managed to build a loyal follower or fan base who streams your music regularly. You will be able to generate way more revenue compared to traditional pro-rata models.
Also, if you enable monetization or SoundCloud Premier, you will receive payment based on eligible plays (in supported countries), as well as your monetization status.
Requirements to Qualify for Payouts
You need to meet certain criteria before you can start earning on SoundCloud.
Avoid copyright infringement. Do not upload third-party content without rights. Also, maintain an active status as per SoundCloud’s guidelines.
SoundCloud Monetization Options Explained
SoundCloud offers several monetization options for artists and creators.
1. SoundCloud Premier
It’s the platform’s long-standing monetization programme for eligible independent artists. Artists can earn both ad revenue and fan-powered royalties for their tracks through Premier.
After qualifying for SoundCloud Premier, you can receive payouts by uploading original music, enabling monetisation on eligible tracks, and getting plays in eligible territories.
Who it’s for: Artists who release original music, own their rights, have consistent plays, and want monetisation directly on SoundCloud.
2. SoundCloud for Artists
It’s a dashboard for creators on the platform. On this dashboard, they can track plays, audience insights, and monetisation status.
With this dashboard, you’ll get an overview of how your music is performing. You won’t just get to know about the number of streams, you’ll also be able to find out how dedicated your audience is.
3. SoundCloud Next Plus Subscription
SoundCloud Next Plus plan unlocks additional features for creators looking for an all-in subscription tier. These features include higher-quality uploads, unlimited releases, and full access to monetisation.
Why consider it: You can consider this tier if you’re serious about your music career. It will allow you to upload frequently, distribute widely, and unlock SoundCloud’s full monetization capacity.
Setting Up Your Account for Earnings
Here, we’ll discuss how you can set up your account to earn money on SoundCloud.
How to Get Paid on SoundCloud?
Follow a few key steps to set up your SoundCloud account properly.
Following the completion of these tasks, you’ll start to earn whenever your monetised tracks generate eligible plays.
Connect a PayPal or Bank Account
While enabling monetization, you need to choose how you’d like to receive your money.
According to SoundCloud, you’ll only receive payouts after your earnings reach the minimum threshold held in your balance (typically once a month).
4 Common Payment Issues
Growing Your Audience for Higher Earnings
It goes without saying that you need to grow your audience on SoundCloud if you wish to earn more on the platform.
Upload High-Quality Tracks Consistently
Getting more plays will translate into more earnings. To make that happen, focus on clear, professional-quality audio and a consistent release schedule.
Both listeners and SoundCloud's algorithm reward artists who upload quality music and maintain regularity.
If you follow these steps, fans will be more likely to stream your tracks fully, engage with them through comments or reposts, and stick around. This will significantly increase your visibility and earnings.
Engage With Fans
With SoundCloud’s fan-driven model, it’s essential to build a loyal listener base for generating a sustainable income. To do so, you can take measures like-
Promote Your Music Effectively
Promoting your music is necessary for increasing your earning potential on SoundCloud.
Use Social Media Cross-Promotion
To turn casual listeners from other platforms into your followers on SoundCloud, share your SoundCloud links on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Collaborate With Other Artists
SoundCloud’s algorithm can cross-link profiles and increase both artists’ visibility in searches.
Submit to Playlists and Blogs
Your streams and reach can be highly increased if you get featured in playlists and blogs.
It’ll help you gain momentum if you get into such playlists. And the more plays you’ll get, the more money you’ll earn.
Using SoundCloud Distribution
You need to be able to use SoundCloud’s distribution system effectively to enjoy the monetization.
Distribute to Spotify, Apple Music & More
SoundCloud’s built-in music distribution service will allow you to release tracks simultaneously on other platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and TikTok. With this feature, independent musicians can easily manage uploading, monetizing, and distribution. There’s no need for a third-party distributor.
SoundCloud Next Pro allows artists to distribute unlimited releases while keeping all their rights. After releasing a track, SoundCloud handles distribution to each platform and ensures it meets industry metadata and format standards.
Keep 100% of Royalties
Using Next Pro lets creators keep the entirety of their royalties from music. So, all earnings from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms will go directly to your SoundCloud account. You won’t have to worry about hidden fees or revenue splits either.
Income from both SoundCloud streams (via fan-powered royalties) and external streaming services funnels into a single account. This way, you can easily track your total earnings in one place.
It empowers independent artists, enabling them to maintain financial transparency and retain full ownership of their music.
Track Performance Analytics
On SoundCloud, creators have access to detailed analytics regarding exactly where their plays and revenue come from. The dashboard on SoundCloud for Artists provides insights like-
If most of your plays come from a specific country or playlist, you can adjust your promotions or plan tour locations accordingly.
3 Tips to Become Popular on SoundCloud
Don’t forget to follow these-
1. Engage in Niche Communities
Collaborate with creators with a similar style. Join genre-based groups. Comment on tracks, share feedback, and support others. Such genuine interaction often leads to new followers and loyal fans.
2. Keep Artwork and Branding Consistent
Your music’s vibe should be reflected through your cover art, profile photo, and banners. Your profile will look professional if your visuals are consistent. Also, your listeners will be able to recognize you instantly on other platforms.
3. Encourage Listener Loyalty
Reward your audience. You can make your fans feel appreciated with exclusive releases, early access, or small giveaways. And when fans feel appreciated, they will be likely to stream your tracks more and share them with others.
Make More Money On SoundCloud With Socialplug!
SoundCloud remains one of the best platforms for independent artists to grow a loyal fanbase and earn money. The platform will also allow you to manage your music without having to rely on a record label.
Moreover, with the flexible monetization options it comes with, you will get full control over your music career on SoundCloud.
With the right help from Socialplug's growth services, SoundCloud can turn your passion for music into a sustainable, rewarding career.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Only artists in SoundCloud Premier or with a Next Pro subscription can earn directly from streams. Free users, however, can grow their audience and link to donation or merch pages to have some indirect income.
Yes. Earnings come from fan-powered royalties, where revenue depends on each listener’s engagement. The more a fan listens to you, the larger your share of money.
Payments are made monthly, usually within 45 days after a month's end. Artists receive earnings via PayPal or bank transfer.
Only if you own or have rights to the track. Unauthorized remixes or reposts aren’t eligible for monetization.
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0 Comments
Great tips! I never realized how much engagement impacts growth more than just posting frequently. I've been focusing only on content, but now I see how interacting with my audience can make a difference. Time to step up my strategy!
Super helpful article! I always thought Facebook Groups were just for discussions and never really considered them as a tool for growing followers. The idea of actively engaging and sharing valuable content in relevant groups makes so much sense. I'll definitely start participating more and see how it impacts my page. Thanks for the great advice!