SoundCloud Lets Artists Sell Downloads
SoundCloud has begun a beta that lets Artist Pro creators sell tracks directly from their profiles without taking a commission. The pilot starts with about 200 US-based artists and will expand later this fall.
SoundCloud announced on Wednesday, August 26, that it is testing a new way for artists to sell music directly on the platform. The beta is limited to roughly 200 US-based Artist Pro creators who have Fan Support enabled. Those artists can set prices for eligible tracks, offer streamed music for purchase, and monitor sales through Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard. Fans can buy and download tracks in the format supplied by the artist, such as MP3 or WAV, without leaving SoundCloud.
Beta Launch and Features
SoundCloud says it will take no commission on these sales, so artists receive the full proceeds after applicable fees and taxes. The company highlighted that the beta starts with a smaller creator group to create a direct feedback loop on what works and what needs improvement. "Starting with a smaller creator group gives us a direct feedback loop: what’s working, where there’s friction, and what artists want us to build next," the company said in its announcement. Access to the feature will widen through the beta before it reaches all eligible creators later this fall.
| Platform | Commission on downloads |
|---|---|
| SoundCloud | 0% |
| Bandcamp | 15% (drops to 10% after $5,000 in sales) |
The beta sits alongside other monetization tools such as Fan-Powered Royalties, Fan Support, on-demand vinyl, and ticketing. SoundCloud claims the demand is already visible in the traffic leaving its site for other services. More than 250,000 artists have linked over 2.4 million tracks to external music platforms, and the company says it sends more than half a million users a year to outside parties to buy music. In its own research, 28% of surveyed artists either sell downloadable music already or want to, split evenly between the two groups at 14% each.
Artist and Fan Impact
Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud, said the platform should let artists build their audience in one place. "SoundCloud has always been where artists find their first fans and build real communities. We’re continuing to bring more of what they need to grow their careers into that same experience, while letting fans directly support the music they love," he added. The company also noted that superfans can spend up to five times more on music and artists than casual listeners, according to its research.
SoundCloud’s launch extends a run of monetization changes. In November 2025, the company scrapped the revenue share on its distribution service, letting subscribing artists keep 100% of their royalties from distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, and other platforms. That overhaul also introduced zero-commission Fan Support, on-demand vinyl, merchandise, and artist storefronts, part of what Seton has called "the next major revenue format" in music. In March 2026, SoundCloud launched Follower Exclusive Releases, which lets Artist Pro subscribers gate tracks behind a follow. The company then acquired Nina Protocol in July 2026, taking on the editorial archive of a platform that had let artists sell music directly to listeners and keep 100% of their sales.
Broader Monetization Context
Paid downloads are central to Bandcamp’s business model. The platform takes 15% of digital sales, dropping to 10% once an artist reaches $5,000 in sales, and 10% on physical goods, with payment processor fees charged separately. Downloads and other digital revenues fell 5.0% year-on-year in 2025 and now account for 2.5% of global recorded music revenues, according to IFPI’s Global Music Report 2026. That marked a 13th consecutive year of decline for the format, in a year when streaming accounted for 69.6% of the global total.
For more on artist participation, see our stats page. Check the squad for current beta participants. Our fixtures list tracks available for purchase.
