A SoundCloud profile is a must-have if you identify as an artist or simply enjoy listening to music. Let me explain why!
Any user may take advantage of the service’s listening platform, music release platform, and social networking features. SoundCloud may be a part of your life in various ways, from a casual connection in which you listen to your friends’ cover songs on occasion to a more serious one in which you use it for your SoundCloud promotion.
If you’ve ever wanted to share your music online and become successful, you can do it with little effort by promoting a track on SoundCloud.
This article puts together several reasons why you should join SoundCloud, how much it will cost you, as well as essential guidelines on how to promote your music on SoundCloud, the benefits of using the platform, and much more.
An Introduction to SoundCloud
The site was launched in 2007 by two Swedes trying to facilitate international musical collaboration. Years later, more than 175 million monthly users listen to SoundCloud, with 12 hours of music uploaded every minute.
To show how big of a deal this platform is, and to convince you to promote on SoundCloud, let me show you some statistics:
| Number of Subscribers | 127.8 million active users in December 2022 (up from 118.4 million in November 2022.) |
| Number of Creators | 30 million creators |
| The SoundCloud brand value | SoundCloud brand was valued at $800 million in 2023 (up from $700 million in 2021). |
| SoundCloud Traffic by Country | 28% of SoundCloud users are from the US. 6% UK 4% Germany 3% France |
| Demographics | The platform audience is 18-34 years old |
Users create and submit their tracks to the platform, which can then be shared with the general public or with a small group of individuals. The comments area of your post is where you can gauge your track’s success and engage with your audience.
You may also create playlists and save your favorite songs to listen to later.
Does it cost anything?
- SoundCloud’s basic version is free. Uploading and storing up to three hours of audio is possible with the Basic plan. Creators can also see statistics like how often their tracks are played and how many people like them. Users with the “Basic” subscription level can edit their track’s post’s font, color, and size to suit their tastes better.
- The premium SoundCloud plan, SoundCloud Pro Unlimited, costs $12 per month when paid annually or $16 per month when paid monthly. With this package, artists can upload and save an infinite number of audio files. They can plan ahead for when their songs will be released and access more detailed analytics, such as the whereabouts of their most avid fans and the kind of devices used to play their music.
- SoundCloud Go, available for $4.99 a month, removes ads and allows users to download music for offline listening.
SoundCloud Go+ and its advantages for artists
What exactly is so exceptional about the SoundCloud Go+ plan, and why is it beneficial for artists?
- If you use the free, ad-supported version of SoundCloud, you may hear an ad in the middle of a song. SoundCloud ads are annoying, but you can avoid them by signing up for one of two paid plans: SoundCloud Go or SoundCloud Go+.
- If you sign up for SoundCloud Go or SoundCloud Go+, you can access your account from the web app and up to two additional devices simultaneously. SoundCloud Go+’s high-quality audio is encoded at 256 kilobytes per second (kbps) AAC, roughly similar to 320 kbps MP3.
- SoundCloud Go+ lets you use some DJ apps to mix SoundCloud songs, which is normally only possible with a SoundCloud DJ plan. But at $19.99 a month, the DJ membership is the priciest option on SoundCloud. While SoundCloud Go+ is available for $9.99 per month. This package is perfect for DJs who are always looking for fresh music to incorporate into their sets. SoundCloud is an excellent choice for DJs of all skill levels due to its extensive collection and intuitive design.
- Many popular DJ programs are compatible with SoundCloud Go+, including: Pioneer DJ rekordbox, VirtualDJ, Serato DJ Pro and DJ Lite, Algoriddim djay and djay Pro, Native Instruments Traktor DJ 2, edjing Mix and edjing Pro, Denon DJ PRIME Series, Mixvibes Cross DJ, and DEX3.
- Your subscription helps artists as well. As a Go+ subscriber, your listening habits directly fund royalties that assist break up-and-coming independent musicians on SoundCloud.
SoundCloud promotion and monetization
Music monetization may help you get forward professionally and financially. The platform provides two ways for musicians to earn money from their work: SoundCloud Premier and Repost by SoundCloud. Although they’re very different, these two systems both help to put your hard-earned cash where it belongs: in your pocket.
But to earn money, you must learn how to promote your tracks on SoundCloud.
How to promote your music on SoundCloud?
The platform is fantastic for promoting tracks on SoundCloud and discovering new music. If you’re a creator utilizing SoundCloud’s free version, you still have access to promotion tools and can have your music noticed.
Communicate to promote on SoundCloud
For those wondering how to promote on SoundCloud, here’s what you should know.
SoundCloud connects musicians and listeners in fundamental ways, including account configuration, which makes it perfect for SoundCloud promotion.
When you sign up for SoundCloud, you receive the free version of the service for both artists and listeners. It’s crucial that musicians know they can communicate with one another by sharing feedback, reposting songs, and sending private messages. All of this will be public in your profile, with the exception of private communication.
A unique feature I haven’t seen on any other streaming service is the ability to leave feedback on particular seconds within a song. The bass drop in your favorite EDM track, or that one phrase your favorite singer sings, may be pinpointed with this feature.
In addition, you have the option of contacting your followers privately. Suppose, for instance, you discover in your report that some fan has been your most loyal listener. You may thank them with a note and include a link to a free concert ticket offer.
Real SoundCloud promotion through analyzing the demographics
To promote on SoundCloud, It is crucial to analyze user data and evaluate the platform’s effectiveness. You may adjust your approach to advertising in light of these findings. This information is also helpful in learning about your target demographic so you can better communicate with them.