SoundCloud announced that musicians will soon be able to sell their music directly through its platform. The feature will beta test with 200 US-based Artist Pro subscribers before expanding to more creators this fall. Music fans will be able to buy tracks from an artist's profile page, and SoundCloud won't take a cut of sales, though artists must pay processing fees and local taxes.

Artists can track sales through SoundCloud's Artist Studio and Fan Support dashboards and choose digital formats to offer. SoundCloud said, "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." They will refine the experience as they expand access.

SoundCloud already offers other direct monetization avenues, including ticket sales and vinyl pressings. This move comes as young people increasingly buy music to own. It is also well timed, as Bandcamp laid off most of its engineering team in June, raising fears about its future after owner Songtradr previously cut half its staff in 2023.