SoundCloud is adding a buy button to artist profiles, enabling direct track sales without taking a cut. The beta program lets a select group of creators sell WAV and MP3 downloads while retaining full revenue, minus applicable fees and taxes.
250,000 Artists Already Linking Out
The platform's own data shows more than 250,000 artists have been linking to external platforms to sell over 2.4 million tracks. SoundCloud has been routing more than half a million users per year toward outside sellers just to complete purchases. Internal research found that 28% of surveyed artists either already sell downloads elsewhere or want to, split evenly between the two groups.
The company is targeting superfans, who spend up to five times more on artists than casual listeners according to SoundCloud's figures.
Part of a Broader Monetization Push
The direct sales feature follows other recent monetization tools including fan-powered royalties, on-demand vinyl, and an all-in-one artist subscription that eliminates distribution revenue shares. CEO Eliah Seton framed the suite of features as a way to consolidate artist services in one place.
The beta launches with 200 US-based Artist Pro creators who have Fan Support enabled. Artists will set their own prices and track sales through Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard. Broader availability is planned for fall 2026.
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