SoundCloud acquires Nina Protocol following platform closure

The independent platform recently announced it was winding down operations after five years

SoundCloud has announced its acquisition of Nina Protocol, the independent music platform that allowed artists to create and operate their own digital storefronts.

The move comes after Nina’s previous announcement in May that it would be winding down after five years in operation.

In a statement shared this afternoon (22nd July), the team said: “If you’ve been following Nina over the last five years, you know that we built the platform because we believed Big Streaming wasn’t properly serving independent music…”

“Today we’re excited to share that SoundCloud is acquiring Nina Protocol, ensuring the vision, context and community we built together at Nina continues to have a home that is dedicated to pushing independent music and artist sustainability forward.”

The acquisition will see Nina’s artist community integrated into SoundCloud’s creator ecosystem, with users given the option to access tools for distribution, direct fan monetisation, audience growth, fan engagement, and streaming revenue opportunities. SoundCloud has also acquired Nina’s editorial archive and genre map as part of the deal, preserving its collection of music journalism, artist features and cultural documentation.

Nina Protocol users will be able to transfer their tracks to SoundCloud and redeem a five-month trial of SoundCloud Artist Pro, which offers similar tools to those previously available through Nina. The migration process will also allow users to bring over their “music, content, followers and creative work” to the platform.

Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud, commented: “As the platform where millions of artists begin their journey, we’ve always believed that the next movements in music emerge from communities long before they reach the mainstream. That belief is deeply aligned with the mission Nina has championed from the very beginning.”

“They built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first, and our priority is to honour what they’ve created, while carrying that mission forward,” he continued. “Together, we’ll help more independent artists build deeper relationships with fans, unlock new ways to earn, and access the tools they need to grow sustainable careers on their own terms.”

Mike Pollard, CEO and co-founder of Nina Protocol, added: “Nina has always been about empowering independent artists and documenting the communities that drive music forward. SoundCloud built that foundation: without SoundCloud, there wouldn’t be Nina. As we considered the future of the platform, we wanted to ensure our artists and editorial work found a home that shared and actively practised those values. SoundCloud was the natural choice.”

Read Nina’s full statement below, and learn more about the migration process here.