SoundCloud has started rolling out a direct music sales feature in beta, letting artists sell downloads to fans while the platform takes zero commission.
The feature is currently available to 200 Artist Pro creators and will open to all eligible creators this fall.
Artists can set their own prices and choose the download format. Sales information will appear in Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard.
SoundCloud says more than 250,000 artists on its platform have listed 2.4 million tracks for sale on other services. The company also directs more than 500,000 users to external stores each year.
In a survey cited by SoundCloud, 28% of artists said they currently sell downloadable music or want to start. The company also notes that superfans spend up to five times as much on music as casual listeners.
“Artists should be able to build their audience in one place, on one platform. 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.”
The statement was made by Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud.
