New subscription service offers expanded catalogue of established and emerging artists to the existing SoundCloud experience, plus new functionality.
Coincides with rollout of advertising on the free-service, with both monetisation streams giving creators the opportunity to be paid.
SoundCloud, the world’s largest music and audio platform with 175 million monthly listeners, announced today the launch of its new consumer subscription service, SoundCloud Go in the UK and Ireland. Following its successful launch in the US last month, the UK and Ireland are the first international markets to offer music fans the SoundCloud Go expanded catalogue of more than 125m tracks with intuitive supporting features, created to complement and enhance the existing SoundCloud experience. The free service listeners love today will remain, and will now be supported by a range of advertising options as part of SoundCloud’s commitment to creators to have the opportunity to be paid for the work that they share.
“We received an incredible response from our community of creators and listeners alike with the launch of SoundCloud Go in the US earlier this year, and we’re excited to expand our offering to our listeners in the UK & Ireland,” said Alexander Ljung, SoundCloud Founder and CEO. “Creators are, and always have been, at the core of everything we do at SoundCloud. And it’s through this monetisation of the platform, which also includes the introduction of ads to the free service, that we will eventually enable them all to be paid for the work they share with the world.”
The SoundCloud Go experience includes:
- In addition to the breadth of content that listeners are already accustomed to, SoundCloud Go gives access to a significantly expanded catalogue of the greatest established and hottest emerging artists.
- On the tube or off the grid, offline listening allows you to take your music with you wherever you go.
- An ad-free, uninterrupted listening experience to more than 125 million tracks from the 12 million creators heard each month on SoundCloud
- Available now in the UK and Ireland on web, iOS App Store and Google Play, and priced at £9.99 and €9.99 per month respectively, with a free 30-day trial
Additionally from today, SoundCloud’s free service will be supported by audio advertising, in-stream native ads, promoted profiles, creator partnerships, and more. All are designed to fit seamlessly into the SoundCloud experience and to provide brands with a variety of ways to reach a new, highly engaged audience. The introduction of advertising will ensure listeners can continue to experience SoundCloud for free, as well as offer creators the opportunity to be paid for the work that they share. SoundCloud Go subscribers will be able to opt out of these ads, enjoying uninterrupted listening as part of the service.
