SoundCloud, the popular music streaming platform, offers several monetization programs for audio creators, musicians, and DJs. As an independent artist, it’s crucial to explore every possible opportunity to make money from your music. The benefits of earning money via SoundCloud are numerous.
Apart from financial stability, artists can leverage SoundCloud’s promotional tools to increase their fan base and gain more exposure. Moreover, by joining SoundCloud’s Creator Program or SoundCloud Premier Program, artists can access additional features, such as better insights, priority support, and promotional opportunities.
Thus, making money on SoundCloud is an excellent opportunity for all artists to monetize their music tracks and earn a stable income. By meeting the SoundCloud Monetization Requirements and leveraging the platform’s promotional tools, artists can gain more exposure, grow their fan base, and establish a successful career in music. So In this article, we will explore how to make money on SoundCloud!
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SoundCloud Monetization Requirements
After learning about SoundCloud Premier, creators may be excited to profit from their audio content. Yet, they must meet strict requirements to qualify for monetization privileges. Learn about the criteria below and find out if you are eligible. First, you must sign up for a SoundCloud Pro Account.
It is a paid subscription service offering exclusive features such as unlimited uploading storage, analytical tools, and track promotion, distribution, and monetization capabilities. Second, you must enter into an agreement with SoundCloud Premier. In this contract, there are specific rules:
- You are 18 years or older
- You have a SoundCloud Pro or Pro Unlimited account
- You create original content
- You own all the rights to your audio
- Your account has zero copyright strikes
- You have at least 5000 track plays from eligible countries
Out of this list, 5000 SoundCloud plays are the most challenging aspect, especially if you are a new user or have low visibility.
Fortunately, buying audio plays is a quick, convenient option; You can easily increase your play counts to qualify for the SoundCloud Premier program, boost your organic traffic, and influence others to listen to your pieces. Get started on the right foot and start to monetize your music or audio tracks, so buy SoundCloud Plays from Us today!
Enabling Monetization on Your SoundCloud Track
Once you sign up for SoundCloud Premier, you can start profiting from your music or audio. The process is straightforward for each track. All you need to do is:
Step 1: Visit your tracks page and find the file you wish to monetize.
Step 2: Click the “Edit Track” button underneath the recording. It should result in a pop-up window.
Step 3: Select “Monetization” from the top navigation bar.
Step 4: Click “Enable Monetization” and input your username for each location.
Step 5: Double-check your metadata to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Step 6: Press “save” to submit your request.
Step 7: Within 24 hours, SoundCloud will approve or deny monetization for the specific track.
You can confirm monetization by checking the “Monetization” tab from your Dashboard. If your track has an active status, there will be a blue dollar sign next to it. You can also view your “Earnings” tab for new royalties details every month.
How to Make Money on SoundCloud?
If you are ready to make a high income as an artist, it is important to utilize all the SoundCloud features at your disposal. While the Premier program pays out a generous share of total revenues, you can also sell your music and market your tracks through SoundCloud.
If you do not already have a music store, find an ideal e-commerce platform and use your email address to sign up for an account. Ideally, list and sell more than one track to ensure fans have an ample chance to sample your pieces. Then, take every opportunity on SoundCloud to promote your store link:
Track Description: Locate your audio file and click “Edit Track.” Then, add a link to your online music store in the “Description” tab.
Track Metadata: If you are already in “Edit Track,” click the “Metadata” tab. Include a direct buy link to the product page in your online music store. Use a buy link title as a short call to action.
SoundCloud Profile: Find your “Profile Settings” and click “Edit.” Then, add your music store link to your “Bio” field.
5 Proven Ways to Make Money on SoundCloud
Every composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist wants to reap the benefits of their creativity and make a living off their work. SoundCloud can help you accomplish your goals; you simply need to employ the most effective ways to make money and learn how to maximize those earnings. Find out the top five ways to get more revenue on SoundCloud below.
1. Upgrade Your Account to Pro Unlimited
A SoundCloud Pro or Pro Unlimited account is the most critical step in making money off your music. It is necessary to qualify for the monetization program and to sell your music directly to your fans. While the subscription requires a small fee, it may be worth it in terms of potential income. Pro status is necessary because SoundCloud absorbs storage costs, royalties, distribution, and promotion costs.
Additionally, they encourage artists by providing state-of-the-art functions and features to magnify their traffic and plays. One of the best features is that SoundCloud hosts unlimited tracks for you. Since this is the case, you can create continuous tracks to attract new followers and delight current listeners. Accordingly, you may increase your play counts and earnings simultaneously.
Additionally, the Pro status allows members to view follower and listener analytics. The Pro Unlimited is particularly helpful because it displays which websites and apps are popular for your tracks. You can make more money when you can curate content for your actual audience and tailor your marketing plans.
Finally, Pro helps you boost your visibility. Suppose you have a significant amount of plays. In that case, they consider you an upcoming artist and place you next to some of their top performers. Likewise, they allow your followers to download your tracks or visit off-site links to buy your work.
2. Promote on SoundCloud
SoundCloud has millions of active listeners, providing tremendous potential for indie artists to gain visibility. However, new users or small creators often need help securing traction. With Pro Unlimited, you can promote tracks to target listeners, boost plays, increase followers, and achieve long-term account growth.
Analyzing statistics makes it easy to see who is enjoying your content, how they tune in, and where they live in the world. You can use this valuable information to strategically promote your music to the right audience. Accordingly, they will receive recommended audio or see your tracks in their playlists.
When interested parties can land on your content, you are more likely to receive plays. While this alone can help you increase revenue from the Premier program, you are also more likely to gain impressed fans. You can expect loyal followers to listen to your new releases and purchase audio content.
3. Embed Ads on Your Tracks
Many digital content creators earn money off of sponsors or paid advertisements. SoundCloud offers the same privilege to its members, helping creatives make more money from their work. Whenever a listener hears an ad on an audio track, SoundCloud pays a share to the artist.
You can use this feature by opting into the creator partner program and enabling ads. If people wish to listen to your tracks, they must entertain an advertisement at the very beginning of the audio. Most users will gladly listen for a few seconds to hear your work, especially if you already have a strong follower base.
4. Leverage Fan-Powered Royalties
Fan-powered royalties are at the heart of the SoundCloud Premier program. Essentially, SoundCloud chooses to distribute listener-based revenues among the artists who they actually listen to and enjoy. If your fans are excited about your content, frequently listen to your music, and refuse to skip ads, you will get paid more and more.
Apart from trusting in an equitable earnings system, these royalties will inspire you to make continuous hits. In this way, you can keep your fans happy and always coming back. You will collect more money when you can garner more plays in this fashion.
5. Include A “Buy Link and Title” in Your Playlist
As an artist, it is one of your biggest hopes to have fans find your work worth their money. However, your listeners need to be able to find your music in order to purchase it. Make it an easy and intuitive process for them by including a buy link in your uploaded tracks, playlist, and SoundCloud profile.
When listeners are engaging with your audio content, they can see your catchy buy title and click the link to visit your iTunes, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or other online stores. Since they actively love your work at the moment, they are incentivized to purchase it immediately.
Furthermore, you can input your buy link in your profile as well. Your followers will likely check out your complete profile to learn more about you as an original creator and view any new work. During this time, they can find the link and purchase your music easily.
In this way, SoundCloud serves as a brilliant middleman for your music career. Rather than simply uploading your tracks to an online store and hoping your fans find you, you can drive them to buy your products. Since this is the case, you should see sales rise significantly.
Final Thoughts
After reading through this informative article, indie artists should feel confident about how to make money on SoundCloud. A Pro Account and the Premier Program are great places to start. Take full advantage of all the powerful SoundCloud tools to reach your target audience, increase your plays, and captivate fans. You can also earn money indirectly by employing common engagement tactics.
Connect with your fans, follow similar artists, and like and comment on new and popular tracks. In this way, you can build awareness and a great reputation. Likewise, you can drive more visibility and traffic by connecting your SoundCloud to your social media accounts, such as Instagram and TikTok. If increasing plays is still a challenge, be sure to check out GetaFollower to buy plays. A solid foundation can lead to great success.