SoundCloud has revealed a groundbreaking shift in its revenue model, announcing that artists will receive 100% of their streaming royalties starting November 2025. The platform’s new approach eliminates the traditional cut that streaming services take from distribution royalties, marking a significant departure from industry standards where platforms typically retain 30% or more of streaming revenue.
The 100% royalty model will be available through SoundCloud‘s Artist All-In-One subscription service, representing an improvement from the platform’s previous 80% royalty share arrangement. This thorough subscription will bundle distribution to multiple streaming platforms alongside various monetization tools, simplifying earnings management while maximizing revenue potential for creators.
SoundCloud’s Artist All-In-One subscription elevates creator earnings from 80% to 100% while streamlining distribution and monetization across platforms.
Independent musicians stand to benefit substantially from this restructuring, as the model removes financial barriers that often impede career growth. By ensuring artists retain every cent earned from streams and downloads, SoundCloud positions itself as an artist-first alternative in the competitive streaming landscape.
The timing of this announcement arrives as conversations about fair compensation in music streaming continue to intensify across the industry. This development adds another valuable option to musicians seeking to establish diverse income streams alongside traditional revenue sources.
Beyond streaming royalties, SoundCloud’s platform will integrate enhanced direct fan support options. These features allow listeners to contribute financially through tipping and subscription mechanisms, creating diversified revenue streams for artists beyond traditional royalty payments. Artists should consider registering with relevant PROs to ensure they collect all available royalties from their compositions. The platform’s new Fan Support feature will enable zero-commission tipping, ensuring artists receive the full amount of fan contributions. Artists will need to implement Two-Factor Authentication to ensure eligibility for these expanded payout options.
This community-based approach strengthens the connection between creators and their audience while providing sustainable income opportunities.
While the model represents a potentially disruptive force in music streaming economics, several challenges remain. The subscription cost itself may present a barrier for some emerging artists, and the long-term sustainability of the 100% royalty structure will depend on widespread artist adoption and continued platform growth.
Industry observers note that SoundCloud’s move could pressure larger streaming services to reconsider their revenue-sharing formulas.
For unsigned and independent musicians maneuvering an increasingly complex digital landscape, SoundCloud’s commitment to full royalty payments signals a potential shift toward more creator-friendly business practices in music distribution.
