How to make money on SoundCloud in 2024 (beyond Next)

In October 2022, SoundCloud introduced SoundCloud for Artists, offering two subscription plans for artists: Next (free) and Next Pro (paid). 

With this update, SoundCloud monetization has become more accessible than ever before, opening up new possibilities for artists and musicians worldwide.

However, your payments will be disbursed through the payment method you’ve chosen on your SoundCloud for Artists dashboard. The balance is refreshed at the conclusion of each month, and payments are only deposited once your earnings reach or surpass $5. 

It’s also worth noting that they operate on a net 60 basis, resulting in a two-month delay in payments. So, that is how and when you get paid on SoundCloud for Artists.

For example, with the Next (free) plan, you can only rely on fan donations via PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, etc. To increase your potential revenue, upgrading to the Next Pro plan (starting at $8.25/month) is essential.

This is why it’s a good idea to diversify your revenue through other means (e.g. an alternative streaming platform like Sellfy) as the money from SoundCloud might not be sufficient, especially if you’re an emerging artist.

How to better monetize SoundCloud

In addition to using SoundCloud monetization, a more effective and profitable way to monetize your music is by selling it on Sellfy (something I wish I had done back when I was trying to monetize my work).

Many independent artists and musicians use SoundCloud not just for self-promotion and music distribution, but also as a bridge between their music and the external platform or alternative streaming service they use for sales.

By adding links to your SoundCloud profile, you can make the most out of the streaming service, and direct your fans to your online store where they have the opportunity to purchase and stream the tracks they enjoy.

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The best part? This way of content monetization is available for everyone. With Sellfy, you also get to keep 100% of your revenue.

Artists and musicians have been using this approach long before SoundCloud monetization was introduced, and it works. 

Coal Harrison, also known as The Kount, is a successful instrumentalist and a beat maker with 25k+ followers on SoundCloud. This indie artist uses SoundCloud not only to share his music, but also to promote the drumkits and remixes available for purchase on his store.

How to start selling your music on SoundCloud

You can start SoundCloud monetization in three steps:

1. List your products for sale on Sellfy.
2. Add links to your SoundCloud.
3. Use other channels to promote your store and boost revenue.

1. Create your Sellfy store

Sellfy is an eCommerce platform known for its user-friendly interface and integrated marketing tools (which we’ll discuss later). With Sellfy, you can have your tracks available for sale in a matter of minutes.

Here’s how:

Visit Sellfy.com and create your store. All you need for this is an email address and password. There are three different Sellfy subscription plans available, and you can take advantage of a 14-day free trial to get a better feel of Sellfy before selecting the plan that suits you best.

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Once you’re in, you can add a product for sale. Start by navigating to the PRODUCTS section. Select “Digital products” and click on ”Add new product”.

Upload your product (a track, album, sample, drumkit, or whatever you want to sell) and then add information about the product, including its name, description, and price. Finally, upload your product preview image and hit ”Save product”.

Since you’re creating your own online music store, you’ll want to make it one of a kind. Luckily, Sellfy stores are completely customizable. Just use one of the pre-made store themes or the Store Customizer tool to change the appearance of your store so that it looks exactly the way you want it to.

Your product is now available for sale!

Now, before you start promoting your listing, you must first make sure that you can accept payments. There are two options: PayPal and Stripe.

Add payment methods to your Sellfy store at STORE SETTINGS > Payment settings. Connect your PayPal or Stripe account, and enjoy instant earnings transfers after each purchase.

2. Add links to your SoundCloud profile

There are three places on your SoundCloud account where you can add links to drive traffic to your Sellfy shop:

• Links in your track description
• A buy-link
• Placing the link in your bio

Add a link in your track description

Linking in your track description is a common and effective way to drive traffic to a website. It’s the perfect spot to link from—if people like your music, you can take them straight to your shop where they can purchase and stream your work.

Here’s how to add a link to your track description:

When uploading a new track, just paste a link to the product in the ”Description” window. You can also add a link to your previously uploaded tracks. To do that, just open the track and click ”Edit”.

Add a buy link

The buy link is a button that’s placed under tracks in your catalog. When listeners click it, they are taken to another site (like Sellfy) where they can purchase and stream the track.

Here’s how to add a buy link and get paid via SoundCloud monetization:

When uploading a new track, go to ”Metadata” and add the buy link to your product. You can add it to previously uploaded tracks at any time. Do that by opening the track and clicking ”Edit”. Then, update your metadata.

Add a link in your bio

A link in your bio is for listeners interested in you as an artist or independent musician. People who are willing to find out more about you might be your biggest fans. So, the link in your bio might be with the highest conversion rate—try and see!

SwuM, an artist with more than 90K fans on SoundCloud, uses his bio not only to promote his tour and merchandise, but also to direct fans to his Sellfy store where he sells drumkits and samples.

Here’s how to add a link in your bio: 

Go to your profile settings and click ”Edit”. Add a link in your Bio section and click ”Save changes”.

3. Use other channels to promote your shop and boost sales

SoundCloud is a great streaming platform to promote your music and increase your chances of making money. In fact, data shows that SoundCloud listeners are 62% more likely to buy from an independent artist than on other streaming platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc. That, however, doesn’t mean you should ignore other social media and marketing tactics.

Here are two more ways to promote your shop and the products you sell:

• Use other social media to increase traffic
• Use Sellfy’s built-in marketing tools to boost revenue

Use social media to drive traffic

SoundCloud is undoubtedly one of the largest streaming services in the music industry.

But, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, consider it as one of the options to promote your music. In addition to showcasing your tracks on SoundCloud, you can also sell your work on Instagram and Youtube.

Take the music producer OZ (@ozmusiqe) as an example:

Besides uploading his work on SoundCloud, the artist uses Instagram as another channel to promote his work and gain visibility. OZ not only engages with his audience on Instagram but also promotes his drumkit, which is available for purchase on his Sellfy store.

In other words, using a social media platform provides you with the opportunity to reach wider audiences and increase visibility. This, in turn, may help you in earning more revenue with your music.

Use Sellfy’s built-in marketing tools to boost revenue

Another way to increase your sales is to use different marketing tactics. Sellfy offers a bunch of built-in tools to help sellers maximize their revenue, including:

• Discounts

Discounts are a great way to convince your hesitant customers to make a purchase. A discount or promo code might be what your customers need to close the deal if they’re undecided on making a purchase. Special deals and promotions are also a way to please your existing customers and increase their loyalty.

• Upselling

Upselling is a sales tactic where the customer is persuaded to buy an additional item to the one already in their cart. For example, if a customer buys one single from your album, you can offer them another one from the same album. Stats show that if offered to buy an additional product, 60-70% of customers say yes.

• Email marketing

Personalized and thought-out emails are probably one of the most efficient ways to communicate with your customers. People who have subscribed to your newsletter have explicitly shown their interest in the music you sell, so these people might be your most valuable audience. Artists and musicians love using Sellfy’s email marketing feature (which I personally appreciate as well) to inform their followers about new product launches, updates, and sales.

• Pay-what-you-want pricing

This is another great feature that artists and musicians alike love. Offering some of your freshest arrivals with the pay-what-you-want pricing model is an underrated way to promote your music. Of course, there will always be people that will take advantage of that model without giving you anything back. But, you’ll also get some hardcore fans who are ready to pay more—so let them!

Bonus: grow your music business by selling merch

We are currently in the era of custom merchandise and print-on-demand (POD). In fact, having your own merch has become a fundamental aspect of successful marketing and a means to showcase what your music or record label truly represents.

With Sellfy’s print-on-demand feature, you can easily create and sell custom clothing, home decor, and accessories, in addition to your albums, songs, beats, etc. All of this can be done using the same user-friendly setup, analytics, and marketing tools that you are already familiar with.

Instead of spending time on maintaining different solutions, you can now be laser-focused on growing your business.

All you have to do to create your own mech line is:

1. Choose a product to sell
2. Create a design in our easy-to-use product editor
3. Start selling

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Once you make a sale, the order will be automatically forwarded to production and then shipped directly to your customer. There are no additional charges, as print-on-demand is included in all Sellfy plans.

FAQ: how to make money on SoundCloud

How can I make money from my music on SoundCloud?

To earn money on SoundCloud, artists can join SoundCloud for Artists and choose a subscription plan. This program enables musicians to monetize their music and earn through plays, advertising revenue, fan-powered royalties, and more. 

Additionally, selling your music directly through other streaming platforms like Sellfy offers flexibility in setting prices, creating appealing listings, and expanding your customer reach.

How and when do I get paid on SoundCloud for Artists?

Payments are processed through your chosen payment method on the SoundCloud for Artists dashboard. Balances are refreshed monthly, and earnings are automatically deposited once they reach or surpass $5. 

Please note that payments operate on a net 60 basis, resulting in a two-month delay.

How many followers do I need to make money on SoundCloud?

SoundCloud followers don’t solely dictate your earning potential. While a larger following can boost earnings and royalties, prioritize creating quality music, engaging with your audience, and exploring monetization options like Sellfy.

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