Monetizing Your Music with SoundCloud Latest Features Explained

Making money from music isn’t what it used to be. Not with SoundCloud.

Artists no longer have to rely solely on record deals, physical sales, or even traditional streaming royalties. Now, it’s all about diversified income streams. For independent musicians, SoundCloud is proving to be one of the most exciting platforms to make that happen.

SoundCloud has always been a go-to for artists wanting to debut their music. But in recent years, it’s gone beyond just being a place to upload tracks. With new monetization tools rolling out, creators can now turn plays into paychecks—and not just in the way other streaming platforms do.

The platform has introduced features like fan-powered royalties, expanded distribution tools, and new subscription tiers designed to help artists earn more from their music. And the thing that stands out? This isn’t something just for the big artists out there, as even independent musicians with a small but loyal fanbase can see real returns.

So, how do these features work? How do you get started? And more importantly, how can you earn money with them? Let’s break it all down.

SoundCloud’s Latest Monetization Features

SoundCloud isn’t just playing catch up with other streaming platforms, it’s starting to do things differently. Instead of sticking to the industry standard payout model, it’s debuting tools that give artists more control over how they earn.

Fan-Powered Royalties

This is SoundCloud’s game changer feature. Unlike Spotify or Apple Music, which pools all revenue and distributes it based on total streams, SoundCloud pays artists based on their actual listeners. No more competing with major label artists for scraps.

For independent musicians, this model is a big deal. It rewards engagement over raw stream numbers. If you have a smaller but dedicated fanbase, you can earn more per listener compared to other platforms. This means if someone listens to your music more than anyone else’s, you get a bigger cut of what they pay to SoundCloud.

Repost By SoundCloud

Uploading your music to SoundCloud is one thing. Getting it onto Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and beyond? That’s another.

That’s where Repost by SoundCloud comes in. It’s a distribution service built right into the platform. Through this feature, you can release your music everywhere. It also allows you to keep 100% of your rights and collect streaming royalties from multiple platforms. 

This is all done in one place!

It’s made for artists who are serious about boosting their visibility. What makes the feature special is that you don’t need to come with large budgets or big labels. All you need is your account and a bit of hard work.

New Subscription Tiers

SoundCloud has reworked its artist subscriptions. Now, the app is no longer dealing with a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it has different tiers based on what you need.

• Next (Free): Basic SoundCloud experience with limited upload time.
• Next Pro (Paid): Unlimited uploads, advanced analytics, and access to monetization tools like Fan-Powered Royalties.

If you’re looking to make money from your music, upgrading to Next Pro is a must. Without being a Next Pro member, you won’t be able to monetize your tracks.

More Ways To Earn

SoundCloud isn’t just stopping at earning from streams. It’s adding extra revenue streams like direct fan support, integrations with merch stores, and potential tipping features.

SoundCloud’s message is unique—It’s not just about the plays. It’s about building a fan-driven income. For independent artists, that’s exactly what makes SoundCloud’s monetization features worth paying attention to.

How to Qualify and Get Started With Monetization

Now comes the problem of making money on SoundCloud, which is not automatic. You’ll need to meet certain requirements, set things up properly, and most importantly, use the platform strategically.

Are You Eligible?

Not everyone can jump straight into SoundCloud’s monetization program. There’s a criteria list that you’ll have to tick off:

1. It must be an independent artist. (i.e. not signed exclusively to a label.)
2. The music must be original. You cannot have remixes or DJ sets unless you own the rights completely.
3. You need to have a minimum of 500 eligible streams in the previous month.
4. You must be located in a monetization-supported country. (It’s a new feature, so these opportunities are still not available worldwide.)

If you’ve ticked off these requirements, you’re good to go! If not, it is time to grow your audience and keep uploading.

Setting Up Your Monetization Features

Once you’ve qualified, activating monetization features is pretty easy.

1. Upgrade To SoundCloud Next Pro: Without a Next Pro account, you won’t have access to monetization tools like Fan-Powered Royalties.
2. Apply For Monetization: This is done through your SoundCloud settings. Once approved, you’ll see a $ sign next to your tracks, meaning you’re earning money.
3. Distribute Your Music With Repost: If you want to make money beyond SoundCloud, enabling Repost by SoundCloud lets you collect royalties from platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok.
4. Track Your Earnings: Use SoundCloud’s analytics to see which songs and listeners are driving revenue.

That’s it!

Once you’re done setting everything up, your music will start generating income every time it’s streamed.

Maximizing Your Earnings

That you’re monetized doesn’t mean you’ll automatically see big payouts. Strategy matters!

First, engagement is what you should aim to get. Since Fan-Powered Royalties prioritize listener loyalty over stream volume, your focus should be on building a dedicated fan base rather than chasing viral hits. Reply to comments, post consistently, and interact with your listeners. SoundCloud is a social app, and the more engaged your audience is, the bigger the effect you’ll see on your earnings.

Next, optimize your tracks.

You can start this off by tagging your music properly. Create some eye-catching cover art and make sure your song descriptions have relevant links and CTAs. Having small details can make a pretty big difference in how your music is found.

Also, don’t limit yourself to SoundCloud. We know it sounds like a great platform to be on, and it is! But that doesn’t mean it’s the only one to work with.

Use Repost by SoundCloud to share your music to other platforms. Send promos of your music on social media and check for more ways to earn. This can include selling merch or collaborating with other artists. It also includes direct fan support.

The goal isn’t just to make money, it’s to build a career that’ll last. With the right plans, SoundCloud can be a great place to start.

Challenges That You’ll Face on SoundCloud

Monetizing your music on SoundCloud sounds great—more control, better payout models, and tools designed for independent artists.

But before you put everything you have into your SoundCloud account, you need to know that there are some problems you’ll face.

Earnings Won’t Be As High As You Think

Yes, SoundCloud’s Fan-Powered Royalties feature is great. It’s definitely better than traditional payout models. But let’s be real, streaming income alone is rarely enough to live on.

Even with SoundCloud’s listener-based revenue system, you’ll still need a solid fanbase to generate meaningful income. If your audience is small or only listens occasionally, your payouts will reflect that. 

For most artists, SoundCloud works best as one segment of a bigger monetization plan. Making it your only way to earn some money? Not the best move.

Monetization Isn’t a Feature Everywhere

This one’s frustrating.

SoundCloud’s monetization features are relatively new, and because of that, they’re not available globally. If you’re in a country that isn’t in the supported list, you won’t be able to turn on most of the monetization features. This doesn’t change with the number of listeners you get.

Even if you are eligible to earn, your listeners might not be. If a large number of your audience comes from countries where SoundCloud isn’t offering monetization features, those streams aren’t going to help you earn anything.

Strict Criteria That You Have to Overcome

Hitting 500 streams every month might not sound like much. But for new artists, it can be a roadblock.

SoundCloud doesn’t just let anyone start earning. You have to show that your tracks can get traction first. This can be quite the problem if you’re just starting out. 

But don’t think of this as some barrier. Think of it as motivation to grow your fanbase!

Once you hit that threshold, you’ll be in a much better position to benefit from monetization.

Payouts Take Time

Don’t expect instant money. Even after you start monetizing, SoundCloud’s payout process can be slow. Payments are sent out after a 60-day basis. This means that if you earn in January, you might not see it until March.

For artists looking for a steady and predictable income, this delay can be frustrating. If you’re relying on streaming revenue to create immediate expenses, you’ll need other income streams to bridge the gap.

The Bottom Line

Making money from music has never been easy. While SoundCloud’s monetization features are a step forward, they’re not a magical solution. They won’t turn every track into a paycheck or replace the need for a solid audience.

But for independent artists looking to take control of their earnings, they’re a tool worth using.

Fan-Powered Royalties give smaller artists a fairer shot at earning. Repost by SoundCloud makes distribution easier and new subscription tiers offer more ways to grow a career on your own terms. Used the right way, these features can help you turn streams into income, but only if you’re willing to put in the work. That’s the real takeaway here. 

Monetization is just one piece of the puzzle. If you want to make real money from music, you need to build an engaged fanbase, diversify your income, and treat your music like a business. SoundCloud is giving artists more ways to earn, but at the end of the day, it’s all on you to make the most of it!