SoundCloud vs Audiomack and Which is Better for Underground Artists

As an underground artist, you’ve probably heard two platform names come up all the time: SoundCloud and Audiomack. At surface level, both platforms look similar. Both let you upload your music for free and have big underground scenes, and both also claim to help emerging artists grow. 

Once you start using the platforms, you’ll see that these promises aren’t always true, and that’s when the differences between the platforms start to show. This can make it pretty hard to choose which platform to start building your career on. But we’re here to help!

As you read on, you’ll go through a comparison post that doesn’t just throw a bunch of features on your screen. We’ll try and help you figure out which platform helps you build.

In this breakdown, we’re not looking to crown a winner, although we will do that. We’ll be trying to show you where each platform shines and where it might not, because not every platform is built for every artist. 

Let’s get to it!

A Quick Summary

Don’t have the time to stick around for the full analysis? No worries!

We’ve got a summary table lined up to help you pick which platform is right for you:

Wondering how we came to our conclusions? Continue reading to get the full analysis!

Reach and Audience

Let’s start by asking the most important question: who’s using the platform? For any artist, it doesn’t matter how the platform looks. All that matters is that your audience is on it. If it’s not, then what’s the point?

SoundCloud’s been in the music industry for much longer than Audiomack. That automatically means that the app comes with more users and has way more artists competing to go viral.

SoundCloud’s platform is built to give more attention to genres like:

• Alternative Rap
• Lo-Fi
• Bedroom Pop
• Experimental Electronic

At SoundCloud, you can imagine people digging through millions of tracks trying to find something they like. People will scroll through what the app promotes and follow artists they don’t know yet, so it’s easy to see that SoundCloud is still the go-to place for most people’s underground discovery.

SoundCloud comes with a repost feature that can get your song in front of thousands. The app also has distinct commenting features that lets users reply to certain parts of a song. This is something that’s appreciated by fans, and these interactions matter a lot.

But Audiomack isn’t all that bad either. The app came in later, but it’s growing very fast, especially in genres like hip-hip, drill, and Afrobeat. Audiomack isn’t as big as SoundCloud is in the U.S., but if you’re from the following countries, you’ll have a better time using this platform:

• Nigeria
• Ghana
• South Africa
• Jamaica
• Caribbean Nations

Unlike SoundCloud, Audiomack also has a younger feel. The feeds are cleaner and the trending tabs are easier to find and stand out.

Audiomack is also designed to give underground artists fame through its editorial related algorithm. That means that if you happen to catch the algorithm’s attention, you can find yourself on the platform’s homepage, even with a small following.

The app isn’t as random as SoundCloud is. It’s more focused. Anyone who’s on Audiomack is on the app for a reason so you can expect less people looking around for new music but a more loyal following base emerging.

Uploading and Monetization

Clout is great, but if a platform’s monetization policies aren’t great? Then, you’re better off on a platform that gives you less immediate clout. If you’re an underground artist with no label backing you, you’ll need a good payout structure. 

SoundCloud does offer monetization but it’s not an automatic process. You’ll need to sign up for SoundCloud Next Plus (free) or Next Pro (paid). After that, you’ll have to meet a criteria list to start earning. This criteria includes:

• Getting 500 eligible streams in the past month. Streams must be from certain countries only.
• Your tracks cannot have uncleared samples or remixes.
• Manually set up your payout structure and wait for its approval.

SoundCloud’s payouts are also based on something called fan-powered royalties, which means that you want your fans to listen to your music a lot. The more a fan listens to your music, the more you can earn. This may sound nice, but it’ll only pay off well if you’ve got dedicated followers.

Uploading your music on SoundCloud is easy. It’s smooth and you have pretty good control over your tracks. This includes private links and scheduled releases. But just because you can post easily doesn’t mean you’ll earn that easily.

Then, there’s Audiomack’s Monetization Program. Compared to SoundCloud, it’s easier to start earning on this platform.

To start earning on Audiomack, you don’t need a minimum stream count, and the monetization program is available in more countries than SoundCloud’s. Once you get to posting your tracks on the app, you can earn almost immediately. You’ll just need to link your Payoneer account to the platform to get started.

That being said, Audiomack’s pay-per-stream isn’t public and the payout cannot rival what you’ll get on Apple Music or Spotify. But for unsigned artists, it provides a direct path to getting paid without needing to do a lot of work.

But this doesn’t mean you can post anything. Like SoundCloud, Audiomack doesn’t allow you to post uncleared samples or remixes either so don’t expect to earn off of some mashups.

In the end, if you’re looking for fast payouts that don’t need you to do a lot, then Audiomack takes the win. But if you’ve got a loyal and dedicated fanbase, you should probably stick to SoundCloud.

Artist Tools and Growth Features

Uploading your music and getting paid is one thing, but what does the platform do to help you grow?

SoundCloud gives artists a decent toolkit once you can get started. This includes:

• Detailed Analytics
• Real-Time Play Counts
• Easy Community Building
• Private Links for Early Access
• Collab Sharing
• Scheduled Releases

If you pick the Next Pro subscription, you can also get:

• Unlimited Uploads
• Spotlight Feature. This lets you pin a song to the top of your profile.
• More Advanced Analytics

It may sound great, but it also has some problems. Some useful features on SoundCloud are behind a paywall and the surface can feel a little outdated compared to some of the newer streaming platforms. Still, the platform gives you a lot of flexibility and SoundCloud has quite the history of being artist-first even if it isn’t perfect.

Compared to SoundCloud, Audiomack’s tools feel fresher and they’re super mobile-friendly. On Audiomack, you get:

• Access to Audiomack Creator App. It lets you upload and edit tracks from your phone.
• Instant Access to Analytics
• “Trending” and “Recently Added” sections that promote new music.
• Access to Supporters feature. This highlights underground artists by letting supporters send direct tips and showing public interest.
• Curated Playlists

Unlike SoundCloud, most features don’t need to be paid for. Once you get started on Audiomack, you get instant access to most of these.

If you’re looking for some flexibility with your streaming service, SoundCloud’s got a range, especially if you’re trying to build hype and curiosity around your music through scheduled releases. But if you’re good with fast and mobile-friendly tools, Audiomack’s simplicity stands out.

Listening Culture and Vibe

Now, let’s take a step back from both platform’s technical features. These are important, but it’s not the only thing underground artists need to be aware of. Numbers matter, but so does the vibe, and the culture of a listening service can affect the streams an artist gets.

For a lot of people, SoundCloud is where it all started. The platform has history! It’s responsible for many artists’ viral come up and it still carries the vibe that it used to years ago. If you’re doing something experimental or genre-blending, then SoundCloud’s audience is more open to that.

People head on to SoundCloud expecting to discover new types of music. Even though it’s more crowded than Audiomack, it still holds weight in internet culture.

But that legacy isn’t always a good thing. SoundCloud has a lot of people on it, which is both good and bad. Good because it gives you more chances to grow big, but bad because it’s easy to get lost amongst the competition.

Audiomack feels newer. It’s cleaner and has less competition for underground artists. The platform is built for mobile users and artists looking to grow fast, especially in hip-hop or drill-esque genres.

The vibe on Audiomack is more curated than what you’d find on SoundCloud. Here, people already know what they’re going to find and there’s not a lot of experimental music coming out here, which means that the app isn’t for everyone. So if you’re trying to build a space that relies on audience energy, Audiomack gives you a better platform to do that.

Should You Use Both Platforms?

It’s not common for artists to pick a single platform when they’re trying to grow a following. But that also doesn’t mean that you should be on both. 

Plenty of artists use both platforms. This allows them to target different audiences and benefit from the best of both the platforms. 

But using both platforms puts artists at risk of spreading themselves too thin. For newer underground artists, it makes more sense to start off on one platform. Once they’ve built a following, they can start diversifying their presence. 

In the end, there’s no wrong answer to this question. It all depends on how much effort you’re willing to put in to grow big. Choose both and put in a lot of effort or pick one and find it easier to figure out what’s working for you.

Final Thoughts

There’s no perfect streaming platform.

SoundCloud has its history. It’s the place a lot of legends first started and the algorithm can work in your favour. Plus, SoundCloud’s community is large enough to compete with some of the bigger music streaming platforms. But the app is also crowded which can make it easy to disappear in the competition.

Then, there’s Audiomack which feels newer and faster. It’s more focused on helping independent artists grow by offering easier monetization opportunities and curated playlists.

Ultimately, the right platform depends on what you’re expecting to get from your streaming service. It depends on your artist vibe and your audience. So, if you’ve got music releasing soon, pick a platform that fits your needs and start building your fanbase!