The debate between SoundCloud and Spotify often boils down to which platform provides a better experience for both listeners and artists. While both platforms offer great features for music streaming, SoundCloud stands out in several key areas, particularly when it comes to independent musicians, music discovery, and user interaction. Here’s why SoundCloud might be considered better than Spotify for many artists and music lovers.
1. Better for Independent Artists
One of SoundCloud’s biggest advantages is its dedication to independent artists. While Spotify is more aligned with mainstream music and major record labels, SoundCloud has become a hub for emerging and indie musicians to share their work and grow organically.
Direct Uploads
- SoundCloud allows any artist to directly upload their music without needing a distributor. This ease of use gives independent artists more freedom to share their music quickly and efficiently.
- On Spotify, artists need to work with a third-party distributor like DistroKid or TuneCore to get their music on the platform, which can involve additional fees and delays.
Monetization Opportunities
SoundCloud’s Premier program and fan-powered royalties offer a more artist-centric monetization model, allowing independent musicians to earn directly from their fanbase. In contrast, Spotify’s pro-rata model pools all revenue, meaning smaller artists often receive a tiny fraction of the payout, especially when competing against major-label artists with millions of streams.
Build a Community
SoundCloud allows artists to build a community of listeners through features like comments, reposts, and private sharing. These features create a more interactive experience for both fans and musicians, allowing for direct feedback and engagement. Spotify, on the other hand, lacks the ability for artists and fans to communicate as directly on the platform itself.
2. More Music Variety and Exclusivity
SoundCloud is known for its wide variety of music. From indie rock to lo-fi beats and underground electronic tracks, the platform hosts an incredibly diverse collection of genres and styles that are often unavailable on Spotify.
Exclusive and Unreleased Music
- Many artists, especially those in underground or niche genres, upload exclusive or unreleased tracks on SoundCloud. This has made SoundCloud the go-to platform for music lovers looking to discover raw, unpolished, and experimental music that hasn’t yet made its way to Spotify or other mainstream services.
- Remixes and bootlegs: SoundCloud has become a haven for unofficial remixes and bootleg tracks that cannot be uploaded to Spotify due to copyright restrictions. DJs and electronic producers frequently upload mixes on SoundCloud, making it a must-visit destination for fans of electronic and dance music.
Music Discovery
SoundCloud’s algorithm and community-driven content make it easier for users to stumble upon new and unique tracks. The platform actively promotes new artists through its Explore feature and offers personalized playlists that emphasize up-and-coming musicians rather than mainstream hits.
In contrast, Spotify’s algorithm often favors established artists, making it harder for independent musicians to break through the noise. While Spotify does offer its own Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists, these features still lean heavily towards popular tracks and big-label releases.
3. Free and Flexible for Listeners
While both SoundCloud and Spotify offer free tiers, SoundCloud’s free version is much more flexible for listeners who want to explore new music without being tied to a paid subscription.
Free Uploads and Streaming
- SoundCloud’s free tier allows anyone to upload music without paying, making it an excellent choice for artists just starting out. There’s no need for a premium account or paid distributor to get your tracks heard by a global audience.
- For listeners, SoundCloud’s free version offers on-demand streaming of millions of tracks. On Spotify Free, listeners are limited by shuffle-only play, except for certain playlists.
4. Community Interaction
SoundCloud fosters a much stronger sense of community compared to Spotify. The platform’s comment feature allows users to leave feedback on individual tracks at specific timestamps, encouraging conversations and connections between artists and fans. This interactive approach to music streaming creates a more intimate relationship between musicians and listeners.
- Reposts and shares: SoundCloud enables artists and fans to repost tracks, much like a social media feed, helping new music spread organically. On Spotify, tracks can be shared via playlists or social media, but there is no in-app repost functionality.
- Fan support: SoundCloud’s fan-powered royalties mean that fans can directly support the artists they love simply by streaming their music frequently. On Spotify, listeners don’t have this same direct impact on how artists get paid.
5. More Flexibility for Artists
SoundCloud offers artists more flexibility and control over their content. This includes the ability to upload, edit, and delete tracks as they see fit, making it easier for musicians to experiment with their sound and share new content quickly.
SoundCloud Pro Unlimited
For artists who want to take their careers to the next level, SoundCloud Pro Unlimited provides additional features like:
- Unlimited uploads
- Advanced audience insights
- The ability to replace tracks without losing stats
- Monetization through SoundCloud Premier
These features make it easier for artists to grow their fanbase and manage their content, giving them more tools to succeed than Spotify’s standard artist offerings.
Conclusion: Why SoundCloud Might Be the Better Choice
While Spotify is excellent for mainstream exposure and large-scale streaming, SoundCloud offers unique advantages for independent artists, music discovery, and fostering a community-driven experience. The platform’s ease of use, focus on niche genres, and fan-powered royalties make it an ideal space for emerging musicians to build a loyal following and monetize their work. Meanwhile, for listeners, SoundCloud’s vast variety of exclusive content and interactive features create a more immersive and engaging music experience.
In short, SoundCloud is often considered better than Spotify for independent artists and music lovers seeking something different from mainstream offerings.
The Supreme Team is an Austin, Texas promotion agency started by Indie Artists for Indie Artists. Our Organic SoundCloud Promotion and Organic Spotify Promotion is provided through a network of influencers and artists in the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Brazil, and more. Be the next viral artist here: SUPREMEPR