The music streaming game just heated up Down Under.
The world’s biggest audio library, SoundCloud, has just thrown its hat in the ring with Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and the rest, launching a brand new subscription streaming platform in Australia today.
Dubbed simply Soundcloud Go (no relation to Pokemon GO), the brand spankin’ new service is offering punters access to an expanded catalogue of more than 135 million tracks from both established and emerging artists (FYI that’s 4.5 times the size of Spotify’s 30 million) as well as an “ad-free listening experience”.
The downside of this (or not, depending on your POV), is that it means ads will now be rolled out across the free version – you know, the one that you currently use – also from today.
However, the genesis of a paid subscription service and new ads on the free platform also means that artists will now have more opportunities to be paid.
No word from SoundCloud yet on exactly what kind of cashola we’re talking about, but it seems like the company is legitimately committed to rewarding the creators of its content.
“SoundCloud Go unlocks access to the largest and most diverse music and audio catalogue in the world for both listeners and creators across Australia and New Zealand,” says Alexander Ljung, SoundCloud co-founder and CEO.
“With creators at the centre of everything we do, the launch SoundCloud Go and the introduction of ads to the free service enables us to continue to build the most progressive artist remuneration system in the world, while offering listeners everything from emerging creators, new tracks from indies, global hits as well as hits in the making, all in one place.”
SoundCloud Go is available Down Under on web, iOS App Store and Google Play, and costs AU$11.99 per month after the free 30-day trial.
iOS users can also avoid the App Store surcharge for signing up to the service via the SoundCloud app by visiting soundcloud.com/go instead.
Only time will tell how much SoundCloud’s foray into subscription music streaming will shake up the game, but if it means a serious opportunity for artists to make bank for what they do, then that definitely sounds like something to dance about.
