SoundCloud launches mid-priced subscription tier
SoundCloud has today launched a new mid-priced tier for its subscription service, SoundCloud Go.
The move takes the popular platform to a three-tier structure; previously, listeners had the option of either free, ad-supported online streaming, or the premium subscription tier launched last year, which allowed users to listen to SoundCloud content offline and ad-free. The new subscription tier will be known as SoundCloud Go and cost $5.99 (web/Android)/$7.99 (iOS) per month; the premium option takes the name SoundCloud Go+ and remains priced at $11.99 (web/Android)/$14.99 (iOS) per month.
Both tiers are available for a 30-day free trial.
“SoundCloud’s unique mix of content, much of which can’t be found anywhere else, is an incredibly attractive offering for music lovers who are at the forefront of what’s happening now and driving what’s next in music,” SoundCloud’s Chief Revenue Office Alison Moore said in a press release.
“SoundCloud Go answers the call from our users who want the ability to take the huge catalog of content found in SoundCloud’s free, ad-supported offering with them anytime, anywhere, without interruptions, at a very affordable price. And at the same time, we’re now giving users who haven’t made the jump into a music subscription plan, a robust, fully on-demand option at an accessible price.”
The Australian pricing of Go+ for web and Android users is in line with the monthly fees for most of the popular Premium-level streaming subscriptions, including Spotify, YouTube Red, Apple Music, and Google Play, and with the monthly fee for Tidal’s entry-level plan.
Ad-supported and Go users will be able to listen to more than 120 million tracks available on the platform, including emerging artists as well as established ones like Chance The Rapper. While the primary selling point of both subscription tiers is offline, ad-free listening, Go+ also allows access to over 150 million tracks. That extra 30 million or so includes songs by high-profile artists such as Adele, The xx and Leonard Cohen.
Content creators will have full control over which tiers can access their sounds; they may limit free or Go subscribers to only a selection of tracks, for example, and reserve their full catalogue of available tracks to Go+ subscribers.
It isn’t clear how the payment structure for artists may be affected if they choose to make more or less material available to premium subscribers; however, artists withfewer free offerings will likely find their appearances on the SoundCloud weekly most-listened charts to be similarly limited.