Soundcloud Reaches Deal with 20k Labels

Soundcloud—a website where 180 million unique users upload, listen to and share audio files each month—today (June 4) announced an agreement with 20,000 independent labels through Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent sector.

Terms include the labels sharing in advertising revenue, data analytics, and control over infringing uploads. On Soundcloud, allowing advertising control for creators, was announced last year. The streaming service expects to roll out a subscription service this year.

This news comes after a breakdown in negotiations with Sony led to a removal of music from some of its largest label acts (Kelly Clarkson, Adele) early last month. At that same time, the National Music Publishers’ Association reached a publishing agreement for its independent music publisher and songwriters members to receive royalties for their work on the streaming site. Sony/ATV also reached a publishing agreement, while Warner Music Group signed a label agreement. The largest record label, Universal Music Group, is reportedly still in talks.

The free site launched in 2008 and has since been a place for artist discovery (Lorde, Leon Bridges) and music releases (Beyonce, Miguel, Drake). Among the Nashville companies who use the site frequently are Big Yellow Dog, Carnival Music, Creative Nation and Big Machine Label Group.