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>> "Eventually, everyone from DJs to podcasters will be able to monetize the same way, though the system is invite-only for now." I'm not holding my breath. Ov

>> "Eventually, everyone from DJs to podcasters will be able to monetize the same way, though the system is invite-only for now." I'm not holding my breath. Overtime SoundCloud releases something cool it's only available to people they invite and never seems to become available to everyone. On top of that I just tried to signup for Go - not available in my country (UK) so I'm guessing, as usual, US only. Pretty sucky for a company based in Germany.

6stringmerc 11y ago
Thanks for pointing that out. Yeah it seems like Dubset and Apple almost forced SoundCloud's hand - I'm already signed up to that collaborative service (Mixbank) and it looks very, very well put together. SoundCloud's reputation hasn't been the greatest lately from the user/producer experience so I'm with you that their 'open-ness' is suspect.
- snickmy 11y ago
  I doubt Apple forced anything. Soundcloud has been working on this for literally 18 months. the only thing holding on was the Sony deal. Dubset is doing a great job product wise. Really well done, unfortunately they coverage of licensing is really limited. They sort of jumped ahead and sold the platform before closing at least 50% of the deals (see for instance completely absence of the Merlin catalog). Soundcloud has been always open, but struggled a lot in having a communication channel with their users. Seams getting better lately. Finger crossed!
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Fair counter and I was being a bit more tongue in cheek, sorry about that if it came off as sort of ignorant. I agree these deals are massive to construct, and the back-end has to be really interesting from a tech / rights standpoint. It has been, without a doubt, one of the biggest riddles for the instiutional players (re: rights & revenue). Again, sort of trying to be joking about the subject, but I bet it's a lot easier for SoundCloud to get 100% cooperation with major labels/societies by catering exclusively to them, and basically ignoring any potential compensation for the independent content creators (however minor it might be) - yeah I'm kind of slighting Merlin for only capturing its market, because I think there's probably a single digit percentage of content creators unaffiliated...not much, I know... It just kind of feels bitter, like SoundCloud built their honest business on original content (not mashups), and then really is pivoting to the major monied players and hand-waving off the rest. If it's true I can understand it business wise, I can. I just...well, don't particularly like it on a personal level.
    - snickmy 11y ago
      I think, and I hope there is going to be a room for compromise there. If they'll manage to tune their recommendation and discovery system in the right direction, they will be an appealing platform for both indies and majors. Indies can finally get a prime time exposure within the major content. If you sound like taylor swift, and your lyrics are about breaking up with every possible person on earth, I think you should deserve a spot in an automatic generated 'San Valentine's day Single' along with her. Majors can have a far better social layer that as it is today no one else has been able to create (Apple Ping anyone?). Soundcloud can offer that millennial generation engagement in a pure music context that so far has been lacking everywhere else. And Majors love millennials :) I'm not saying it's an easy position to be in, and also, I wasn't myself that faithful about all this would have played out for SoundCloud, but to be honest, is an exciting time for the music industry.
      - 6stringmerc 11y ago
        Very well stated and I like the perspective you've put forward. Rational and, it seems, also quite healthy for the major stakeholders. Breaking 'new' artists is a big deal, and profitable in the long run - especially if there's SoundCloud analytics behind the scenes pointing to new targets. Without a doubt I agree the majors have been successful in protecting their role as curators of taste in their own way; they've always been in a pretty strong position. Totally with you that this is a great time to be watching the tech and distribution and rights discussions taking place in music.
zamalek 11y ago
> not available in my country Copyright treaties: likely the leading cause for piracy.
snickmy 11y ago
I can't remember any service in the music industry that started from day one World Wide. Licensing in music is one of the most fkup situation ever. Compared to that, the Tech patent battle is nothing. I do expect a constant roll out of new countries, but starting from US (which is the larger audience as today) does make sense to me.
- k-mcgrady 11y ago
  >> "I can't remember any service in the music industry that started from day one World Wide." I believe Apple music covered quite a lot of countries. I think at least some part of the service hit nearly all of them. I'm fine with launching in one country but at least give a timeline and for one of Europe's leading startups to launch a product US only is a bit of a kick in the teeth. I understand it but it just feels bad.
  - snickmy 11y ago
    Apple Music was in 6 countries for the first month, then rolled out to 31. And it's still not targeting some major asian market. I agree with you PR has a long way to go on on the Soundcloud side. At least a rollout list could have been included

6stringmerc 11y ago

Thanks for pointing that out. Yeah it seems like Dubset and Apple almost forced SoundCloud's hand - I'm already signed up to that collaborative service (Mixbank) and it looks very, very well put together. SoundCloud's reputation hasn't been the greatest lately from the user/producer experience so I'm with you that their 'open-ness' is suspect.

snickmy 11y ago
I doubt Apple forced anything. Soundcloud has been working on this for literally 18 months. the only thing holding on was the Sony deal. Dubset is doing a great job product wise. Really well done, unfortunately they coverage of licensing is really limited. They sort of jumped ahead and sold the platform before closing at least 50% of the deals (see for instance completely absence of the Merlin catalog). Soundcloud has been always open, but struggled a lot in having a communication channel with their users. Seams getting better lately. Finger crossed!
- 6stringmerc 11y ago
  Fair counter and I was being a bit more tongue in cheek, sorry about that if it came off as sort of ignorant. I agree these deals are massive to construct, and the back-end has to be really interesting from a tech / rights standpoint. It has been, without a doubt, one of the biggest riddles for the instiutional players (re: rights & revenue). Again, sort of trying to be joking about the subject, but I bet it's a lot easier for SoundCloud to get 100% cooperation with major labels/societies by catering exclusively to them, and basically ignoring any potential compensation for the independent content creators (however minor it might be) - yeah I'm kind of slighting Merlin for only capturing its market, because I think there's probably a single digit percentage of content creators unaffiliated...not much, I know... It just kind of feels bitter, like SoundCloud built their honest business on original content (not mashups), and then really is pivoting to the major monied players and hand-waving off the rest. If it's true I can understand it business wise, I can. I just...well, don't particularly like it on a personal level.
  - snickmy 11y ago
    I think, and I hope there is going to be a room for compromise there. If they'll manage to tune their recommendation and discovery system in the right direction, they will be an appealing platform for both indies and majors. Indies can finally get a prime time exposure within the major content. If you sound like taylor swift, and your lyrics are about breaking up with every possible person on earth, I think you should deserve a spot in an automatic generated 'San Valentine's day Single' along with her. Majors can have a far better social layer that as it is today no one else has been able to create (Apple Ping anyone?). Soundcloud can offer that millennial generation engagement in a pure music context that so far has been lacking everywhere else. And Majors love millennials :) I'm not saying it's an easy position to be in, and also, I wasn't myself that faithful about all this would have played out for SoundCloud, but to be honest, is an exciting time for the music industry.
    - 6stringmerc 11y ago
      Very well stated and I like the perspective you've put forward. Rational and, it seems, also quite healthy for the major stakeholders. Breaking 'new' artists is a big deal, and profitable in the long run - especially if there's SoundCloud analytics behind the scenes pointing to new targets. Without a doubt I agree the majors have been successful in protecting their role as curators of taste in their own way; they've always been in a pretty strong position. Totally with you that this is a great time to be watching the tech and distribution and rights discussions taking place in music.

zamalek 11y ago

> not available in my country Copyright treaties: likely the leading cause for piracy.

snickmy 11y ago

I can't remember any service in the music industry that started from day one World Wide. Licensing in music is one of the most fkup situation ever. Compared to that, the Tech patent battle is nothing. I do expect a constant roll out of new countries, but starting from US (which is the larger audience as today) does make sense to me.

k-mcgrady 11y ago
>> "I can't remember any service in the music industry that started from day one World Wide." I believe Apple music covered quite a lot of countries. I think at least some part of the service hit nearly all of them. I'm fine with launching in one country but at least give a timeline and for one of Europe's leading startups to launch a product US only is a bit of a kick in the teeth. I understand it but it just feels bad.
- snickmy 11y ago
  Apple Music was in 6 countries for the first month, then rolled out to 31. And it's still not targeting some major asian market. I agree with you PR has a long way to go on on the Soundcloud side. At least a rollout list could have been included