Advantages of switching to SoundCloud for Artists 

SoundCloud for Artists allows you to map all of your Main Artists, Featured Artists, and Remixers to their profiles on Spotify and Apple Music, as well as exclusive member benefits to save you money.

In addition to getting your music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, and others, SoundCloud doesn’t ask for additional payment for features like: 

• Sending releases to 60+ platforms
• Split Pay with your collaborators
• Advanced fan insights
• Unlimited number of Artists on your releases
• YouTube Content ID

Things to Know Before Migrating Your Catalog

To ensure a smooth transition and avoid disruptions, keep these key points in mind:

• Keep your artist name identical. Your artist name must match exactly across distributors. Platforms may hide your release if the name changes.

• Match all metadata exactly. Use the same track titles, release titles, contributor names, and ISRCs. This is critical for preserving stream counts and playlist placements.
• Maintain a 2-week overlap. Keep your music live on both distributors for at least two weeks. This allows platforms to correctly link your new release to the old one.
• Expect temporary YouTube Content ID conflicts. Conflicts during the overlap period are normal and resolve automatically once your old distributor removes the release.
• All releases are reviewed by SoundCloud. Even if your music was approved elsewhere, it must still meet SoundCloud’s distribution guidelines.
• Provide proof of your catalog. Upload a screenshot of your previous distributor’s catalog in the License Documentation section to help speed up approval.

How do I move my music over to SoundCloud for Artists? 

Whether you're new to SoundCloud and uploading for the first time or already have music uploaded, redistributing your tracks with SoundCloud for Artists is simple. Follow these steps to move your music from another distributor to SoundCloud for Artists:

1. Create a new distribution release in SoundCloud for Artists.
2. Select the audio files you'd like to distribute.
3. Enter the same release and track information from your previous distributor’s system. Ensure that the release names, track names, artist names, and ISRCs are identical.
4. Submit the release for distribution. Once it’s available on music platforms, wait at least two weeks for the newer version to link to the older version.
5. After two weeks, ask your previous distributor to take down the original release.

Stay tuned — we will make this process even easier in the future!

How do I know my releases are linked before requesting a takedown?

There is no one-size-fits-all way to check that your releases have linked on every platform, since each service has its own process and timeline for mapping metadata. However, we recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after your new release goes live before taking it down from your previous distributor. This window allows most platforms to complete the linking process successfully.

Below are the steps for checking your release status on Spotify specifically.

1. Verify your release on Spotify to see if your SoundCloud for Artists upload has successfully linked with your original release. To do so:

   1. Navigate to the album title on your artist profile or via search.

   2. Check the drop-down menu at the bottom of the tracklist for other releases.

   3. If the versions are grouped together, they are officially linked.

2. Check your stats. Confirm that both versions share the same play counts by hovering over the popularity bars. If the numbers match, your play counts and playlist placements are secure.

What if they aren’t linking? 

If your releases aren’t sharing play counts after the two-week window, you’ll need to reach out to Spotify for Artists support.

• Provide details: Be as clear as possible and include the metadata for both versions of the release.

• Monitor your profile: Support may not always send a confirmation email, but they typically resolve linking issues within a few business days.

Once you’ve confirmed that your stats have synced, you can safely proceed with the takedown from your previous distributor.

How can I ensure my release(s) are approved?

When redistributing your release(s) with SoundCloud for Artists, be sure to utilize the same ISRC(s) and metadata, including contributor names and track names, associated with the original release. Remember, this step is crucial for keeping stream counts and playlist saves intact. 

We also recommend uploading a screenshot of your catalog from your previous distributor in the License Documentation section for your track metadata. This will allow us to cross-reference your catalog and increase the likelihood that your migrated release(s) are approved.