I found a profile using my artist name and posting my music that I didn't create - what's going on? 

Does the profile look quite anonymous (as in it’s lacking photos and any information other than your artist name)? This is most likely an auto-generated profile. In other words: a profile created by SoundCloud when our system is unable to find the correct profile to host content delivered by a rightsholder.

A rightsholder, also known as a digital distributor, distributes content to digital platforms like SoundCloud, typically for monetisation. We are legally obliged to host all content delivered to us by digital distributors and this is why we create auto-generated profiles when our system can’t find the correct profile to put content on – because every track needs a home.

You have two options:

• You can file a ‘profile harmonisation’ request with your Rightsholder / Digital distributor

What is a profile harmonisation?

In short: Moving all tracks from an auto-generated profile on to a manual profile and deleting the auto-generated account. Currently when a harmonisation is actioned, all plays and social signals associated with the duplicate profile are lost. To be clear, you retain full control of your own account, its settings and visuals, manually uploaded tracks etc. when we merge profiles, but you will be unable to edit the supply chain content. Supply chain content can only be updated by the rightsholder.

• You can report an auto-generated profile and have a 'takedown request' issued through your Rightsholder / Digital Distributor

What is a takedown request?

A request from a rightsholder asking SoundCloud to remove supply-chain content. If you would like to request that the tracks on the auto-generated profile be removed from the platform altogether, that’s not something SoundCloud can help with directly. In this instance, you'll need to get in touch with the relevant digital distributor (via your label if need be) and get them to send us a takedown request for the content. (You can reach out to us for information on who your digital distributor is.)

For more information, please refer to our article on Rightsholder content.