SoundCloud has acquired Nina Protocol, a decentralised music marketplace that allowed independent artists to sell releases directly to listeners while retaining their revenue. The financial terms were not disclosed, and SoundCloud has not said whether Nina employees will join the company.
The acquisition gives SoundCloud control of Nina’s editorial archive and genre map. It also provides former Nina artists with tools to transfer their music to SoundCloud and continue selling directly to fans.
SoundCloud Will Preserve Nina’s Archive
SoundCloud said in its official acquisition announcement that it plans to preserve Nina’s music journalism, artist profiles and cultural commentary. The company said the archive and genre map could help listeners find emerging artists, local scenes and less widely distributed music.
Chief Executive Eliah Seton said Nina had placed independent musicians and communities at the centre of its platform. He added that SoundCloud would continue that work by helping artists strengthen relationships with fans and access additional income and growth tools.
Nina artists who migrate will receive a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription through the end of 2026. The plan includes music distribution, monetisation, promotional tools, unlimited uploads and audience analytics.
Nina Closed After Failing to Find Sustainable Revenue
Nina Protocol announced on May 28 that it would wind down after failing to develop a sustainable revenue model at its existing scale. Its website and app were scheduled to go offline by July 15 after users were given time to export releases, purchases and earnings.
Founded in 2021 by musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard and Eric Farber, Nina used the Solana blockchain for transactions and Arweave for decentralised file storage. Artists could operate digital storefronts, retain ownership of their work and keep the proceeds from direct sales.
The platform later expanded into curated label hubs, editorial coverage, podcasts and events. Artists and labels that used Nina included Yung Lean, Aya, ML Buch, Warp, Hyperdub and AD 93.
Deal Extends SoundCloud’s Artist Services
The transaction is SoundCloud’s first acquisition since it purchased AI music company Musiio in 2022 to improve music discovery. It further expands SoundCloud beyond audio hosting into distribution, fan engagement and direct artist monetisation.
Nina co-founder Mike Pollard said SoundCloud was a suitable destination for the platform’s artists and editorial work because of its existing role in independent music distribution. Former Nina users can decide whether to move their catalogues into SoundCloud’s creator system.
Featured image credits: Graham Smith via Flickr
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