SoundCloud Next Pro: Lessons from 2024 for AI Music Creators

Reflecting on My SoundCloud Next Pro Experience and Looking Ahead

In 2024, I embraced SoundCloud’s Next Pro subscription (now Artist Pro) to expand my reach as a music creator. The results were both humbling and insightful. Over the year, I achieved 183,000 plays, 1,366 likes, and 115 reposts. While these numbers aren't staggering, they represent the foundation of my journey, and I’m proud to share the lessons I’ve learned.

2024: Humble Beginnings

One key realization from this experience is that true growth takes time and effort. A few tracks stood out, earning over 2,000 plays and more than a dozen likes each. These moments of engagement reaffirmed the potential of my music and the strategies I’ve outlined in my book, From Text to Track. However, overall engagement from fans was limited, highlighting areas for improvement in connecting with my audience.

Being transparent about these humble beginnings is not just a reflection of honesty but also an invitation for others to see the human side of learning and evolving as an artist. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and every milestone—no matter how small—matters.

Using SoundCloud as a Staging Area

I use SoundCloud as a staging area for my official albums or tracks that eventually land on Spotify as their "final" destination. SoundCloud allows me to organize my tracks into EPs, albums, and playlists, giving me the flexibility to experiment with various formats and arrangements.

I also take advantage of the platform to refine my tracks. For example, I frequently play with mixing and mastering—sometimes using tools like Audacity or BandLab, and other times leveraging SoundCloud’s mastering feature available for Next Pro subscribers. SoundCloud’s mastering option offers users an integrated system for enhancing audio quality with professional-grade mastering presets tailored to different genres and sound profiles. This feature can be incredibly helpful for creators seeking a quick and effective way to elevate their tracks.

What Happens if I Don’t Renew My Next Pro Subscription?

If I choose not to renew and revert to SoundCloud’s free Basic plan, several changes will occur:

1. Upload Limit: The free plan caps uploads at 3 hours of audio. Since my current uploads exceed this limit, older tracks will be hidden from public view, although they remain stored in my account.

2. Loss of Premium Features: Features like advanced analytics, unlimited uploads, and monetization tools will no longer be accessible. These tools have been instrumental in understanding my audience and generating revenue.

3. Monetization Suspension: Fan-powered royalties and other monetization opportunities tied to Next Pro will cease.

For me, having only 3 hours of music available is not a major issue. I don’t actively promote my music on SoundCloud because:

• AI Music Restrictions: Fully AI-sourced tracks are not eligible for distribution through SoundCloud’s monetization and distribution services.
• Spam Engagements: My experience has been heavy with bots spamming my tracks and account with scam engagements, which detracts from meaningful audience interactions.

Learning from a "D" Grade Experience

Overall, my experience with SoundCloud in 2024 would probably earn a "D" grade. However, I recognize that I didn’t put enough effort into engaging with my target audience on the platform. Finding and connecting with your audience takes significant work, especially if your music isn’t consistently resonating with the listeners you do attract.

One valuable suggestion for creators with similar numbers to mine is to identify your "competitors" on SoundCloud—artists producing music in your genre with comparable or better engagement. Take the time to honestly assess their work. What can you learn from their arrangements, lyrics, or user comments? Such insights can guide your development as an artist and help refine your music.

Looking Ahead to 2025

For 2025, I plan to evaluate whether continuing with the Artist Pro subscription is worth it. To start the year, I intend to hit SoundCloud hard, going back to my earliest Suno V2 creations and remastering them with V4. SoundCloud will continue to serve as my staging area, where I can experiment and refine my work. While building on the success of Sanctuary on Spotify, I aim to develop a new album on SoundCloud, using the platform to filter through the 600+ tracks I’ve created. By remastering these tracks into V4 versions and selecting the best 12, I’ll craft an album for release on Spotify.

This approach allows me to maximize the utility of SoundCloud as a creative sandbox while strategically advancing my work for broader distribution and engagement.

Join the Journey

As I navigate this journey, I invite you to be a part of it. Let’s embrace the challenges and celebrate the milestones together. Visit jackrighteous.com to stay updated on my progress, discover new music, and learn more about how tools like SoundCloud can empower artists to thrive.

Here’s to an exciting year of growth, learning, and meaningful connections in 2025!