Rejected by SoundCloud: Lessons for AI Music Creators

Maximizing Your Potential as an AI Music Creator on SoundCloud

As an AI music creator, I’ve been exploring the boundaries of creativity using tools like Suno AI V4. Recently, I decided to upload tracks I created to SoundCloud and submitted them for monetization. Unfortunately, I was met with a rejection notice that highlighted the platform’s explicit restrictions against generative AI content created outside their listed partners. Here’s the official notice I received:

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SoundCloud’s Rejection Notice:

"Our terms of service explicitly prohibit generative AI, and due to this, we’re only able to approve content created with our AI integration partners for distribution or monetization. Please do not resubmit. Thanks.

If you feel this is an error, please reach out to us at our Help Center."

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Naturally, I reached out to SoundCloud’s support team for clarification. Their response shed more light on their policies:

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SoundCloud’s Policy on AI-Generated Content:

"SoundCloud is a great place for trying out new sounds and techniques. We even have several DAW and AI integrations to give you access to these tools to try them out.

While some content might work on SoundCloud, if you’re using SoundCloud for Artists to distribute or monetize that content, there are a few things to keep in mind.

You can only distribute or monetize content to which you own the rights or have proper licensing. Many of these services do grant you proper licensing to distribute or monetize, but our team would need to verify this before approving any of this content. Note: it is your responsibility to ensure you have proper rights or licensing before submitting anything for monetization or distribution.

At this time, we’re only able to approve content created with our AI integration partners for distribution or monetization. If you used the following services, let us know when you create your request:

• voice-swap
• Soundful
• FADR
• Tuney
• tuttii
• ACE Studio
• AIBeatz
• TwoShot
• Starmony

If we ask for more information or edits in your distribution or monetization requests, you’ll have the ability to leave a note for our review team with more details."

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Understanding the Challenges for AI Creators on SoundCloud

This experience highlights a key issue for AI music creators: SoundCloud currently only supports monetization of tracks created with a limited set of approved tools. If you’re using tools like Suno AI or Udio, this can seem like a dead end. However, it’s essential to understand that as long as you have a paid license for these tools, you own the rights to the music and can use it as an input into approved software for further enhancement or remixing.

Leveraging SoundCloud’s AI Integration Tools

As a Next Pro member, I’ve realized that SoundCloud’s restrictions are an opportunity to experiment with their approved tools. If you’re in the same situation, consider:

1. Remixing with Approved Tools: Try integrating your tracks into platforms like Soundful or ACE Studio, which are SoundCloud-approved. This can enhance your sound and make your music eligible for monetization.

2. Utilizing Free Tools First: Before investing heavily, use free or trial versions of approved tools to determine if they fit your creative process.

3. Collaborating with Others: Partner with creators who use approved tools to co-create tracks that align with SoundCloud’s policies.

My Perspective as a Next Pro Member

As a Next Pro member, this policy further limits the advantages of using SoundCloud for monetization. That said, I’m not upset about their decision—I only made $7 on the platform in 2024. Additionally, I respect their efforts to prioritize their own AI tools for content creation and monetization. This has inspired me to consider remixing some of my tracks using the tools SoundCloud offers, to take them to the next level creatively.

Engaging the Community

Have you experimented with SoundCloud’s approved AI tools? If so, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Let’s create a space for collaboration and shared learning:

• Follow me on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jackrighteous
• Follow me on Suno: https://suno.com/@jackrighteousmusic

Feel free to share your tips, challenges, or successes in the comments below.

My Next Steps

This experience has encouraged me to:

• Research more flexible platforms for AI-generated content.
• Leverage jackrighteous.com to promote and sell my tracks directly.
• Remix my tracks using SoundCloud-approved AI tools to align with their policies.
• Advocate for the inclusion of widely-used tools like Suno AI in SoundCloud’s approved list.

Practical Tips for SoundCloud AI Creators

If you’re navigating SoundCloud as an AI music creator, here’s what I recommend:

• Check Licensing Details: Ensure your AI tools provide clear licensing documentation. Paid licenses often grant you ownership rights, enabling flexibility.
• Test Approved Tools: Experiment with SoundCloud’s approved integrations to expand your creative toolkit.
• Stay Active in the Community: Join discussions and share insights with other creators to stay informed and inspired.

By focusing on these strategies, we can adapt to SoundCloud’s policies and make the most of what the platform offers for AI-generated music.