SoundCloud officially announced on Wednesday its acquisition of Nina Protocol, a decentralized platform previously focused on enabling independent artists to sell music directly to fans while retaining 100% of their earnings. While the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, the move marks SoundCloud’s first acquisition since purchasing AI-music firm Musiio in 2022.
Expanding the Independent Ecosystem
This strategic move highlights SoundCloud’s ongoing evolution from a simple music-hosting site into a comprehensive ecosystem for independent creators. As part of the agreement, SoundCloud gains full ownership of Nina’s editorial archive and its proprietary “genre map.” The company intends to leverage these assets to preserve Nina’s extensive collection of music journalism and artist features, aiming to highlight emerging scenes and talent to a wider global audience.
According to a company spokesperson, Sade Ayodele, the transaction is strictly an asset acquisition; it does not impact SoundCloud’s current workforce, and no Nina Protocol employees are joining the SoundCloud team.
Honoring a Decentralized Legacy
“Nina Protocol built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first, and our priority is to honor what they’ve created, while carrying that mission forward,” said SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton. He added that the integration will provide independent artists with better tools to build fan relationships, explore new revenue streams, and develop sustainable careers.
The acquisition follows Nina’s announcement earlier this year that it would shut down its platform on May 28, citing an inability to establish a viable long-term business model.
From Solana to SoundCloud
Launched in 2021 by musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber, Nina Protocol was built on the Solana blockchain. It allowed artists to manage digital storefronts, utilizing Arweave for the permanent, decentralized storage of music files and metadata, effectively bypassing traditional streaming platform limitations.
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Migration Support for Creators
To assist those affected by the shutdown, SoundCloud has introduced a migration tool that allows former Nina Protocol artists to transfer their catalogs to the SoundCloud platform. Furthermore, these artists are being offered a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription through the end of the year, providing access to professional monetization features and audience growth analytics.
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