SoundCloud is stepping up its streaming fight against Apple and Spotify
Audio ads and promoted profiles will be introduced to keep the service free and pay creators
SoundCloud has expanded its subscription music streaming service to the U.K. and Ireland, and introduced new advertising features to monetise the platform as it looks to step up its challenge to the likes of Apple and Spotify.
Eight-year-old SoundCloud allows people to upload tracks. It's best-known as a place to find emerging artists, DJ sessions and remixes of songs.
The German company launched SoundCloud Go in the U.S. earlier this year, offering users access to ad-free music streaming and new songs accessible only to paying users.
SoundCloud has now brought the service to the U.K. and Ireland for £9.99 (US$14.64) or 9.99 euros (US$11.47) a month, putting it on par with Spotify and Apple Music in terms of price.
Earlier this year, SoundCloud signed a licensing deal with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, adding to an existing partnership with Warner Music Group, in order to bring more music to the platform.
The company claims to have more than 125 million tracks on its service. But around 110 million of those are user-created tracks on the free part of its service. That would give it about 15 million songs that are on SoundCloud Go, less than the 30 million-plus boasted by Apple Music and Spotify.