Debates among fans of Spotify and SoundCloud about which is the superior streaming service persist as long as these two platforms are around. SoundCloud, established in 2007, boasts over 30 million musicians who share their music with their followers. Spotify, launched in 2006, originated in Sweden before expanding to other countries. By the end of 2023, Spotify, as a music streaming service, had achieved 230 million paid subscribers globally, with a total of over 600 million users.
This graph illustrates the changes in user numbers for both Spotify and SoundCloud. Overall, Spotify surpasses SoundCloud. However, SoundCloud hosts a larger number of musicians. Additionally, Spotify leads with a greater number of paid subscribers. It seems that Spotify offers a superior listening experience, while individuals looking to establish themselves as musicians tend to choose SoundCloud.
SoundCloud's growth isn't as significant, with just 140 million active users and 40 million creators sharing their tracks with followers. At first glance, this comparison might not make sense as to why people are hesitant to choose. However, there are many other factors they take into account. People make careful choices to maximize impact, achieve high engagement, and, naturally, secure a solid income. Those who opt for SoundCloud are interested in learning how to increase SoundCloud plays and achieve success.
How Can We Compare Soundcloud and Spotify?
Both platforms provide a variety of features that enhance the music-listening experience. Additionally, they make it easier for musicians to distribute their music, allowing songs to reach a larger audience and increase engagement. However, if the platforms offer nearly identical functions, how do you choose between them? How can you grow on SoundCloud when similar growth is possible on Spotify? How do you retain your audience? Let's explore each platform to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Spotify - A Dream for Beginning Musicians
A simple interface of Spotify leaves users satisfied most of the time.
Upon initially joining the platform, users find multiple reasons to remain engaged. The foremost reason is its straightforward, user-friendly interface. This allows easy access to liked songs, a review of recently searched tracks, discovery of favorite playlists, and more. Additionally, the platform provides various tools for discovering new artists and songs. For instance, it includes several features to assist users in finding new music.
Discover Weekly. A mix of new, fresh music based on your latest plays and preferences. The system analyzes what you’ve been listening to and forms a mix of the tracks you didn’t hear before.
Personalized mood mixes. Playlists are created for specific moods (sadness, happiness, loneliness, etc.) for every Spotify user. If you are looking for music that resonates with your current mood, try listening to these playlists.
Release Radar is a playlist that shares new releases at the end of the week. Your personalized playlist is formed based on your recent streams, artists you follow or listen to, and other recommended artists. If you are an artist and want to see your song in the next Release Radar, add it at least seven days before the release. You can check the playlist tab to see if your song was picked for a playlist.
Spotify algorithm is the power of this platform. This is an AI-based mechanism that helps users discover new tracks, bands, and musicians. Moreover, a user count also matters as Spotify has a massive audience with lots of talented individuals who share their music with the world.
Triggering the Spotify algorithm is essential for effective promotion. You have to optimize your profile and your tracks so that more people will discover your music.
Another advantage of Spotify is the audio quality. Even though some people don’t care about it, you can feel the difference, especially when using the Premium package. The free version of Spotify allows you to stream music up to 160 kb/s in the official app and 128 kb/s in the web version. Once you get Spotify Premium, you’ll be able to reach 320 kb/s in the app and 256 kb/s in the web version.
Premium packages allow you to have a free first month, so you can try the extended option and decide whether to continue. Moreover, Spotify Premium grants access to the audiobook subscriber catalog, allowing users to listen up to 15 hours per month. Moreover, you have options for music download and offline listening.
Still, we can’t say that Spotify is a perfect platform. For example, it’s not suitable for listening to unofficial remixes. The reason is that average users can’t download their songs the same way they do on SoundCloud. Due to this factor, we often find some immortal classics a long time after their release, if you are even able to find them. Sometimes, people can’t find what they were looking for, and hidden treasures remain uncovered for months or even years.
SoundCloud - A Different Approach to Music Streaming
SoundCloud offers significantly different experiences of listening, promoting, and sharing music.
SoundCloud is recognized as a platform that provides newcomers with the boost they need to become emerging stars. If you're passionate about music and wish to embark on your musical journey, SoundCloud could be your ideal option. Here, you can connect with musicians and collaborating producers to promote your music and create a dream career.
There is not significant difference in the payout between two platforms. Still, despite the lower payment, people prefer SoundCloud over Spotify as a starting point.
This platform offers a unique method for playlist creation and saving. You can compile your favorite songs into a playlist and share them with your audience. Musicians can create a mini playlist featuring their top 5 songs and place it at the top of their page. This serves as an introduction, showcasing your best music so people can decide whether to follow you. It's an effective way to present yourself, as no one wants to sift through numerous songs to evaluate you. You can curate your top tracks and make a lasting impression, which can lead to more plays on SoundCloud.
Uploading music to SoundCloud is straightforward. If your files are in the correct format, it only takes a few seconds. If you need to reformat your music, the platform provides access to a special program that encodes and decompresses files. You can also edit your tracks using available editing tools, allowing you to add special effects, remove background noise, and adjust sound levels.
Like Spotify, SoundCloud gives users access to audiobooks and podcasts. You can follow your favorite authors and listen to chapter after chapter. However, unlike Spotify, SoundCloud gives you free access to audiobooks.
Now, let's address the main paradox. Although Spotify boasts more active users and a greater number of artists, its song catalog is smaller. SoundCloud offers access to over 200 million songs, whereas Spotify has more than 80 million. Why is there such a significant difference? The reason is that the majority of songs on SoundCloud are by independent musicians. If you're searching for popular tracks, Spotify might be the better choice.
In this video, an author gives 5 major reasons why people should go to SoundCloud instead of Spotify. For example, SoundCloud supports artists much better, SoundCloud has access to micro-genres, etc.
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What About Promotion?
Having compared the primary features of each platform, we can now address the crucial question: which platform is optimal for promotion? When users join SoundCloud and discover its user-friendly interface, they often wonder how to boost their play count and enhance engagement on the platform.
If you're new to the music industry or still looking to get grounded, SoundCloud is the ideal platform. It allows you to attract your initial followers and promote your music successfully. However, if you're a more seasoned artist with a substantial fan base and several released tracks, you might consider opting for Spotify. Access Spotify for Artists to increase your promotion capabilities, find more fans abroad, and understand how to increase your audience before the release every time.
Musicians who join Spotify can reach a wider audience. Spotify functions similarly to a social media platform, linking artists from various genres, enabling them to network, collaborate, and forge their own paths to success.
SoundCloud vs Spotify: What’s Your Choice?
The debate over SoundCloud and Spotify is ongoing. Each person has unique experiences in music creation and promotion, making the platforms work differently for each individual. Some begin on SoundCloud and choose to remain because they find the platform user-friendly.
When deciding between SoundCloud and Spotify, consider which option best aligns with your personal objectives. However, don't restrict yourself and avoid neglecting cross-platform promotion; use social media tools to share your music with a wider audience.
Use Additional Music Promotion to Make a Name
While working on music platforms will be ineffective without a proper promotion. You need to present your music to the world and increase engagement to make your music recognized. If you choose to incorporate paid promotion to boost organic engagement, 94.2 Blazin Marketing and Promotional Support team offers a service to elevate your online music presence.
Achieving visibility is best accomplished by being featuring in articles, getting interviews, and various media platforms. Our promotion campaign packages is designed specifically as your one stop shop, by offering you the most optimal reach by combining multiple platform together.
A combination of paid services and paid promotion is a great power-up for your music. When you optimize your profile, receive verification marks, and add a high-quality promotion, you will blow the whole platform and see your songs in various charts, including daily and weekly playlists!
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