SoundCloud is an artist-first music streaming and sharing platform designed to help artists and fans connect and share through music. The company describes itself as a two-sided music platform built to serve both creators and listeners in a single connected ecosystem. On the creator side, SoundCloud focuses on helping established and independent artists reach audiences, grow communities, and monetize their music through direct engagement and discovery. On the listener side, SoundCloud positions itself as a place for music culture where fans discover emerging artists and hidden gems and engage with music in real time.
Since its launch, SoundCloud has emphasized its fan-powered, social approach to discovery - stressing that every play counts and that connections between creators and fans run deep. SoundCloud also highlights platform capabilities such as music discovery, an API for developers, and ongoing support for initiatives across music, technology, and creator services. The company’s own materials state that it was founded in 2007 in Berlin by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, and it continues to center the artist-first vision while evolving its tools for modern music listening and sharing.
