I’ve deleted my SoundCloud and here’s why you might want to (and why MixCloud may be your future platform)

SoundCloud is the latest creative platform that has seemingly crossed over to the unfortunate world of training AI on artists’ content. This came into effect in February 2024, when SoundCloud updated its terms of service. The key change is:

“You explicity agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services.”

A future update from SoundCloud led them to clarify that artist content hasn’t been used to train AI models…yet. The update immediately discusses “future applications of AI”, which leaves the possibility well and truly open. The company talks about recommendations, playlists and detecting fraudulent activity (please don’t copy YouTube with their copyright claim hellscape). When pressed further, the following press line was provided:

“Should we ever consider using user content to train generative AI models, we would introduce clear opt-out mechanisms in advance – at a minimum – and remain committed to transparency with our creator community.”

So far, the transparent approach to update terms and conditions without drawing attention to the change, and then hinting at this future prospect, doesn’t leave me full of optimism. With thanks to Ed Newton-Rex, Music Business Worldwide, and The Verge for piecing together bits of the story – and crucially, Adam Humphries‘ tweet for starting the whole investigation running (I think).

I have multiple issues with SoundCloud’s approach.

Firstly, the update was not explicitly called out. It is such a fundamental change that it feels sly, anti-artist and ultimately anti-consumer. If artists can’t trust the platform, why post there? Why would listeners or fans listen to music that has been “generated” by AI and not “created”, aside from morbid curiosity?

Secondly, generative AI, by its entire design, can only sustain itself like a parasite from the human content it learns from. Without it consuming everyone else’s work to get a better mathematical prediction, generative AI will just devolve over time to the same few chords and patterns. SoundCloud leaves the door open for this, and if their effort for opt-outs matches their effort for transparent terms of service updates, I expect we’ll need to jump through hoops to do it. Facebook just rejects all AI opt-outs; it’s practically impossible to avoid. I can see something similar happening here.

Thirdly, it’s all retrospective. SoundCloud is trying to do more things with an artist’s music than a label would. In some ways, you could argue, the artists have less rights on SoundCloud, too. Once the generative AI tool has learnt everyone’s music, I suspect it will be unleashed to compete against artists with the tools it supports learning to take you out of the market for the privilege of a few plays. It’s the Spotify playbook back in action, and it stinks. Last year, SoundCloud introduced AI remixing tools, saying that the companies that provide these AI tools for sample and vocal generation would be able to identify where the samples were generated from to compensate artists fairly. I haven’t heard a single thing about it since, but a deep dive into how that works would help artists understand how their music is being mangled into another business’s money-making scheme. Again, this feels like a far worse and convoluted way to do sampling, which has existing and easily trackable and compensatable rules and measures.

It is in complete contrast to MixCloud. MixCloud has posted a simple blog stating it has no intentions to train AI on our music, mixes or podcasts. Read “Why Mixcloud Doesn’t Train AI Models on Your Music” on Mixcloud for more details. It is refreshingly transparent and doubles down on the core ideals and beliefs of the creative industry.

I’ve deleted my SoundCloud

The only way companies will learn they cannot treat artists like this is to vote with your money and your time. Today I deleted my SoundCloud account, which I’ve had for donkeys years. Forcing an opt-out for artists is not the morally correct approach. We didn’t ask for this. We do not want it either. In a similar vein to Spotify, it seems like SoundCloud is leaving the door open to train AI, generate musical slop, and degenerate the music scene and everyone’s creativity in the process. Yes, AI-powered recommendations can be useful. No, not all AI is terrible. SoundCloud’s previous actions warrant no trust or stay of execution. I’ve cut my ties and recommend you do the same.

I’ll be supporting MixCloud

In an age where human creativity is going to become a precious commodity, I plan to put my money where my mouth is. I’ll be backing companies that put artists before unethical AI profits. We need a company that cultivates and nurtures a safe, transparent, and sustainably human-centric industry. MixCloud seems to be that company. I’ll be supporting MixCloud and posting my new upcoming radio shows and podcast discussions there as a paid member.

Additional follow-up added on 14th May 2025

Soundcloud’s CEO has since posted a letter to clarify that they are not using generative AI now, but do not know what the future holds. The terms and conditions still allow them free rein. You can read the letter on the Soundcloud Press Release website.

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