SoundCloud's New Terms Spark AI Controversy: What Artists Need to Know
Heads up if you're uploading music to SoundCloud: a quiet update to their Terms of Service back in February 2024 is now raising eyebrows across the music community.
According to the new terms, unless you’ve signed a separate agreement, any music you upload could potentially be used to “train, develop or serve as input to” AI systems. That’s got a lot of artists wondering if their work is being used to feed machine-learning models.
Wait… is SoundCloud training AI on my music?
That’s the big question—and reactions have been mixed. Some creators (like The Flight and Adam Humphreys) have already pulled their tracks from the platform. Others are pushing for answers about how AI is actually being used under the hood.
In response, SoundCloud issued a statement saying:
- They don’t train generative AI models using artist content.
- They don’t let third parties scrape content for AI training.
- The TOS change was meant to clarify how AI tools like personalized playlists or fraud detection might interact with uploads.
- Artists will be able to opt out if future plans involve AI training.
They’ve also added a “no AI” tag to block unauthorized use of content by AI systems.
AI tools are already part of the platform
SoundCloud has rolled out several “assistive AI” tools since early 2024. These include:
- Tuney – for remixing and track generation
- AIBeatz – to build custom beats from scratch
- Starmony – for quick, high-quality track production and multi-platform distribution
They say these tools are meant to help artists, not replace them and that any AI integrations will follow ethical principles like consent, attribution, and fair compensation.
Bottom line
SoundCloud has always been a go-to space for independent musicians. But like every other major platform, it’s now figuring out how AI fits into the creative ecosystem. If you’re using SoundCloud, it’s worth staying informed, reading the fine print, and keeping an eye on how your content might be used.
For the full story, check out the original article on Futurism.
