Music streaming service SoundCloud has launched a merch marketplace called SoundCloud Store. The store will sell SoundCloud-themed items, but will also act as a service for artists to put out their own designs.
The first edition of the store features designs from Wiz Khalifa, Denzel Curry, wolfacejoeyy, Bk The Rula, and Armani White. Plus, the company is working with select Next Pro artists — SoundCloud’s paid service for artists — to let them submit their own designs.
SoundCloud said that once the artist submits a design, the company will create mock-ups for them, produce goods for them, and list the items on the SoundCloud store. What’s more, the company will handle fan engagement and social promotion for these merch. At this moment, the service does not take any fee from the artists while passing on 100% of the profits from sales.
Social platforms are keen to offer artists and creators ways to sell stuff and earn money. Both Spotify and Amazon Music offer artists to sell merchandise. While Spotify has tools that let artists host their merchandise catalog on their pages, Amazon Music has tied up with Bandsintown for similar services.
On the other hand, both TikTok and YouTube have tools to let creators tag products in a video and earn through an affiliate sales system.
SoundCloud said at the moment, the store will open to fans in the U.S., Canada, and Europe at launch.
Over the last year, the company has rolled out multiple tools for artists to increase fan engagement, including analytics to understand their listener base and ability to reach out to fans directly.