Essential Next Pro features that every creator needs to know.
Each week, we spotlight a wide range of artists in our Sound Advice column, learning more about their creative process to gain insight into how they’ve navigated different phases and chapters of their careers. Artists share how they integrate SoundCloud tools and features into their daily workflow and release strategy, ranging from uploading private demos and studying analytics to DMing with fans and using SoundCloud distribution. SoundCloud’s Next Pro helps you unlock access to a customized SoundCloud for Artists experience, designed to take your career to new heights and help you build community every step of the way.
Whether you’re a seasoned Next Pro user or just getting started, we’ve compiled a list of five essential Next Pro features you should know about.
Replace audio without losing stats or comments. If you ever want to replace a track’s audio, Next Pro makes it easy and simple. Whether you want to upload a different master or replace a demo with a newer version, you can seamlessly replace your WAV or MP3 on SoundCloud without losing any stats or comments from the original track. Artists like MiLES., a multifaceted singer and producer from Atlanta, uses his SoundCloud page like a sketchpad, sharing demos and unfinished ideas to offer a window into his process and keep fans engaged between official releases.
To learn more about replacing a track's audio file, take a look here.
Get release-ready with Dolby’s mastering technology. Mastering puts the finishing touches on a track and brings it up to radio, streaming and club-ready standards. To help ensure your track is ready to compete in the marketplace and provide a quality listening experience, Mastering by SoundCloud (powered by Dolby) is integrated directly into your SoundCloud for Artists workflow. With Next Pro, you have instant access to the iconic audio company’s advanced technology and a custom suite of easy-to-use digital mastering tools specifically designed to optimize your music for streaming platforms. Each month, you’ll receive three mastering credits and have the option to purchase additional credits at a discounted price.
To get started with Mastering on SoundCloud, visit here.
Distribute your music to 60+ stores. SoundCloud is the only streaming platform that also helps amplify the reach of your singles, EPs and albums, acting as a distributor to over 60+ of the top streaming platforms and social networks around the world. When you distribute with SoundCloud, there are no additional charges for things like storage and backup, sending releases to new stores or access to audience insights – plus, we’ve made splitting pay between your collaborators as easy as can be. Artists like Chicago rapper femdot. and Brooklyn-based LA artist Kinneret both turn to their personalized dashboards for monetization, advanced insights and unlimited uploads, as well as have leaned into the fact that there are no limits to how many tracks you can distribute with Next Pro.
To get started with Distribution on SoundCloud, learn more.
Know who is listening to your music. Using the Fans tool, you can learn more about who is listening to your music and connect with them directly on a one-to-one basis. From a business, touring or release strategy standpoint, there are so many benefits to knowing who your audience is and where they’re tuning in from, and being able to authentically and directly get to know your audience on a human level just hits different. Artists such as Tony22, Savanna Leigh, Erick the Architect and Subtronics, to name a few, use the Fans tool to build relationships with their fans, from sharing exclusive previews of unreleased music via Direct Message to building online communities that translate to richer live music experiences.
For more information on using the Fans tool, visit the Help Center here.
Access Feature.fm tools for free to create smart links, pre-save and bio link tools. As a Next Pro subscriber, you have access to exclusive benefits offered by Feature.fm, a marketing and advertising platform specifically built for the music industry. Why not create a link for fans to pre-save your upcoming release and get notified when it drops? Including that link every time you post about on social media or share new teaser audio on SoundCloud is a no-brainer marketing move that Feature.fm makes that much easier.
Unlock your exclusive Next Pro benefit and learn more about Feature.fm here.
Stay tuned next week for more of our favorite tips, and subscribe to the Sound Advice newsletter for a weekly dose of ideas of how to engage fans and turbo-charge your artist profile. See all of our Sound Advice columns here.