SoundCloud Acquires Nina Protocol to Expand Independent Artist Platform

SoundCloud has acquired decentralised music platform Nina Protocol, marking its first acquisition since 2022 as the company continues expanding services for independent artists. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and SoundCloud has not confirmed whether members of Nina’s team will join the company.

The acquisition follows Nina Protocol’s decision earlier this year to shut down its platform after concluding it could not establish a sustainable business model. Founded in 2021, Nina enabled musicians to sell music directly to fans while retaining all of their revenue through decentralised digital storefronts.

SoundCloud adds Nina’s music archive and discovery tools

As part of the agreement, SoundCloud will take ownership of Nina Protocol’s editorial archive and its genre map. According to the company, preserving these resources will help maintain Nina’s collection of music journalism, artist profiles, and cultural commentary while improving the discovery of emerging artists, music scenes, and new releases.

"Nina Protocol built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first, and our priority is to honor what they've created while carrying that mission forward," SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton said in a statement.

Seton added that the combined effort is intended to help independent musicians strengthen relationships with fans, discover additional revenue opportunities, and access tools designed to support long-term careers.

Migration support for existing Nina artists

SoundCloud said artists previously using Nina Protocol will receive a migration tool that allows them to transfer their work onto SoundCloud. Eligible creators will also receive a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription through the end of the year, providing access to monetisation features and audience growth tools.

Nina Protocol was created by independent musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber. The platform operated on the Solana blockchain for transactions and relied on Arweave for decentralised, permanent storage of music files and metadata.

Latest step in SoundCloud’s creator strategy

The acquisition represents SoundCloud’s first deal since purchasing AI music company Musiio in 2022 to strengthen music discovery capabilities. The latest move signals the company’s continued focus on building a broader platform that supports independent artists beyond traditional music hosting.