What Splice does

Splice (legal entity Splice Sounds, Inc.) is a New York-based, cloud-native music creation platform founded in 2013 that serves independent music producers, beatmakers, songwriters, and composers with a royalty-free sample library, virtual instruments, plugins, and an expanding suite of generative AI tools. The company's core product is Splice Sounds, a credit-based subscription service offering millions of royalty-free samples, loops, one-shots, MIDI, and presets across 90+ genres, accessible via web, mobile, desktop, and a beta Sounds Plugin (VST/AU/AAX) that integrates directly into digital audio workstations (DAWs). Native DAW integrations with Ableton Live 12.3+, Pro Tools 2025.6+, and Studio One Pro 7/8+ allow in-workflow sample search, preview, and drag-and-drop licensing, while Splice INSTRUMENT (launched October 2025) extends the platform into the virtual instrument category with hundreds of presets and integrated Spitfire Audio LABS content.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model: tiered monthly subscriptions (Sounds+ at $12.99, Creator at $4.99 promotional then $19.99, Creator+ at $39.99, INSTRUMENT at $12.99, and three DAW-specific plans at $12.99), a rent-to-own plugin marketplace for third-party software (Serum 2, V Collection, Spitfire, iZotope, Native Instruments), artist-curated pack and virtual instrument sales, and enterprise partnerships with major labels. The company has executed an aggressive expansion through M&A (Spitfire Audio ~$50M in April 2025, Kits AI in January 2026, Superpowered in 2020, Indaba Media in 2018) and strategic partnerships with Universal Music Group (December 2025), ElevenLabs (May 2026), and Anthropic (April 2026), while taking on debt to fund this expansion. Generative AI capabilities (Variations, Craft, Magic Fit, Search with Sound, Create Mode) are built on Splice's proprietary licensed catalog and are differentiated by an embedded creator-compensation model for AI-generated output.

Splice has raised approximately $159.75M in disclosed venture funding across six rounds from 2013 through a $55M Series C led by Goldman Sachs Growth Equity in February 2021, with a diversified investor base including True Ventures, Union Square Ventures, DFJ Growth, Flybridge, Lerer Hippeau, and others. The company employs 101–250 people and operates as a private, independently held entity led by CEO Kakul Srivastava and Co-founder/Executive Chairman/Chief of Strategy Steve Martocci, with a content-led senior team including CCO Dan Zaccagnino, CMO Paul Kim, SVP of Content Kenny Ochoa (joined July 2024), and SVP of Marketing Jeff Roberto. Splice is positioned within a $7B global music software and services market projected to nearly double to $14B by 2031, with the plugin sub-market at $640M and the broader audio creator platforms market projected at $10.3B by 2033.

Name

Splice

Legal name

Splice Sounds, Inc.

Website

https://splice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Splice is a cloud-based music creation platform serving independent producers and creators with a royalty-free sample library, virtual instruments, plugins, and generative AI tools, distributed via native DAW integrations and a credit-based subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Production Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Record Production and Distribution (512250)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Sample Libraries, Loops & Sound Content Platforms (MPAIAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB), Music Production Workflow & Project Management Tools (Session management, asset/versioning) (MPAIAIAK), Music Recognition, Lyrics & Metadata Platforms (MPAIADAK)

Keywords

• Royalty-free samples
• Music production software
• Virtual instruments
• Audio plugins marketplace
• AI music creation tools

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Subscription Plans (Sounds+, Creator, Creator+): Recurring monthly subscription revenue from tiered plans that provide monthly credits for downloading samples, presets, and MIDI. Plans include Sounds+ ($12.99/mo, 100 credits), Creator ($19.99/mo regular, $4.99 promotional, 200 credits), Creator+ ($39.99/mo, 500 credits). Credits roll over monthly. Samples and downloads are retained by users even after cancellation.
2. INSTRUMENT Subscription: Dedicated virtual instrument subscription ($12.99/mo) providing unlimited access to all INSTRUMENT premium presets and exclusive new packs released monthly. Included in Creator and Creator+ plans.
3. DAW Integration Plans: Specific subscription plans for Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Studio One integrations ($12.99/mo each) that provide DAW-native access to Splice's sample catalog with daily sample licensing limits (up to 100 samples/day by drag-and-drop), with 100 intro credits upon conversion.
4. Rent-to-Own Plugin Sales: Splice operates a rent-to-own marketplace for third-party plugins (Serum 2, V Collection 11 Pro, Spitfire Audio instruments, iZotope, Native Instruments, etc.) where users pay monthly installments until they own the full license. Example: Serum 2 at $9.99/mo for 25 months, RC-20 at $4.99/mo for 20 months. Also includes one-time purchase options for select plugins.
5. Enterprise/Artist Pack Licensing: Revenue from creating and selling exclusive artist-curated sample packs (e.g., Southside King of Trap, John Legend: Ordinary People Piano, KSHMR, Murda Beatz packs) and virtual instrument preset packs from high-profile artists, which serve as both content and marketing assets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Splice fundamentally operates a cloud-based music creation platform that sells access to a royalty-free sample library, virtual instruments, and audio plugins, alongside AI-powered production tools. Its core commercial offering is a subscription-based catalog of pre-cleared samples and loops that producers can download and use in commercial releases, complemented by a rent-to-own marketplace for third-party plugins and proprietary software instruments (Splice INSTRUMENT, Astra, BeatMaker).

Product overview

Splice is a music creation platform organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is Splice Sounds, a royalty-free sample library with millions of samples available via credit-based subscription. This core is extended through proprietary plugins including the Splice Sounds Plugin (beta) for in-DAW sample access with AI Variations, Splice INSTRUMENT for playable virtual instruments with integrated LABS content, and Splice Bridge for tempo-synced previewing. The Plugins Marketplace provides third-party rent-to-own and for-sale access to professional tools like Spitfire Audio libraries, Serum 2, and Arturia V Collection. Desktop and Mobile apps enable cross-device workflow continuity. Recent expansion includes AI capabilities through Variations (generative sample variations), Kits AI (voice cloning), and ElevenLabs partnership (text-to-speech/audio generation), all emphasizing creator compensation. DAW integrations with Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Studio One Pro enable native in-workflow sample licensing and Search with Sound AI matching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Splice INSTRUMENT: A sample-based virtual instrument plugin (VST, AU, AAX) providing playable sounds, world-class presets, and free monthly drops, integrated into users' DAWs.
• Splice Sounds
• Sounds Plugin (beta)
• Splice Bridge
• Splice Desktop App
• Splice Mobile
• Astra
• BeatMaker

Products and services

• Splice Sounds
• Splice INSTRUMENT Virtual instrument plugin providing producers with playable sounds and presets that integrate into major DAWs.
• Plugins Marketplace (Rent-to-Own) Rent-to-own marketplace for third-party audio plugins and virtual instruments (e.g., Serum 2 from Xfer Records, Arturia instruments, Spitfire Audio content), where users pay monthly installments until they own the full license.
• Splice Desktop App Desktop application providing a stand-alone interface to browse, audition, and manage Splice sample downloads and instruments outside of a DAW.
• Splice Mobile App Mobile application extending Splice's creation and discovery capabilities to iOS devices.
• Splice Bridge Utility plugin enabling communication and workflow bridging between Splice's desktop/mobile tools and the user's DAW.
• Spitfire Audio (acquired) Acquired orchestral sample library and virtual instrument brand providing professional scoring and cinematic content integrated with Splice's platform.
• Kits AI (acquired) Acquired AI vocal tooling platform offering products such as Astra and BeatMaker for vocal processing and AI-driven creation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated royalty payments reduced from 8 weeks (manual processing) to under 1 hour via Tipalti integration
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElevenLabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Splice announced a partnership with ElevenLabs to develop AI-powered creative tools for music producers and creators, integrating ElevenLabs' text-to-speech, voice cloning, and AI audio generation technology into Splice's production ecosystem. The collaboration embeds AI directly into music-making workflows rather than as standalone tools. Both companies committed to compensating original sample creators for each use of AI-generated content, emphasizing 'responsible AI' principles. The partnership follows Splice's acquisition of Kits AI and its prior deal with Universal Music Group.
• AbletoncoreTechnology or Integration · 28 April 2026Splice is part of Anthropic's coalition of creative tool partners for Claude AI connectors. Splice's DAW integration with Ableton Live 12.3+ enables Claude to search royalty-free samples in Splice, with the integration targeting design studios, animation pipelines, and music production environments.
• Kits AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Splice acquired Kits AI, an AI-powered voice production platform specializing in licensed voice cloning and generative vocals, in January 2026. The acquisition represents Splice's continued expansion into AI-driven audio tools for music producers and creators. Both Splice and BeatStars made AI music acquisitions in the same period, reflecting a broader industry trend toward opt-in AI models in music creation.
• Universal Music GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Universal Music Group and Splice announced a collaboration to develop the next generation of AI-powered music creation tools for artists. The partnership aims to create commercial AI tools that maintain creative control, sonic excellence, and proper compensation for creators while exploring AI-powered virtual instruments for UMG artists. UMG artists will actively participate in shaping tool development, integrating their own sounds into Splice's AI workflows. The agreement builds on Splice's existing AI-enabled creator tools and its prior commitment to responsible AI practices (Principles for Music Creation with AI, signed June 2024).
• TipaltiminorOthers · 18 December 2025Splice adopted Tipalti's automated payment system to manage royalty payments to its global creators, reducing manual processing time from over two weeks (for hundreds of payments) to less than one hour. Tipalti enables Splice to make timely payments to artists across over 200 countries.
• Spitfire AudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Splice acquired Spitfire Audio, the UK's premier developer of high-end virtual instrument libraries for composers and producers, in a rumored $50 million deal. The acquisition combines Spitfire's cinematic orchestral soundscapes (recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios, and other world-renowned institutions) with Splice's AI-powered sample discovery engine. Both companies will operate independently in the near term while developing new products that blend Spitfire's orchestral expertise with Splice's AI-driven catalog. Spitfire Audio's CEO Olivier Robert-Murphy and founders Paul Thomson and Christian Henson remain in their roles, and Spitfire has committed to continuing its perpetual-license model.
• John LegendminorOthersJohn Legend partnered with Splice to release 'Ordinary People Piano' — a Splice INSTRUMENT preset pack capturing the warmth and character of his iconic grand piano recorded and mixed to echo the sound world of his album 'Get Lifted.' The pack includes five presets and serves as a premium content product on the Splice platform.
• Southside (Joshua Luellen)minorOthersSouthside (Joshua Luellen), credited with inventing trap music, partnered with Splice to release exclusive sample packs ('Southside's I Invented Trap Sample Pack Vol 1' and 'Southside - King of Trap Vol. 1'). These packs feature his signature sounds and serve as both premium content and marketing assets for Splice.
• KSHMRminorOthersKSHMR partnered with Splice to release sample packs (Sounds of KSHMR series) featuring his signature EDM and world music-influenced sounds. Multiple KSHMR packs appear in Splice's top charts, making him a key content partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BandLab: Social music creation and collaboration platform with sample loops, virtual instruments, and a marketplace. Identified in industry reports alongside Splice as a leading player in music collaboration platforms.
• LANDR: AI-powered music production and mastering platform offering samples, plugins, and automated mastering. Direct competitor in AI-assisted creator tooling and sample distribution.
• Output: Sample libraries and instrument plugins (Arcade, Exhale, Signal) for producers. Closely comparable in product category (samples + plugins) and target customer (independent producers).
• Loopmasters: Long-established royalty-free sample library marketplace serving electronic music producers. Direct competitor in the sample library category Splice pioneered.
• BeatStars: Marketplace and tool platform for beat makers and producers, also active in AI music acquisitions. Comparable in producer-first GTM and creator monetization.
• Soundtrap (Spotify): Cloud-based music creation and collaboration platform owned by Spotify. Direct competitor in the online collaboration segment Splice competes in.

Broad incumbents

• Native Instruments: Major music software and hardware vendor (Massive, Kontakt, Komplete). Broad incumbent in music production whose plugins and samples compete directly with Splice's marketplace and INSTRUMENT offerings.
• iZotope: Audio processing and AI-driven production tools (Ozone, Neutron, RX). Broad incumbent whose AI-powered audio tools overlap with Splice's AI roadmap (voice production, mixing/mastering).
• Epidemic Sound: Subscription music licensing platform for content creators and brands. Adjacent incumbent in royalty-free creator audio, with overlapping GTM into the creator economy.

Emerging players

• Suno: Generative AI music creation platform producing full songs from text prompts. Emerging disruptor that could compress Splice's value proposition for amateur/prosumer producers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb8xLPa5RP8TnCsU7E5ASKQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/spliceofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/splice
• TikToktiktok.com/@splicemusic
• Xx.com/splice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/splice-com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors16 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Splice