Soundrop
Soundrop is a digital music distribution platform enabling independent artists to release music to 20+ streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok, using a per-track pricing model. It operates as a subsidiary of Downtown Music Holdings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Soundrop does
Soundrop is a digital music distribution platform that enables independent artists, YouTubers, and small music labels to release songs to more than twenty streaming and social platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon, Deezer, Pandora, Tidal, TikTok, and Instagram, plus emerging-market services such as Boomplay, Anghami, NetEase, and Tencent. The platform was founded in 2011 in Oslo, Norway and now operates as a subsidiary of Downtown Music Holdings under the legal entity Audio and Video Labs, Inc. (Portland, Oregon). Its product surface spans digital distribution, automated cover-song licensing ($0.99 per cover with ongoing mechanical royalty handling), collaborator revenue splits with monthly payouts, Content ID administration on YouTube and Facebook, and sync licensing for film, television, and games, with API access available to distributor-tier accounts managing up to 2,500 tracks.
The underlying technology is a web-based self-serve application (app.soundrop.com) for upload, metadata management, and catalog encoding, supported by automated rights-administration workflows and partnerships with creator-service vendors such as CloudBounce, Cosynd, Laylo, and Rotor. Distribution is the core engine, while licensing and splits are differentiated compliance infrastructure that secures publisher notifications and routes royalties to collaborators automatically. Headcount is in the 11–50 range and the leadership team comprises CEO Jørn Haanaes and CTO Ali Sabil.
Soundrop's revenue model is built on a flat $4.99 per-track distribution fee plus a 15% commission on earnings (with 85% retained by creators), and includes separate revenue shares from sync licensing (60% to creators) and Content ID revenue on user-generated content (85% to creators). There are no subscriptions, annual fees, or recurring charges, positioning the platform against subscription-based competitors such as TuneCore and DistroKid. Customers span four tiers — individual artists, managers, independent labels, and high-volume distributors — and the company relies on a direct-to-creator, product-led go-to-market motion supported by YouTube creator testimonials and a partner ecosystem. The company is privately held and not publicly listed.
Soundrop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soundrop
- Legal name
- Audio and Video Labs, Inc. d/b/a Soundrop
- Website
- https://soundrop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Soundrop is a digital music distribution platform enabling independent artists to release music to 20+ streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok, using a per-track pricing model. It operates as a subsidiary of Downtown Music Holdings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Soundrop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Soundrop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Digital Distribution - Per Track Fee: One-time fee of $4.99 per track distributed. Includes cover-song licensing and collaborator splits. Revenue is recognized at distribution request time.
- Platform Commission on Earnings: 15% commission on all revenue earned by tracks distributed through the platform. Soundrop retains this from gross revenue after deduction of marketplace costs and licensing fees. This aligns incentives as Soundrop only earns when artists earn.
- Sync Licensing Revenue Share: 85% of net Content ID revenue on UGC networks (YouTube, Facebook) paid to creators; 60% of net sync licensing fees for other sync uses (film, TV, games) paid to creators.
- Cover Song Licensing Fee: $0.99 per cover song for securing perpetual cover-song license, notifying publishers, and ongoing mechanical royalty administration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Per-track distribution at $4.99 plus 15% commission on earnings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cover song licensing at $0.99 per cover |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Creator Tools partner discounts (10-50% off) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Soundrop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soundrop is a self-serve digital music distribution platform that enables independent artists, musicians, YouTube creators, managers, labels, and distributors to upload music and distribute it to 20+ streaming and social platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, and Instagram. It charges $4.99 per track plus a 15% commission on earnings, and bundles in cover-song licensing ($0.99 per cover), automated collaborator royalty splits, YouTube Content ID administration, and sync licensing services.
Product overview
Soundrop operates as a digital music distribution platform offering a unified service architecture centered on music distribution, licensing, and royalty management. The core offering combines Digital Music Distribution with Splits & Licensing services, supplemented by Creator Tools (partner discounts) and Sync Distribution for licensing content to film, TV, and games. Revenue Splits functionality enables in-platform collaborator payment management. The platform uses a per-track pricing model ($4.99/track) plus 15% revenue share, with no subscription fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital Music Distribution
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% revenue share for artists (Soundrop takes 15%)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Soundrop
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Soundrop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Soundrop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Downtown Music HoldingsflagshipSoundrop is a part of Downtown Music Holdings, the world's largest music services company. This affiliation provides access to experts in every aspect of the music industry, global reach across 50+ million music assets from hundreds of countries across six continents.
- SpotifycoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop. One of the primary distribution targets for independent artists using the platform.
- Apple MusiccoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop.
- YouTube MusiccoreDigital streaming and user-generated content platform partner. Soundrop provides ContentID administration for monetization on YouTube.
- TikTokcoreSocial media platform partner for music distribution and integration, enabling artists to reach TikTok's massive user base.
- InstagramcoreSocial media platform partner for music distribution, supporting artists' presence on Meta's platform.
- Amazon MusiccoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop.
- DeezercoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop.
- PandoracoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop.
- TidalcoreDigital streaming platform partner receiving music distribution from Soundrop.
- CloudBounceminorAI-driven automated mastering service partner offering Soundrop artists 50%+ discounts. Integration provides seamless mastering-to-distribution workflow.
- CosyndminorCopyright and agreement service partner offering Soundrop artists $10 savings on registration. Helps artists protect their intellectual property.
- LaylominorFan messaging platform partner offering 20% off first month for Soundrop artists. Enables artists to notify fans about new releases, merch, and content.
- RotorminorAutomated video creation partner offering 10% discount for Soundrop artists. Creates music videos for YouTube, streaming platforms, and social media.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Soundrop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AWAL: AWAL (formerly owned by Sony, now Kobalt) provides distribution and label services to independent artists and emerging labels with a revenue-share model. Competes with Soundrop on premium distributor positioning and label-tier offerings.
- Amuse: Amuse is a mobile-first digital music distributor that offers free and paid distribution tiers to streaming platforms. Targets independent artists with a similar self-serve, app-driven approach to Soundrop.
- TuneCore: TuneCore (owned by Believe) is a leading DIY music distributor delivering music to Spotify, Apple Music, and other major platforms, historically subscription-based. Competes head-to-head with Soundrop for the independent artist segment.
- DistroKid: DistroKid is the largest DIY music distribution platform, distributing to all major streaming services with flat-fee subscription pricing. It is Soundrop's closest direct competitor for independent artists seeking low-cost, frictionless distribution.
- RouteNote: RouteNote provides free and premium digital music distribution to streaming platforms and YouTube Content ID. Competes directly with Soundrop at the price-sensitive end of the aggregator market.
- CD Baby: CD Baby is one of the original DIY music aggregators, distributing independent artists' music to all major DSPs with a no-subscription, per-release fee model. Closely matches Soundrop's pricing philosophy and target audience.
- UnitedMasters: UnitedMasters is a DIY distribution platform founded to help independent artists distribute to streaming platforms and monetize through brand partnerships. Direct competitor to Soundrop, particularly for the YouTube/social-platform native creator.
- Stem: Stem (now part of another entity) is a distribution platform focused on transparent royalty splits and direct-to-DSP delivery with artist-friendly payment terms. Directly comparable to Soundrop's splits and transparent-payout positioning.
- Ditto Music: Ditto Music is a UK-based DIY music distribution platform with subscription and per-release pricing. Competes with Soundrop across all major streaming platforms and on YouTube Content ID monetization.
Emerging players
- LANDR: LANDR offers AI-driven mastering and digital music distribution to streaming platforms from a single creator dashboard. Overlaps with Soundrop on distribution and on the creator-tools ecosystem (LANDR partners with mastering-adjacent services similar to CloudBounce).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Soundrop social profiles
Digital presenceSoundrop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soundrop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Soundrop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soundrop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Soundrop
What does Soundrop do?
Soundrop is a self-serve digital music distribution platform that enables independent artists, musicians, YouTube creators, managers, labels, and distributors to upload music and distribute it to 20+ streaming and social platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, and Instagram. It charges $4.99 per track plus a 15% commission on earnings, and bundles in cover-song licensing ($0.99 per cover), automated collaborator royalty splits, YouTube Content ID administration, and sync licensing services.
Is Soundrop a public or private company?
Soundrop is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Soundrop founded?
Soundrop was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Soundrop based?
Soundrop is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Soundrop make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Digital Distribution - Per Track Fee is the primary driver. The others are platform Commission on Earnings, sync Licensing Revenue Share and cover Song Licensing Fee.
Who are Soundrop's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AWAL, Amuse, TuneCore, DistroKid, RouteNote, CD Baby, UnitedMasters, Stem and Ditto Music. LANDR is listed as an emerging player.
Does Soundrop have an API?
Yes. Soundrop offers API access available to Distributor-tier accounts. The API enables programmatic access for distribution management, catalog encoding, metadata management, and reporting services. This allows distributors to build custom integrations and automate distribution workflows.