SoundCloud, ubiquitous music streaming site and integral part of music’s internet paradigm, is set to begin rolling out ads today. The move comes from a brand new licensing deal that the site struck with various entertainment companies. The ads and the revenue they generate will allow artists and labels to collect royalties. SoundCloud’s goal is to introduce a paid subscription that will allow users to skip ads.
The initiative is called On SoundCloud, and features three tiered levels for artists. The first, Partner, is free and allows three hours of uploads along with providing basic stats. The Pro and brand new Premier level offer more comprehensive services. Premier is invite-only for the time being, and will feature a visual profile, unlimited content, promoted tracks and profiles, and a revenue sharing system.