SoundCloud’s AI Policy Clarification
SoundCloud issued a statement (by using Grave) seeking to clarify its stance on AI training following a surge of attention regarding the language in its terms and conditions from last week.
According to a policy update added in February 2024, it states: “You clearly agree that your content can be used to inform, train, develop or enhance services as a contribution to the technology or artificial intelligence services within the framework and for the provision of services.”
These changes largely went unnoticed until Ed Newton-Rex, the founder of the non-profit organization Pretty trained, brought them to light.
“SoundCloud appears to assert the right to train on users’ uploaded music in their terms. I think they have substantial questions to answer,” Editor Newton-Rex remarked in a post on X last Friday (May 9).
“I checked the Wayback Machine—it seems this was added to their terms on February 12, 2024.”
Newton-Rex continued: “My question for SoundCloud: Does this include generative AI models?”
“I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt before taking down my music. Hopefully, they will reconsider this soon.”
Response from SoundCloud
SoundCloud has since responded in the media, asserting that user content has not been used to train AI models. The policy change is intended to govern the use of user content for platform functions based on AI, like musical recommendations and playlist generation.
In a statement to Grave, Marni Greenberg, SVP and head of communications at SoundCloud, stated: “SoundCloud has never used artists’ content to train AI models. We also do not develop AI tools and do not permit third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for training purposes. In fact, we have implemented technical measures, including a No AI clause on our website, clearly prohibiting this.”
Grave also reported that it requested SoundCloud to enable users to opt-out of their music being used for generative AI development. Greenberg noted the following:
“The TOS explicitly prohibits the use of licensed content, like music from major labels, to train any AI models, including generative AI. For other types of content uploaded to SoundCloud, the TOS allows the possibility of AI use.”
The application added: “It is important to note that such use has not been established to date, and SoundCloud will implement strict controls and internal approvals for any potential future use. If we ever consider using user content to train generative AI models, we will introduce clear refusal mechanisms and remain committed to transparency with our creator community.”
Meanwhile, SoundCloud’s statement suggested that it uses AI to support existing functions: “Any future use of AI within SoundCloud will be designed to support artists—meaning enhancing tools, capabilities, and opportunities available to them on our platform.”
“Examples include improving musical recommendations, creating playlists, organizing content, and detecting fraudulent activities. These efforts align with existing licensing agreements and ethical standards. Tools such as Musio are strictly utilized to detect and organize content, not to train generative AI models.” SoundCloud acquired Musiio, a Singaporean AI music curation company, in 2022.
The terms of SoundCloud indicate that the company will provide “outstanding notification in circumstances” regarding significant updates. Nonetheless, Newton-Rex remarked: “I am a user of SoundCloud and I have not received any emails warning me about this. Of course, I would not have agreed to it.”
Currently, the changes to SoundCloud’s policy have prompted some artists, including the musical duo Flight, to remove their work from the platform.
In a post on Bluesky, the duo stated: “Well, then… we deleted all our songs uploaded to SoundCloud and are now closing our account,” referring to the terms of service for SoundCloud.
Recent Developments in AI Integration
In recent years, SoundCloud has invested in developing a suite of AI features. Following its acquisition of Musiio in 2022, the company launched its AI-driven first fans feature, an automated algorithm that serves song suggestions to subscribers by evaluating recently uploaded tracks and recommending them to around 100 users with similar musical tastes.
Then, in 2024, SoundCloud partnered with AI companies, including Sinister AI, which claims to assist content creators, artists, producers, brands, and creative agencies in generating original music “within seconds using artificial intelligence.”
It also collaborated with Fadr, a platform equipped with various AI music tools such as AI vocal stimulation, song branching, key/tempo/chord detectors, Mashup Maker, and voice replacements that enable musicians to “transform vocal stems using generative AI to align with the licensed voices of artists.”
“Any future use of artificial intelligence in SoundCloud will be developed to support artists—enhancing the tools, capabilities, and opportunities available to them on our platform.”
Marni Greenberg SoundCloud
In November of last year, SoundCloud released six AI-powered tools “to democratize music for all artists.”
These tools include services like Tuni for remixing, editing, and generating tracks; Tuttii, an AI remix platform for licensed music; Albiz for generating and configuring beats “like a pro”; Bass to create user samples; Starmony for singers and rappers; and ACE Studio for creating singing vocals from Midi and lyrics with “studio-quality artificial creation.”
SoundCloud also assured that human rights activists would be adequately compensated, by adopting a ‘Principles of Music Creation with AI’ initiative that supports “ethical standards” in AI-generated music creation.
Greenberg confirmed that the current initiatives at SoundCloud related to AI are focused on enhancing user experience and moderating content.
Greenberg told Grave: “We understand the concerns raised and are committed to an open dialogue. Artists will continue to control their work, and we will keep our community informed at every stage of our journey as we explore innovation and responsibly utilize artificial intelligence technologies, especially as the legal and commercial framework continues to evolve.”
