SoundCloud acquires decentralized music platform Nina
SoundCloud acquires decentralized music platform Nina Protocol months after the startup announced it would shut down. The streaming company is taking on Nina’s artists, editorial archive, and genre map, and is offering creators a migration tool plus complimentary Artist subscriptions through the end of 2026. Deal terms were not disclosed.
Key Takeaways
- SoundCloud has bought Nina Protocol, a Solana-based music platform that let artists sell directly to fans and keep 100% of revenue.
- Nina shut down on May 28 after saying it could not build a sustainable business model.
- SoundCloud will preserve Nina’s editorial archive and “genre map,” and is rolling out a migration tool for artists.
- Financial terms were not disclosed, and it is unclear whether Nina’s team will join SoundCloud.
The move is SoundCloud’s first acquisition since its 2022 purchase of AI music company Musiio, and it points to a wider push beyond hosting into tools for independent artists. For more coverage of platform shifts and creator tech, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Why did SoundCloud acquire Nina Protocol?
According to TechCrunch, SoundCloud wants to honor Nina’s artist-first mission while carrying it forward on a larger platform.
CEO Eliah Seton said Nina “built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first.” He said the companies would help more independents deepen fan relationships, unlock new ways to earn, and access tools for sustainable careers.
SoundCloud will take ownership of Nina’s editorial archive and “genre map.” In a blog post, the company said that preserves Nina’s music journalism, artist features, and cultural commentary, and can help surface emerging artists, scenes, and music to more listeners.
What happens to Nina Protocol artists now?
SoundCloud is offering a migration tool so Nina artists can transfer their work to its platform. Artists will also receive a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription through the end of the year, including monetization features and audience growth tools.
Whether any Nina employees will join SoundCloud remains unclear. The company had not responded to a TechCrunch request for comment on staffing or deal value when the report published.
How did Nina Protocol work before it shut down?
Founded in 2021 by independent musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber, Nina let artists run their own digital storefronts without relying on traditional streaming platforms. Artists could sell music directly to fans while keeping 100% of their revenue.
The service ran on the Solana blockchain for fast, low-cost transactions and used Arweave for permanent decentralized storage of music files and metadata. Nina announced it would shut down on May 28, citing an inability to establish a sustainable business model—months before SoundCloud’s acquisition.
For SoundCloud, absorbing a decentralized music experiment after its closure is a bet that Nina’s community, catalog, and editorial DNA still matter—even if the original protocol could not stand alone.