SoundCloud acquires Nina Protocol to bolster indie artist tools

SoundCloud has acquired Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform that shut down just months ago due to an unsustainable business model. Pricing details remain confidential, and it is unknown if any of Nina’s employees will transition to SoundCloud.

Nina launched in 2021 under the leadership of independent musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber. By utilizing the Solana blockchain and Arweave for permanent file storage, it allowed creators to operate digital storefronts outside traditional streaming frameworks and retain all their sales revenue. The platform officially closed on May 28 after failing to find a viable economic path forward.

Under the agreement, SoundCloud assumes ownership of Nina’s editorial archive and its “genre map,” a repository of music journalism, artist profiles, and cultural commentary originally designed to highlight underground scenes.

Consolidating the independent economy

This marks the company’s first corporate takeover since it purchased the artificial intelligence startup Musiio in 2022 to enhance music discovery. The strategy indicates a clear shift away from acting solely as an audio host toward becoming a full-service infrastructure provider for independent musicians.

By absorbing a defunct Web3 project, SoundCloud is effectively capturing the user base that decentralized technology failed to monetize. To smooth the transition, SoundCloud is providing Nina artists with a migration tool to transfer their catalogs. They will also receive a free Artist subscription through the end of the year, granting access to audience growth and monetization features.

“Nina Protocol built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first, and our priority is to honor what they’ve created, while carrying that mission forward,” SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton said in a statement. “Together, we’ll help more independent artists build deeper relationships with fans, unlock new ways to earn, and access the tools they need to grow sustainable careers on their own terms.”

The underlying economics of the independent music sector remain notoriously difficult. Nina’s collapse demonstrated that eliminating middlemen through blockchain does not inherently generate the transaction volume required to sustain a platform. SoundCloud is now attempting to offer those same direct-to-fan financial tools, but within the safety of a centralized corporate structure.