Mixcloud

Music streaming service Mixcloud has signed a licensing agreement with Warner Music Group, its first deal with a major record company.

According to Mixcloud’s press release, the agreement will help enable a new offering in which fans can subscribe to creator channels “for a more interactive listening experience.” The deal will also “help audio creators on the platform monetise their content.”

Founded in 2008, Mixcloud offers around 12 million radio shows, DJ sets, and podcasts, which are produced by over 1 million creators. However, the platform uses a statutory radio license, which limits the content that creators can use. Some creators have experienced copyright takedowns in recent years, similar to that of SoundCloud and other platforms.

Nico Perez, co-founder and director of content at Mixcloud, said in the press release:

“Since the beginning, we have worked with rightsholders to both monetise long-form audio and champion the importance of curation in the streaming industry. As we embark on direct licensing relationships with the major labels, we are committed to doing what is best for artists, curators, music fans, and the industry.”

Ole Obermann, EVP of business development and chief digital officer at Warner Music Group, added:

“This deal is a good example of our willingness to experiment and lead in embracing differentiated new business models. As streaming opens up access to a vast universe of music, we are seeing a complimentary rise in fans’ engagement with curated experiences, such as playlists, on-demand radio shows, and DJ sets.”

Billboard reports that Mixcloud is in discussions with Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and independent rights organization Merlin about striking similar license deals to that of Warner.

Mixcloud hasn’t revealed details of the new subscription plan, but Perez told Financial Times:

“We don’t want to do the $9.99 a month. That’s done. That market is served. What we’re building is going to be very customised.”

Financial Times added:

“While the labels have been hesitant to budge on a $10 a month price, Warner Music does not view Mixcloud as a direct threat to Spotify, which made the label more open to experiment, according to one person close to the deal.”

Updated on Oct. 10, 2017.

Related: Warner Music Group Buys Spinnin’ Records

 
Nearly four hours of content gets uploaded to Mixcloud every minute, the company says. The statistic was revealed today in a blog post celebrating its fifth anniversary.
 
Mixcloud also revealed that over six million shows have been uploaded by 650,000 DJs, radio presenters and curators since its launch. A record 200,000 were uploaded in the last month alone, with each averaging 45 minutes.
 
Up until recently, SoundCloud was the preferred platform for DJs to upload mixes to. However, the company’s tightening of copyright enforcement in recent months has resulted in many DJs moving to similar services such as Mixcloud, iTunes Podcasts and PodOmatic.
 
In August, Mixcloud introduced Pro accounts that provide content creators with advanced analytics, scheduled uploads, profile customization, and more. DJcity readers can get three months of free service with the promo code: DJCITYFREETRIAL (monthly plan only).
 
Be sure to follow DJcity on Mixcloud for weekly mixes every Tuesday and Friday.
 
Related: Mixcloud Introduces Subscriptions & Repost Feature

 
Internet radio start-up Mixcloud announced subscription accounts for both listeners and uploaders today. A free version of the service will remain but those that are serious about improving their experience now have the option to upgrade.
 
The “Pro” account for uploaders costs $15/month or $135/year and gives access to an analytics dashboard showing their audience size, source, location and engagement, along with advanced publishing tools that include comment control and scheduled uploads.
 
Specifically, the analytics dashboard includes a graph that shows where listeners are dropping off — a useful feature for DJs that are curious to know how their mixes perform on a track-by-track basis.
 

 
Listeners can also upgrade to a “Premium” account which provides an “uncluttered ad-free listening experience” for $6.99/month or $69.99/year.
 
In addition to subscription accounts, the company also added a much-needed “repost” feature which Mixcloud co-founder and CTO Mat Clayton said was “inspired by the concept of ‘Retweets’ and ‘Reblogs’ on Twitter and Tumblr.
 

 
Mixcloud has seen a surge of new users in recents months as unlicensed platforms such as SoundCloud ramp up their copyright takedowns. Mixcloud is unique in its nature as a licensed platform that pays royalties for the tracks streamed within each radio show or DJ mix.
 
Mixcloud currently has 10 million monthly listeners and reported a 60% increase in total listening time since their redesign in January.