Soundcloud issues statement following Terms Of Service AI update backlash

Soundcloud issues statement following Terms Of Service AI update backlash

SoundCloud has released a statement clarifying it has “never used artist content to train AI models”.

The clarification arrives following recent backlash against the company over an update to its Terms of Service, highlighted by tech publication Futurism last week, which seemingly allows the platform to use artists’ content to train AI.

The update, which was added in February 2024, states: “In the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, You [the user] explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services.”

In a statement published on Friday (9th May), the Berlin-based company asserted that it has “never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes.”

“In fact, we implemented technical safeguards, including a ‘no AI’ tag on our site to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use,” it continued.

The statement went on to explain that the February 2024 update was “intended to clarify how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud’s own platform”, describing other AI “use cases” such as personalised recommendations and fraud detection. Read the full response below. 

Speaking to The Verge, Marni Greenberg, SVP and head of communications at SoundCloud, issued a separate statement. Should the company “ever consider using user content to train generative AI models,” it would introduce “clear opt-out mechanisms in advance — at a minimum — and remain committed to transparency with our creator community.”

Greenberg explained that the Terms of Service explicitly prohibit “the use of licensed content, such as music from major labels, for training any AI models, including generative AI. For other types of content uploaded to SoundCloud, the TOS allows for the possibility of AI-related use.”

However, SoundCloud does not appear to have yet ruled out using artists’ content to train AI models in the future.

In 2022, SoundCloud laid off around 20% of its workforce, later letting go of another 8% in May 2023 as part of a bid to make the streaming platform profitable. The following year, it was reportedly set to to go on sale for over $1bn, although nothing appears to have materialised on that front as yet.

Meanwhile, the use of AI in music continues to ignite tensions across the industry. Following the recent Make It Fair Campaign and open letter, which aims to raise awareness of the threat generative AI presents to the creative industries, today (12th May) marks a crucial vote in the House of Lords.

More than 400 people signed the letter addressed to the UK Prime Minister, including Elton John, Kate Bush, and Dua Lipa, asking him to support an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would require developers to be open with copyright owners about how their content is used to train AI models.

Earlier this year, composer Max Richter joined a chorus of artists calling for regulation of AI, telling MPs that training AI systems on copyrighted music “unfair and unworkable” for artists.

Soundcloud’s statement: 

SoundCloud has always been and will remain artist-first. Our focus is on empowering artists with control, clarity, and meaningful opportunities to grow. We believe AI, when developed responsibly, can expand creative potential—especially when guided by principles of consent, attribution, and fair compensation.

SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes. In fact, we implemented technical safeguards, including a “no AI” tag on our site to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use.

The February 2024 update to our Terms of Service was intended to clarify how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud’s own platform. Use cases include personalized recommendations, content organization, fraud detection, and improvements to content identification with the help of AI Technologies.

Any future application of AI at SoundCloud will be designed to support human artists, enhancing the tools, capabilities, reach and opportunities available to them on our platform. Examples include improving music recommendations, generating playlists, organizing content, and detecting fraudulent activity. These efforts are aligned with existing licensing agreements and ethical standards. Tools like Musiio are strictly used to power artist discovery and content organization, not to train generative AI models.

We understand the concerns raised and remain committed to open dialogue. Artists will continue to have control over their work, and we’ll keep our community informed every step of the way as we explore innovation and apply AI technologies responsibly, especially as legal and commercial frameworks continue to evolve.

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