SoundCloud acquires Nina Protocol after its shutdown
Original: SoundCloud acquires decentralized music platform Nina Protocol months after its shutdown
Why This Matters
Signals SoundCloud's push to expand beyond music hosting into a broader independent artist platform.
SoundCloud announced on July 22 the acquisition of Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform that shut down in May 2026. Financial terms were undisclosed. SoundCloud will take ownership of Nina's editorial archive and genre map, and offer artists a migration tool plus a free Artist subscription through year-end.
SoundCloud announced Wednesday it has acquired Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform founded in 2021 by Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber. Nina Protocol allowed independent artists to sell music directly to fans while keeping 100% of revenue, operating on the Solana blockchain for low-cost transactions and using Arweave for decentralized storage. The platform shut down on May 28, 2026, citing an inability to establish a sustainable business model.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Nina team members will join SoundCloud. As part of the acquisition, SoundCloud gains Nina's editorial archive and 'genre map,' which the company says will help surface emerging artists and music to wider audiences.
CEO Eliah Seton stated: '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.' SoundCloud is offering Nina artists a migration tool and a complimentary Artist subscription through the end of 2026. This marks SoundCloud's first acquisition since its 2022 purchase of AI music company Musiio.