SoundCloud adds artist and fan DMs to its iOS app

SoundCloud artists and fans can now send and receive direct messages (DMs) in the SoundCloud iOS app as well as via Android and the web.

The ability to message fans – and for fans to message artists – is not available on Spotify, Apple Music, or any other major music streaming platform.

What SoundCloud DMs mean for Artists and what they don’t

SoundCloud DMs are an important innovation as one-on-one superfan or musician-to-musician networking tools, but they are not a tool to share an announcement with all their fans. For those blasts, an artist’s email list and messaging via Bandsintown For Artists are more useful

“Streaming isn’t working for the vast majority of artists,” wrote Tracy Chan, SoundCloud as SVP of Creator, while announcing the new feature last month. “Why? Because streaming services won’t tell you who your fans are. Instead, they run business models built on selling you access to your fans.”

Some ways that SoundCloud suggests using its new DMs include:

• Send a DM directly from a profile page. “Got a music crush? Let them know! Just click the “Message” button at the top of their profile.”
• Share your favorite songs and playlists with friends. “You can attach your latest discovery by attaching a playlist or track straight from the DMs.”
• Connect directly with your favorite artists and get noticed.
• Share your work in progress by attaching a secret link. This is a reliable and easy way to share a private track or playlist. “
• Make sure you get email notifications for new DMs (or don’t). You can tweak this setting in the Notifications tab within Settings. You can also control what email is connected in Settings.
• If you only want to receive messages from people you follow, you can control who messages you through the Privacy tab within Settings.

“From sharing songs and playlists to sending heartfelt messages and invites to collaborate, DMs are the best way to connect and build your network,” according to Rohit Agarwal, SoundCloud’s Chief Product Officer. “It’s easy to get noticed by your favorite artists when you can connect with them directly 1:1.

Learn more here.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.