SoundCloud unveils Music Intelligence Report

According to SoundCloud, the report is not only a collection of statistics but an analytical tool that tracks which artists and tracks are currently resonating with fans. More importantly, it identifies the earliest signals of upcoming trends, genres, and movements poised to break into the mainstream.

SoundCloud, the report read, does not simply follow trends but anticipates them before they happen. By combining unique engagement data with cultural and musical context, the company claims it can detect when a niche sound is gaining traction, when a micro-movement is evolving into a global phenomenon, and when an emerging artist is on the path to stardom.

Thriving music scenes

The report highlights a significant rise in young country and folk artists on SoundCloud, contributing to a 15% increase in streams across the genre over the past year. Furthermore, uploads of country and folk tracks have surged by over 50% in the last two years, indicating strong growth.

Beyond these traditional genres, SoundCloud continues to be a hub for underground and emerging scenes. The platform reported that plugg/pluggnb/rage, cloud rap, and reggaeton are gaining momentum, reshaping the future of their respective genres. While these movements may appear similar on the surface, a closer look reveals distinct characteristics, demonstrating how tight-knit communities on SoundCloud can evolve into global cultural forces.

The report also noted significant growth in electronic music, long-form compositions, and rock & metal, with emerging artists pushing creative boundaries and experimenting with new sounds. SoundCloud emphasised that it is not just tracking the movements shaping music today but also identifying those set to dominate the industry in the future.

Current music thrives on SoundCloud

According to the report, 46.5% of listening on SoundCloud is dedicated to tracks released in the past 18 months, nearly double the industry average of 26.7%, as reported in Luminate’s 2024 Year-End Report. This trend underscores SoundCloud’s unique appeal, as listeners actively seek out new and emerging music, allowing fresh sounds to gain momentum faster.

The insights from the Music Intelligence Report provide a glimpse into the defining sounds of today while predicting the future of music.

Read the full report here(link is external).