The feature will let fans buy and download tracks without being redirected to an external platform, while artists can set their own prices and offer music in formats including MP3 and WAV.
SoundCloud will take no commission from sales, meaning artists will keep 100% of each sale, excluding standard fees and taxes.
The beta will initially be available to 200 US-based Artist Pro creators, with feedback from the trial helping to shape the service before it becomes available to all eligible creators later this autumn.
Participating artists will be able to track their sales through Artist Studio and the Fan Support Dashboard. The direct sales feature will sit alongside SoundCloud’s existing monetisation options, including Fan-Powered Royalties, Fan Support, on-demand vinyl and ticketing.
SoundCloud says there is a clear demand for music sales on the platform. Around 250,000 artists currently direct fans to external platforms to buy music, with 2.
4 million tracks linked for purchase. Some 500,000 SoundCloud users are sent to those sites each year. The platform also found that 28% of surveyed artists either already sell downloads or want to start.
Last month, SoundCloud announced it had acquired Nina Protocol, an independent blockchain-based music service that lets creators build and run their own digital stores.
The original owners decided to wind the company down in May after operating for five years.
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