Wes Davis is a weekend editor covering the latest in technology and entertainment. He has been a tech journalist for over a decade, covering news, reviews and more.
the music-sharing platform SoundCloud updated its terms of usage in February last year. The new language allows it to train AI models using its users’ content. While the company has not used user-created material for model training yet, it does not rule out that it may in the future. Marni Greenberg provided the following information in an email toThe Verge.
SoundCloud never used artist content for AI models. We also don’t develop AI tools, or allow third parties scrape or use SoundCloud Content from our platform to train AI. We have implemented technical safeguards to prevent unauthorized use, including a tag that says “no AI”.
Greenberg continued to say that SoundCloud’s terms of service update was “intended to clarify how content can interact with AI technologies on SoundCloud’s own platform.” The company uses AI to do things like personalized recommendations and fraudulent detection, and she suggested its plans for future use of AI on its platforms fall along similar lines. Greenberg’s response to our question about whether users could opt out of their music being used for generative AI was as follows:
We asked Greenberg about the possibility of letting users opt-out of having their music be used for generative AI. The TOS allows AI-related uses for other types of SoundCloud content.
It is important to note that no such use has occurred to date. SoundCloud will implement robust internal permissioning control to govern any future potential use. We would implement opt-out mechanisms as soon as possible, and remain committed to transparency.
I hope SoundCloud will do more to inform users about these opt-out mechanisms, than it did for last year’s AI related terms of use update. Tech ethicist Ed Newton Rex, who noticed the changes as reported by TechCrunch,posted that they “cannot see any emails” alerting that the terms were altered. I have also contributed to SoundCloud and did not find any emails regarding the changes. SoundCloud’s Terms state that it will provide “prominent notification” about significant changes to its terms. However, this does not guarantee you will receive an email. Greenberg provided the Verge with SoundCloud’s full original statement.
SoundCloud always put artists first and will continue to do so. Our focus is to empower artists with control, transparency, and meaningful growth opportunities. We believe AI, when developed responsibly, can expand creative potential–especially when guided by principles of consent, attribution, and fair compensation.
SoundCloud never used artist content for AI models. We also do not develop AI tools, or allow third parties scrape or use SoundCloud contents from our platform to train AI. We have implemented technical safeguards to prevent unauthorized use, including a tag that says “no AI”.
Our Terms of Service were updated in February 2024 to clarify how SoundCloud’s platform can interact with AI technologies. AI Technologies can be used for personalized recommendations, fraud detection, content organization and improved content identification.
Future applications of AI at SoundCloud are designed to support artists by enhancing their tools, capabilities, reach, and opportunities on our platform. Examples include improving music recommendation, generating playlists and organizing content. These efforts are aligned to existing licensing agreements and ethical guidelines. Tools like Musiio can only be used to organize content and discover artists, not to train AI models.
While we understand the concerns, we remain committed to an open dialogue. Artists will still be able to control their work. We’ll keep the community informed as we explore innovation, apply AI technologies responsibly and as legal and commercial structures continue to evolve.
