SoundCloud has issued a statement in response to claims that Universal Music has been given unprecedented freedom to remove content from the music streaming service.
The statement follows claims made in a report by Do Androids Dance which published an email exchange between DJ Mr Brainz, real name Greg Morris, and SoundCloud’s copyright team. When Morris asks why some of his mixes had been removed from the streaming service, SoundCloud explained that they had been “removed directly by Universal” and that “SoundCloud had no control over it”.
That comment left some users angered that a music label could have unprecedented access to SoundCloud’s database and essentially remove music without notice or explanation.
In the new statement to Mixmag, SoundCloud said, “As a responsible hosting platform, we work hard to ensure that everyone’s rights are respected. In the case of rights holders, that means having processes in place to ensure that any content posted without authorisation is removed quickly and efficiently.
“In the case of users, that means having separate processes in place to ensure that any content removed in error can be reinstated equally quickly. If any user believes that content has been removed in error – for example, because they had the necessary permissions from Universal Music and/or any other rights holder – then they are free to dispute the takedown.”
While takedowns on the site are hardly new, the extent of access afforded to Universal, or other major labels for that matter, still remains unclear. All this comes as SoundCloud looks at finding ways to monetise its services. As revealed in SoundCloud’s new policy for cookies that came with the unveiling of its new app, reports Do Androids Dance, as of next month users will be tracked and their information will automatically be collected.
SoundCloud’s move towards monetisation was confirmed by co-founder and chief technology officer Eric Wahlforss in a recent interview with The Guardian. “Right now in the U.S. we’re experimenting with different monetisation approaches,” he said. “We’re…throwing a couple of things out there and testing the waters a bit. We’re super-excited about where this stuff can go.”
Wahlforss says the company is now under pressure to talk about how it plans to make and distribute money. “When you have millions of followers and millions of listeners, you’ve got some point expecting there to be some sort of monetisation there. We hear that loud and clear,” he said.
