You will have to pay to listen to music on Soundcloud

Leaked documents have revealed you will soon have to pay to use Soundcloud.

Downloading and listening to mixes online will end, as the company are set to introduce a subscription service.

Soundcloud has become the latest big name to want to introduce a paid subscription or limit how much you can listen to.

Last month, documents were leaked which showed the company is planning to introduce a multilevel premium package by the end of the year.

Co-founder and CEO Eric Wahlforss confirmed these rumours, marking the end of completely free music on the platform.

Currently, SoundCloud lets wannabe DJs and musicians upload tracks which can be streamed and downloaded for free.

This current model has caused some music industry bosses to criticise them for not paying enough royalties to artists and their labels.

But according to leaked contract between SoundCloud and the National Music Publishers’ Association which surfaced in June, the startup is trying to appear more legitimate by agreeing to pay 10.5 per cent of its revenue, including ads, as a peace offering.

The contract also said labels could then take extra royalties from its t planned tiered subscription service.

While Wahlforss refused to give up any details of the new subscription service, it’s believed there will be a free tier with a capped number of streams and downloads per month, and a paid tier where both are unlimited.

SoundCloud has come under pressure from investors to raise more money after being forced to hire lawyers to fight copyright claims from major record labels.