How SoundNexus works
SoundNexus is funded by commissions and subscriptions instead of advertising. Here you can see exactly what you receive from a sale and which costs apply.
Why SoundNexus exists
I make music on my PC too. At some point I wanted to put a track online and realized that every platform either keeps 70%, wants my rights or makes me invisible if I do not generate enough streams.
So I built SoundNexus. There is no corporation, investor or board behind it, just one person who had the problem and wanted to solve it.
Music is now made in bedrooms, small home studios and spontaneous moments. These tracks deserve a platform that treats them not just as content, but as work, creativity and expression.
SoundNexus grows with its community. No feature is created in a vacuum: everything comes from real feedback. Early users help develop practical tools for sales, uploads and community.
Why SoundNexus – for fans and artists
For music fans
- Find music that does not need the system's permission
The problem is not a lack of good music. The problem is that large platforms usually favor what already has reach, budget or momentum.
- Listen right away instead of getting stuck in recommendations
You do not need yet another recommendation. You need a place where you can listen and decide for yourself whether a track really connects with you.
- Support the artist, not just the platform
When you buy, your money goes to the people who made the music. Attention does not only go to the loudest voices, but to those who genuinely convince you.
For artists
- Release where good music is not made invisible
You do not need another upload destination. You need a place where visibility does not depend on having reach, budget or a label behind you.
- Sell when the interest is there
When someone loves your track, the path should not lead through five clicks, unfamiliar apps and lost attention. Here, the purchase is just a step away from your music.
- Earn from real fans instead of hoping for streams
Instead of waiting for tiny payouts from an opaque system, you sell at clear prices and keep most of your revenue.
What you earn – and what the platform keeps
No hidden fees and no fine print. Here you can see exactly what happens when someone buys your track. With the LABEL plan, no commission goes to the platform – the platform earns exclusively from the subscription. BASIC and PRO are charged a commission per sale:
- BASIC: 15% per sale
- PRO: 7% per sale
- LABEL: 0% commission – you keep your entire sales revenue (minus Stripe transaction fees). Plus all PRO features, a multi-artist dashboard, bulk upload and more.
Stripe charges a fee for secure payment processing, which is deducted separately from the seller's proceeds. No extra setup is needed; the amount depends on the payment method and Stripe account.
A small calculation example
| Your price | Your BASIC revenue (15%) | Your PRO revenue (7%) | Your LABEL revenue (0% commission) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €0.99 | €0.45 | €0.51 | €0.57 |
| €1.49 | €0.79 | €0.89 | €0.98 |
| €1.99 | €1.14 | €1.27 | €1.39 |
| €2.99 | €1.84 | €2.04 | €2.22 |
Illustrative Germany example: 19% VAT included in the gross price, no discounts and an EEA standard card payment. Stripe fees are deducted separately from seller proceeds and depend on the payment method and Stripe account.
The minimum price for a paid track is €0.99. In the Germany example, a €0.99 sale leaves approx. €0.45 on BASIC, €0.51 on PRO and €0.57 on LABEL after 19% VAT, commission and the assumed standard-card fee.
Note on taxes and business registration: Please note that regular sales may be relevant for tax purposes or require business registration. Whether you have to pay taxes depends on your annual income and the frequency of your sales. You can find initial information in the selling guide, at the German business start-up portal, or through a tax adviser search service for individual advice.
VAT: When a seller invoice is requested, SoundNexus calculates applicable VAT based on the buyer's and seller's countries and shows the tax amount on the invoice. Payment receipts do not show a seller VAT amount. If you apply a small-business VAT exemption that is valid in your country, no VAT is charged on the seller invoice. Save your tax status and country once in your profile.
Where your money goes
Instead of broad promises, you will find concrete calculations, fees and payout routes here. Every cent that does not go to you covers specific costs:
- High-resolution streaming & downloads: Specialized high-bandwidth servers ensure that your tracks arrive in full quality – without compression or waiting.
- Secure payment processing: Stripe processes each payment. The applicable Stripe fee is automatically deducted separately from the seller's proceeds and depends on the payment method.
- Transparent funding, no investors: SoundNexus is funded by commissions and clearly marked affiliate partnerships. No investor is pushing for growth at any cost. Intrusive advertising banners do not come between you and the music.
Every purchase keeps the platform running – without banner advertising, independently and up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Is SoundNexus really free?
Yes. Listening is free. Downloads are free when no price is set. If a price is set, you only pay that amount. SoundNexus only earns from sales.
Can I use SoundNexus from another European country?
Yes. People across Europe can discover music, buy tracks and support artists. When a seller invoice is requested, SoundNexus takes the buyer's location into account for VAT. Your own tax or business obligations depend on your country.
Who is behind it?
SoundNexus is currently run by one person: I build the platform as a developer and music fan. When you write, you are answered by the operator directly, not a call center.
Why should I use SoundNexus?
Because a purchase here goes directly to the people behind the music. A €1.99 track brings around €1.57 to the artist's account after fees on the PRO plan. Using a rough comparison of €0.003 per stream, that is about 523 streams.
How will people discover me on SoundNexus?
New tracks appear directly in the genre feed and on the home page – without an ad budget or minimum stream count. People discover music through genres, profiles and community, not only through the ranking logic of large platforms.
How can I support the project?
The greatest help is buying a track. That directly supports artists and the platform. If you do not want to buy, sharing music, giving feedback and making new artists visible also helps.
Which audio formats are supported?
You can upload MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC. We recommend at least 320 kbps for MP3 and 256 kbps for AAC; WAV, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC are processed losslessly. The current limit is 200 MB per track.
What happens to my data?
Only data needed for operation and security is stored, such as your email address, username and uploaded tracks. We do not share data with advertisers. Reach measurement uses cookieless, privacy-conscious analytics with an opt-out option. Details are in the privacy policy.
Can I delete a track or change its price later?
Yes. In your upload area, you can edit tracks at any time, change the price or delete the track completely. Completed purchases are unaffected – already unlocked downloads remain available.
My question is not listed. What now?
Write through the contact form. You will usually receive a reply within 48 hours.