SoundCloud Amplify (First Fans): The Hidden Tool That Puts Your New Track in Front of Real Listeners

Here’s a number that should worry every new artist: when SoundCloud first introduced its new-music recommendation tool, it pointed out that a big share of new uploads never get played at all, and many more get fewer than ten plays. You can spend weeks on a track, upload it, share it on your story and still hear nothing back.

SoundCloud built a tool specifically to fix that problem. It started life as First Fans and is now called SoundCloud Amplify in SoundCloud’s help center. It quietly takes new tracks from eligible artists and recommends them to real listeners whose listening history suggests they’ll enjoy them. Most artists have never heard of it, and many who are eligible never switch it on.

This guide explains what SoundCloud Amplify is, how it works, who can use it and, most importantly, how to prepare your track so those first listeners actually turn into fans.

SoundCloud updates its artist tools and plan names regularly. Check SoundCloud’s help center for the current eligibility rules and plan details before you rely on any feature.

What Is SoundCloud Amplify?

SoundCloud Amplify is SoundCloud’s algorithmic launch tool for new tracks. When an eligible artist uploads a fresh track and opts in, SoundCloud analyses the track and recommends it to a small group of listeners who are most likely to enjoy it, based on their past listening behaviour.

When SoundCloud launched the feature as First Fans in 2023, it described sending new tracks to up to 100 real listeners in the first days after release. The technology came partly from Musiio, an AI music analysis company SoundCloud acquired. The idea was simple: every new track deserves a real chance to be heard by the right people, not just whoever happens to scroll past it.

Why it’s different from paid ads

• The listeners are matched to your sound. They’re chosen because their listening history suggests they’ll like your track, not because they happened to see an advert.
• They’re real listeners, not bots. SoundCloud has been explicit that the tool recommends tracks to genuine users.
• It feeds into bigger opportunities. The best-performing tracks can be recommended to more listeners and can earn a place on SoundCloud’s Buzzing playlists.

How SoundCloud Amplify Works, Step by Step

Based on how SoundCloud has described the process:

1. You upload a new track to SoundCloud as an eligible artist.
2. You opt the track in to be analysed by the recommendation tool.
3. SoundCloud analyses the audio to understand its genre, mood and sound.
4. It recommends the track to a first group of listeners whose taste matches it, described at launch as up to 100 listeners.
5. It measures how those listeners respond: do they play it through, replay it, like it, add it to playlists, follow you?
6. The strongest tracks are recommended to more listeners, described at launch as up to 1,000.
7. Top performers can earn a spot on a Buzzing playlist in their genre, and from there may get even more visibility.

The key insight most artists miss is in step 5. Amplify isn’t a guarantee of plays. It’s a test. SoundCloud gives your track a fair audition with the right listeners, then watches what happens. The tracks that earn engagement get more reach. The ones that get skipped stop there.

Who Can Use SoundCloud Amplify?

Amplify is a feature for SoundCloud’s paid artist plan. At launch it was tied to the plan then called Next Pro, and SoundCloud’s current help center refers to Artist Pro artists. You also need to opt in on each track you want analysed.

A few practical points:

• It’s for new uploads. The tool is designed around fresh releases, so plan to use it when you drop new music rather than on old tracks.
• It doesn’t replace your own promotion. It gives you a starting audience. Your existing fans and outside promotion still matter.
• Plan details change. If you’re deciding whether to upgrade, read our breakdown of whether SoundCloud’s paid artist plan is worth it and check SoundCloud’s current pricing.

The Secret: Amplify Only Rewards Tracks That Hold Attention

Because Amplify sends your track to listeners who’ve never heard of you, those first few seconds decide everything. These listeners have no loyalty to you yet. If the track doesn’t grab them, they skip, and the algorithm learns that the track didn’t connect.

That’s why the way you prepare your upload matters far more than most artists realise. Think of Amplify as a test screening. You want to walk into it with your strongest possible version.

7 Ways to Prepare Your Track Before You Opt In

1. Lead with your strongest moment

Long ambient intros, spoken skits and slow builds lose cold listeners. If your track takes 40 seconds to get going, consider uploading an edit that reaches the hook or the first vocal faster. You can keep the full album version for streaming services.

2. Upload your best master

Your track will be played alongside polished releases from other artists. Make sure the mix and master are finished and loud enough to sit comfortably next to them. Upload a high-quality file rather than a compressed MP3.

3. Get your genre and tags right

The tool needs to understand what your track is to find the right listeners. Choose the most accurate genre and add specific, relevant tags. Our guide to the best SoundCloud tags explains how to pick tags that help discovery rather than confuse it.

4. Make the artwork stop the scroll

On mobile, your artwork is often the first thing a new listener sees. Use bold, simple artwork that still reads clearly as a small thumbnail.

5. Write a description that invites action

Add a short line about the track, credits and a simple call to action such as “If this hits, add it to a playlist and follow for the next one.” New listeners need a reason to take the next step.

6. Complete your profile before release day

If a first-time listener likes your track and taps your name, they should land on a profile that looks active: a clear photo, a banner, a short bio, links and a few other strong tracks. A bare profile loses followers you’ve already earned.

7. Line up your own audience at the same time

Amplify works best alongside your existing fans. When you release, share the track with your followers, email list and social channels so early plays, likes, reposts and playlist adds come from people who already care. That early momentum helps the track perform when it reaches new listeners too.

What to Do in the First 72 Hours

The days right after release are when the tool is testing your track, so make them count:

• Share the track everywhere you have an audience, with a direct link rather than just your profile.
• Reply to every comment, especially from new listeners. It encourages more engagement and builds relationships.
• Repost the track from any related accounts you run, such as a label or collective page.
• Add it to your own playlists on SoundCloud so it sits next to similar music.
• Avoid fake engagement services. Bot plays and fake likes muddy the data the recommendation system relies on and can put your account at risk. Our guide to how fake streams are detected explains why this backfires on every platform.

How to Tell If Amplify Is Working

Check your track’s stats in the days after release and look beyond total plays:

• Plays from people who don’t already follow you show the tool is reaching new listeners.
• Likes, reposts and playlist adds show those listeners actually connected with the track.
• New followers show listeners want to hear more from you.
• Comments show genuine interest and give you a chance to build relationships.

If plays from new listeners rise but engagement stays near zero, the track reached people but didn’t hold them. That’s useful feedback for your next release, whether it’s the intro, the mix, the genre tagging or the song itself.

Amplify, Buzzing Playlists and the Bigger Picture

Amplify is the first step in a chain. Tracks that perform well with their first listeners can be recommended more widely and can earn a place on SoundCloud’s genre-based Buzzing playlists. From there, strong performers may get further exposure through charts or editorial picks. Every step is driven by real listener behaviour.

That’s why Amplify fits naturally with everything else you do to grow on the platform. If you want to understand the wider system, read our guides on how the SoundCloud algorithm works and how to grow SoundCloud followers organically.

Common Mistakes Artists Make With Amplify

• Not opting in. It’s surprisingly common for eligible artists to never switch it on.
• Using it on a weak or unfinished track. You only get one first impression with those listeners.
• Uploading with the wrong genre, which sends the track to listeners who won’t like it.
• Releasing quietly. Amplify plus your own audience is far stronger than Amplify alone.
• Judging success by plays only. Engagement and follows tell you far more.
• Mixing it with fake plays. Artificial numbers confuse the system and risk your account.

Combine Amplify With Real Promotion

Amplify gives a strong track its first real audience. Organic campaigns can add more genuine listeners in your genre at the same time, which gives the algorithm more positive signals to work with. If you’d like help reaching real fans, explore our organic music promotion and repost campaigns.

For the latest details on SoundCloud’s artist tools and plans, check the official SoundCloud Help Center and SoundCloud for Artists.

SoundCloud Amplify: FAQ

Is SoundCloud Amplify the same as First Fans?

Yes. The tool launched as First Fans, and SoundCloud’s help center now refers to it as Amplify. It works the same way: new tracks are recommended to listeners most likely to enjoy them.

How many listeners does Amplify send my track to?

At launch, SoundCloud described recommending new tracks to up to 100 listeners at first, with top performers then recommended to up to 1,000. Check SoundCloud’s current help pages for the latest details.

Is SoundCloud Amplify free?

It’s included for artists on SoundCloud’s paid artist plan, currently referred to as Artist Pro. There’s no separate fee per track, but you need the plan and you need to opt in.

Are Amplify listeners real people?

Yes. SoundCloud has stated that the tool recommends tracks to real listeners, chosen based on their listening behaviour, not bots.

Can I use Amplify on an old track?

The tool is designed around new uploads. Plan to use it when you release fresh music.

Does Amplify guarantee I’ll get on a Buzzing playlist?

No. Only the tracks that listeners engage with most earn a spot. Opting in gives your track the chance, not a guarantee.

Final Thoughts

SoundCloud Amplify is one of the most underused tools on the platform. It gives every eligible new track a fair audition with real listeners who are likely to love it, and it rewards the tracks that hold their attention. Turn it on, but don’t stop there: lead with your strongest moment, tag your music accurately, complete your profile and bring your own audience to the release. Do that, and those first listeners have every reason to become your first real fans.