Soundcloud already has a pro plan which I see a lot of artists using. Why do they need ads? Do you they not already make enough money?
It's not the specifics of what is being proposed here that bothers me. But something about this makes me feel that this will be soundclouds downfall. I don't want to be soundclouds product. I want soundcloud to be the product. I would happily pay for their service (providing they don't go down this route).
(I'm a bedroom producer that uploads to soundcloud, considering a pro plan)
I don't want ads.
I don't want you to give me ad revenue.
Just take my money and respect my privacy. Is that really so much to ask.
I will happily pay someone a yearly subscription for a simple social network that respects users privacy.