SoundCloud is one of the biggest platforms for music artists, and it is quite influential as the music industry has found many talented people from the platform, including pop stars and rappers. Due to its contributions to the global music industry, SoundCloud is not only a major music streaming platform but also considered the most effective platform to create a successful career with ample monetization options. A large number of emerging and independent music artist upload their work here, and it is not easy to get those files. Therefore, a lot of fans want to download their music, such as songs and albums, directly from their SoundCloud profile. However, it is not that easy, and you can only download it if the artist has enabled the "Download file" button on their end.
SoundCloud is quite strict with its guidelines, and they make sure no one can copy the musical content uploaded by rising artists. So, if you want to download an album project by an artist from SoundCloud, it is not going to be an easy task. There are four different methods that you can utilize in this case.
Method 1: Download Directly from a Web Browser
In this case, you get to download the album project directly from the profile after the artist has enabled the button for it. Utilizing SoundCloud for web browsers is the best choice here, as mobile apps can lack the convenient options. This process follows 2 to 3 simple steps only.
• Find the Project – Firstly, you need to find the album project on SoundCloud in a web browser because the app will not provide the advanced features.
• Look for ‘Download Button’ – Now, look for the download button, which is activated by the artist to let fans download the project for offline listening. You should check below the waveform or look for "more" (three dots) or the "Download file" button.
• Download the Album – Click on the download button, and the file will be saved locally on your computer. However, this task would be incomplete if the artist had not enabled the download button in the first place.
Method 2: External Links (Web Browser)
The relation between a music artist and fans is quite intimate, and the fans are more likely to help people find and download the songs of their favorite artists. You might have already seen that with music releases by Taylor Swift and other celebrity artists with a huge fan base. In order to create more anticipation and to offer secret Easter eggs, music artists often provide the download link for the album project, which is outside of SoundCloud. Now, the biggest question is, how would you find that external link? Here’s what you can do,
• Check Album Description – There is a separate section for album and song descriptions on SoundCloud, which is well utilized by artists to share more information about the project, and there is a high chance of finding the download link in the description. It can be a link for buying music as well, and so, it can boost popularity and sales both.
• Follow Links – As mentioned already, there can be external links that lead to a fan link, which then allows downloading the album. However, these links can be gained only through a reward system where the link is offered as a gift for participation in some kind of promotional activity. Artists can encourage listeners to take actions like commenting, reposting, or sharing in order to get that download link.
Method 3: Utilizing Third-Party Tools
There is a third-party tool for almost all kinds of tasks, and you can easily find a tool for downloading SoundCloud album projects. These tools are highly advanced, but you need to use them with caution as they might violate terms or pose risks.
• Albums and Playlists – SoundCloud only approves of single-track downloads from the platform, and to download the entire album or playlist, you might need the help of a third-party command-line tool. The yt-dlp is considered to be effective in this case, which works for most cases.
• How do the Command-line Tools Work? – You can easily download the tool and install it on your computer. Now, open a terminal such as PowerShell on Windows. Now, you can utilize the commands (e.g., ./yt-dlp <URL>) to download the album URL, often with options to organize folders.
Method 4: SoundCloud Go/Go+ (In-App)
A SoundCloud subscription is quite a handy option as it offers a handful of additional features that you cannot enjoy with a general profile on SoundCloud. You can easily upgrade with a paid program and download your favorite music projects on the platform, whether a single or an album project.
• Upgrade Subscription – Make sure to log in to your SoundCloud Profile and upgrade it to SoundCloud Go or Go+ with the help of a paid subscription.
• Offline Listening – You can utilize the "Save" button, which is offered in the app, to help the tracks and playlists available for the listeners even when the internet is not available. This offline is quite effective and works for all kinds of artists and music profiles.
Starting from the official SoundCloud platform to the third-party apps, there are various mediums to download SoundCloud album projects, and each of the aforementioned techniques works effectively. If you are still having issues with the download, you can directly ask the artist if there is any way to get the download link personally.
Final Thoughts
SoundCloud has strong guidelines based on copyright issues, and there is no way that they will let you download the album project with the artist’s confirmation. Be careful when you use third-party apps or platforms, as they can lead to problems too. While you can utilize all methods, if the artist has not activated the download button for their music, you should not try to be too pushy for it. Listen to your favorite SoundCloud artists and make them popular.
