SoundCloud is a huge music platform with 30 million artists from all over the world, creating over 250 million songs. It is a great place for musicians to share their music, grow their audience, and truly connect with fans. Unlike bigger platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, SoundCloud gives artists more ways to interact with listeners.
Here, using the right hashtags can make a big difference. Hashtags help people find music they love while giving artists a chance to reach more listeners and boost engagement. SoundCloud is a powerful launchpad for new talent and is responsible for giving artists a push into the world of music. The platform is built for independent artists. It offers tools that make it easier to promote music and connect with fans. Moreover, with a SoundCloud Next Pro subscription, musicians get extra features to help them stand out and grow their careers.
Let’s explore why hashtags are so important for the platform and how you can choose the right ones for your music.
Why hashtags on SoundCloud are important?
Hashtags work like keywords that help people find music on SoundCloud. They are usually related to genres, moods, artists, or popular topics. For example, if you are looking for dance music, you might search for hashtags like #dance or #dancing. Most hashtags on SoundCloud are short, no more than 20 characters. If you are tagging a genre, you can use both the full name (#DrumandBass) and a shorter version (#DnB). Genre tags are the most common on the platform since they make it easy to label your music.
How many hashtags should be there?
New artists on SoundCloud might think adding lots of hashtags will help their music get noticed, but that is not the best approach. Instead, it is better to choose a few specific and relevant hashtags that match what listeners are looking for. A good rule of thumb is to use about three to five hashtags per track.
Do hashtags impact the SoundCloud algorithm?
SoundCloud's system uses an algorithm called DiscoRank, which works like Google’s search engine. It helps users find music that matches what they are looking for. The more specific the search, the better the results. So, choosing the right hashtag for your SoundCloud release is definitely a big deal.
What Does This Mean for Musicians?
To get your music noticed, you need to use the right and most relevant hashtags. A common mistake artists make is choosing trending hashtags that do not fit their songs. For example, tagging a disco track as hip-hop just because hip-hop is popular can hurt your ranking. The algorithm notices this and pushes the track lower. In turn, this makes it harder for people to find. When uploading your music, picking the right hashtags is just as important as choosing the right genre. If you do this correctly, the algorithm will rank your track higher and give it more exposure.
What is the Importance of SoundCloud promotion?
Growing your audience takes time, and serious success requires investment. But how does this relate to SoundCloud hashtags? When you invest in organic promotion, you get real likes, plays, comments, and reposts. This helps your music climb the rankings and gain more visibility. If you use the right tags on the platform, your tracks have a better chance of appearing in top genre lists and trending sections.
How do you select the right hashtag for SoundCloud?
1. Comprehending your audience and genre -
The first step to choosing the best hashtags for your SoundCloud music is understanding your genre and audience. Different styles of music have their own popular hashtags, so it is important to use ones that match your sound.
• Knowing your genre - If you make electronic music, good hashtags for your music might be #EDM, #House, or #Techno. Indie artists can use tags like #IndieRock, #IndiePop, or #Alternative. Be sure to pick hashtags that fit your specific sub-genre or the mood of your track.
• Understanding your audience - Think about who you want to listen to your music. Are you reaching out to electronic music fans, hip-hop lovers, or people who enjoy calm, ambient sounds? Knowing your audience will help you choose hashtags that attract the right listeners.
2. Using a mix of niche and popular tags -
If you use hashtags that are too popular, your music might get lost among millions of other tracks. On the other hand, if your hashtags are too specific, fewer people might find your song. The catch here is to find the right balance.
• Popular Hashtags - These are common and attract a large audience, but there is a lot of competition. Examples include #Music, #NewMusic, or popular genre tags like #EDM or #Rap. They can give your track more exposure. However, it might be harder to stand out.
• Niche Hashtags - These are more specific and are used by a smaller group of people. But they help you reach listeners who truly love your style of music. For example, #ChillTrap, #SynthWave, or #BedroomPop. These tags make it easier for the right audience to find your tracks.
When you combine both popular and niche hashtags, you increase your chances of reaching a wide audience while also connecting with people who will really appreciate your music.
Also Read: Understanding SoundCloud Algorithms: How to Get More Plays
3. Including descriptive hashtags -
Apart from genre-specific hashtags, you can also use descriptive tags that help your listeners understand the style or vibe of the music. Such as -
• Mood-Based Hashtags - If your song has a calm and relaxing vibe, you can use hashtags like #Chill, #Relax, #LoFi, or #Ambient. These tags help attract listeners looking for music that matches their mood or activities like studying or unwinding.
• Theme-Based Hashtags - If your song has a specific theme or tells a story, you can choose hashtags that reflect it. For example, a love song could use #LoveSong, while a track inspired by city life might include #UrbanVibes or #CityBeats.
Using detailed hashtags helps you connect with listeners who are looking for a specific mood or vibe that matches your music.
4. Researching trending tags -
Using popular hashtags can help your music get noticed. This can work in your favor, especially if they relate to a viral trend or challenge. Adding trending hashtags to your track’s description can increase your chances of reaching more listeners.
How to find trending hashtags -
• Check the Explore Page - SoundCloud’s Explore page highlights trending tracks, genres, and hashtags. You can look at the most popular songs and see which hashtags they use.
• Follow Popular Artists - Big artists often use specific hashtags to promote their music. Watching how they tag their tracks can give you ideas for your own strategy.
• Use Online Tools - Websites like Hashtagify or All Hashtag can help you find trending hashtags in your genre, giving you an edge in promoting your music.
5. Experimenting and analyzing results -
There is no perfect set of hashtags that works for everyone. It is important to experiment with different hashtag combinations and see what brings in the most listeners. SoundCloud’s analytics can help you track which hashtags are getting the best results.
Ways to test your hashtags -
• Compare broad hashtags with more specific ones.
• Switch up mood-based hashtags to see what fits best.
• Mix trending hashtags with timeless ones that always stay relevant.
By reviewing your results over time, you can adjust your hashtag strategy to reach more people and improve engagement.
6. Limiting the number of tags -
SoundCloud lets you add many hashtags, but using too many can make your track look spammy and reduce its impact. Instead of stuffing your description with tags, you need to focus on 5 to 10 well-chosen hashtags that truly represent your music.
This approach helps categorize your track properly and makes it easier for listeners to find while keeping your post clean and professional. Using too many hashtags can confuse the algorithm and make it harder for your music to reach the right audience. By selecting a mix of popular, niche, and mood-based hashtags, you can increase your chances of getting discovered without overwhelming your target listeners.
7. Selecting relevant hashtags -
It might be tempting to use hashtags like #Follow4Follow or #LikeForLike, but they do not really help in the long run. While they might bring in some quick likes or followers, they will not attract real listeners who actually care about your music.
In addition, musicians need to stay away from hashtags that are too general or unrelated to their tracks. If the hashtags do not match your music, they can confuse listeners and make it harder for the right audience to find your songs. Instead, focus on relevant and meaningful hashtags that truly represent your sound.
Also Read: Spotify vs. Soundcloud, Which One is Better for Your Music?
8. Learning from other artists
One of the best ways to improve your hashtag strategy is by observing successful musicians in your genre. Take some time to explore the tracks of popular artists on SoundCloud and pay attention to the hashtags they use. By doing this, you can:
• Find effective hashtags that are already helping similar artists get discovered.
• Understand trends within your genre and see which tags are most commonly used.
• Get inspiration on how to present and categorize your own music.
Studying what works for others does not mean copying them exactly. Instead, you can use this information to refine your own hashtag strategy. You can combine proven tags with unique ones that truly represent your own sound.
How to choose hashtags that match the track’s feeling?
Every song has a certain mood, vibe, and connection to different moments. Whether it is a specific time of day, a season, or an activity, there is always something you can relate to a song. To find the best hashtags for your SoundCloud track, ask yourself:
• What comes to mind when you hear this song?
• What activity would this track be perfect for?
• Does it make you feel energized or relaxed?
By thinking about how your music makes people feel, you can pick hashtags that truly fit its atmosphere and purpose.
Using the right hashtags is not just important on SoundCloud, it also boosts your reach on social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok rely heavily on hashtags to show content to a larger audience. If you use relevant and trending hashtags, you increase the chances of new listeners discovering your music - not just on SoundCloud but everywhere online!
