SoundCloud has announced its acquisition of Nina Protocol, the decentralized music platform that once promised independent artists a slice of the pie without cuts from streaming giants.

The deal signals SoundCloud’s push beyond mere hosting to become a comprehensive platform for indie talent. Key to the acquisition is ownership of Nina’s editorial archive and “genre map,” which aims to preserve the platform’s rich music journalism while promoting emerging acts.

SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton stated that their goal is to honor what Nina has created, carrying its mission forward by helping independent artists build deeper relationships with fans and unlock new earnings opportunities. A migration tool will assist Nina artists in transferring their work, and they’ll get a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription.

This move comes months after Nina’s shutdown due to unsustainable business models. Founded in 2021 by Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber, Nina Protocol offered a digital storefront on the Solana blockchain for quick, cheap transactions and Arweave for permanent storage of music files.

For now, SoundCloud fans will see preserved indie voices while listening to their favorite tracks. Whether this acquisition is just another tech fad or a genuine step forward remains to be seen.