Introducing experimental growth tools for music artists.

In collaboration with SoundCloud, I led the design and development of experimental products aimed at empowering artists to expand their reach. These initiatives included tools like Beatshop and Gate, which allowed creators to manage pre-save campaigns, sell music directly, and access actionable analytics—all designed to help artists promote their work more effectively. While these tools were not released in their original form, they directly informed the strategy and launch of SoundCloud for Artists, the platform’s flagship creator offering.

In collaboration with SoundCloud, I led the design and development of experimental products aimed at empowering artists to expand their reach. These initiatives included tools like Beatshop and Gate, which allowed creators to manage pre-save campaigns, sell music directly, and access actionable analytics—all designed to help artists promote their work more effectively. While these tools were not released in their original form, they directly informed the strategy and launch of SoundCloud for Artists, the platform’s flagship creator offering.

Client
SoundCloud
Role
Creative Director, Product Design
Categories
Music, Website
Role
Creative Director
Creative Director, Product Design
Creative Director, Product Design
Team
Categories
Categories
Daouda Leonard, Aaron Murray
Music, App, Identity
Music, Website

OPPORTUNITY

As the music industry shifted toward independent creators seeking greater control, SoundCloud saw an opportunity to provide artists with tools to manage their own promotion and monetization efforts. By introducing innovative features, SoundCloud could reinforce its position as a leader in artist empowerment while addressing gaps in the market.

CHALLENGE

Creating tools for a diverse range of artists required balancing functionality with accessibility. The challenge was to develop intuitive, self-serve solutions that catered to both emerging creators and established musicians while integrating seamlessly into SoundCloud’s existing ecosystem.

RESULTS

While Beatshop and Gate were not released as standalone products, the design and insights gained during their development shaped SoundCloud for Artists. This comprehensive suite of tools equips creators with innovative ways to grow their careers and reinforces SoundCloud’s position as a leader in artist empowerment.

Daniel Baldwin

Daniel Baldwin

Daniel Baldwin

Location

Seattle, Washington

Elsewhere

Instagram

@danielbaldwin

@danielbaldwin

@danielbaldwin

Elsewhere

LinkedIn, Pinterest

LinkedIn, Pinterest

LinkedIn, Pinterest