Hey ,

Welcome to the second installment of the Tribly newsletter 🗞️

Our mission is simple: deliver relevant news, insights, and trends that give artists the tools to build sustainable and creatively fulfilling careers on their own terms.

To be clear, we're not positioning ourselves as gurus or experts on this stuff. But we are sitting at the crossroads of music, tech, and innovation, and from there, we want to share what we're seeing, what it means, and how it impacts artists like us.

Without further ado, let's jump into this week's spotlight.

🚨 Spotlight: The SoundCloud AI controversy, and a better way forward for music x AI

I've been rooting for SoundCloud lately, but...

Honestly, I've been really impressed with SoundCloud these past few years. They've genuinely embraced an artist-first mentality, introducing innovative tools that help us connect directly with our fans. That's why it’s been so unnerving watching this recent controversy unfold.

Ambiguity isn't an accident

Back in February 2024, SoundCloud quietly updated their Terms of Use to say they could use artist-uploaded content to "inform, train, develop, or serve as input" for artificial intelligence technology. Almost nobody noticed until Ed Newton-Rex brought attention to it recently, sparking significant backlash.

SoundCloud insists they've never used our music to train generative AI models, claiming the update was intended solely for playlist recommendations and internal optimizations. They’ve promised clear opt-in mechanisms moving forward, but the fact they buried ambiguous language in a legal document without clearly stating their intent upfront feels deliberate and is disappointing, especially from a platform that positions itself as artist-friendly.

Why this matters so much

This whole situation highlights why it's crucial for us as independent artists to stay diligent. The intersection of music and AI is inevitable and happening fast. Training generative AI models on our music without explicit consent and proper attribution is total bullshit. Unless there's clear attribution that pays us royalties on AI-generated derivative works, it's simply unfair.

But here's a way music x AI could actually be fun and cool

That said, I believe strongly that the future of fan engagement is interactivity, co-creation, and world-building. Imagine a scenario where you write and produce a song, then use AI tools to break it down into stems. Fans could remix your song purely for fun or even monetize their remixes through a clear mechanism where you retain ownership and earn royalties alongside them. That approach is exciting, innovative, and benefits everyone involved.

Bottom line: we need to stay vigilant about protecting our rights and ownership, but let's also explore how technology, used ethically and creatively, can enhance music, fandom, and our careers.

🎶 Get Featured

We're building a space where we can all support each other, show some love, and get familiar with fellow artists creating within the Tribly ecosystem.

Want your swap featured in our next newsletter?

👉 Join our Discord and drop your swap link in the #share-your-swap channel.

📣 Product Updates

✅ Drops → Swaps
A new name that reflects swapping exclusives and first listens directly with your fans.

✅ Improved Fan Experience
Fans now instantly unlock your exclusive content. Joining your channel is an optional next step, making the experience smoother for everyone.

✅ Future Save Swaps
Collect forever pre-saves without needing a scheduled release date or ISRC. These pre-saves automatically apply to every new pre-save swap you launch on Tribly.

✅ High-Res Album Art
Your album art matters. We've upgraded our infrastructure to support larger files and high-resolution images.

✨ Artists Inspiring Us Right Now

These artists are using content in fresh, creative ways to expand their music, art, and world in a way that cuts through the noise and captures real attention.

@renmakesmusic on IG
@ellitmusic on IG

Annnd that’s it for this week’s installment!

Stay sharp, stay informed, and keep creating. We're in this together.

- Seth & the Tribly Team