SoundCloud's chief content officer, Stephen Bryan, a key player in its shift from user-generated audio platform to full-service music streaming service, is leaving the Berlin-based company later this summer. During his three years in the role, Bryan helped secure the label and publishing deals needed to launch the SoundCloud Go line of on-demand subscription tiers.
"Stephen’s ability to negotiate favorable deals for SoundCloud with key industry players was instrumental in getting us to where we are today, and we wish him the best," said Alex Ljung, co-founder and CEO of SoundCloud. "Under Stephen's leadership, our world-class content, strategy, and creator products teams established pivotal industry partnerships that prepared us for our next phase of growth."
SoundCloud launched two premium tiers under Bryan's watch: SoundCloud Go costs $4.99/month and gives users access to its catalog of 120 million-plus mixes, mashups, DJ sets, radio shows and other tracks. SoundCloud Go+ is an industry standard $9.99/month and resembles other on-demand services, offering access to full albums and songs from labels.
Bryan said he was "proud of what we accomplished" during his tenure and that he's "confident our industry partners are in great hands and I look forward to following SoundCloud’s continued success." He arrived at SoundCloud in mid-2014 after 17 years at Warner Music Group, where he rose to executive vice president of digital strategy and business development.
His last day is June 30 and SoundCloud said it does not have immediate plans to fill the position.
