Sonica is a New Music Platform Putting Artists Back in Control
No hidden fees, no commissions, no algorithms, no AI — Sonica is the latest startup offering artists ethics-aligned streaming with 100% ownership of revenues and rights. Here’s how it works…
In an industry where independent musicians often struggle to maintain control, visibility, and fair earnings, Sonica provides a simpler alternate option with no compromises on integrity.
Launched last week and built by a single developer, Noel Jackson, Sonica is a new music platform designed with musicians in mind as the protagonists of their digital story — offering a home base where they can shape their creative journey on their own terms.
The Context
Independent artists today face a patchwork of tools and platforms that rarely reflect their needs. Many juggle multiple services — link shorteners, streaming platforms, storage systems — just to share their catalog. Worse, most existing services take a slice of revenue or apply hidden fees, limiting an artist’s ability to forecast revenues or profit meaningfully from their work.
Sonica tackles those pain points head on. By offering a single, unified platform where artists can store, organize, share, and sell their music — in whatever form they choose — it streamlines the messy “tool-chain” many independents still rely on. Uploads stay live, organized, and discoverable. Whether sharing private demos, releasing an EP, or managing a full back-catalog, Sonica gives artists full control.
Ownership, Control, and Fair Earnings
Although it’s a brand new startup with a small launch community, one of Sonica’s most compelling features is its commitment to ownership: artists retain full rights to their music. Sonica is not a label, distributor, or middleman — it simply offers infrastructure, leaving the artist as the sole owner. If you’re willing to stick with this platform as they grow, you could be rewarded as being part of its early adopter usership.
On the financial side, Sonica claims to charge zero commission on sales. There are no platform fees, no hidden cuts, no friction between a devoted artist and their supporters. For many independent creators — labels, collectives, or solo artists — this means the full revenue from their art stays with them.
Tools That Match the Artist’s Work
Unlike many platforms designed with major-label dynamics in mind, Sonica was built by people who understand the independent workflow firsthand. Their mission is simple: to give artists a “permanent home” for their music — a place tailored to the unique realities of independent production, collaboration, and community-building.
The tools reflect that mission. Sonica supports uploads of unlimited versions — from raw demos to final masters — allowing creators to track every iteration. Collaborations are easy to manage, with granular permissions for collaborators, fans, or private previews. Artists can even use custom domains to create a personal “music home,” reinforcing that this is their space, not a generic streaming page.
Main Things to Know
- It’s a permanent, centralized home for your music: Upload unlimited tracks, versions, demos, stems, and works-in-progress. Everything stays organized and under your control.
- Artist-first, ownership-first platform: You retain 100% ownership of your music — Sonica is not a label, distributor, or rights holder.
- Zero-commission sales: You set your own price and keep 100% of sales; but if you want to upload more than 4GB of storage for your music, prices start at just $5 per month.
- Ethical & transparent business model: No hidden fees, no revenue cuts — the model is designed to align with the values of those who prioritize independence and transparency.
- Currently in alpha: Access is limited, but you can join now as an early adopter and help shape the platform as it grows.
In an era where streaming-platform algorithms often favor already-established names, Sonica takes a different path. Instead of algorithmic promotion or “playlist-boosting,” it emphasizes human creativity, community, and transparency. Its pricing model underlines the platform’s commitment to artist-first economics.
For independent artists seeking to build a sustainable career without compromising creative control or ownership, and for artists whose community values ethical alignment and transparency, Sonica is definitely worth a try!
Create an account and try Sonica for free today.
