Is Buying Soundcloud the Next Move in Spotify’s Battle vs. Apple Music?

spotify kidsSince Apple Music started Godzilla stomping all over the world of music streaming (RAAAARRR), Spotify has been trying to find a way to maintain its edge against the tech giant. Sure, Apple has delivered some well-timed exclusive albums far before Spotify could get its paws on them, but let’s not forget: Spotify mastered streaming music well before Apple. And oh yeah, it still has nearly double the amount of users.

According to the Financial Times, Spotify is looking to buy Soundcloud, the music service that focuses on (truly) indie and emerging artists. Soundcloud is reportedly worth $700 million, which is probably why Spotify’s previous talks with the company fell through earlier this year.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in a Swedish TV interview: “The next decade for us is very much about ensuring that even more of these artists can live on their music, and bringing them together with a new audience. Today our users say ‘introduce me to new music’. What the artists say is ‘help me finding my audience’. Essentially, that’s two sides of the same coin.”

Sounds to me like Spotify is going to try to conquer the independent scene before the Music Godzilla can hulk smash through with its seemingly endless supply of money that Tim Cook probably wipes his ass with. Buying Soundcloud could absolutely be the next major move to keep Spotify strapped in and ahead of the game. And if Spotify can help find and launch the next Drake or Chance the Rapper or another artist I don’t really give a shit about…then they won’t really need to sweat Apple’s counter move.