Our story

Why We Started Sonic Scout

Sonic Scout was born from one simple frustration:
Amazing music is being made every single day — but hardly anyone hears it.

We saw a gap......a disconnect.
While millions of listeners crave something fresh, honest, and real... the airwaves remain dominated by the same handful of major-label artists.

Meanwhile, thousands of unsigned, independent musicians are pouring their hearts into songs that never reach beyond a bedroom or a playlist with 47 followers.

So we asked:
What if there was a station that only played them?

That’s how Sonic Scout was born — a 24/7 global online radio station exclusively dedicated to unsigned, independent artists with no record deals.
No gatekeepers. No algorithms. Just real music and real people sharing it.

group of men playing guitars on stage
group of men playing guitars on stage

What Makes Us Different

💡 Curated by Humans, Not Robots
Our presenters are not AI or playlists — they’re music lovers, DJs, podcasters, and passionate curators who bring their own voice, stories, and energy to every show.

🌍 A Global Stage for Emerging Artists
We broadcast across the globe — and partner with global platforms like Radio Airplay to ensure our artists are heard by thousands of listeners around the world.

🎙️ Freedom for Presenters
Every show is 100% presenter-led. They source and curate. They choose the songs, set the tone, and shape the shows format.

💸 Powered by the Community
Artists pay a small submission fee to be featured — not for pay-to-play nonsense, but to sustain a station that champions the underdog and shares the revenue with the presenters who give them a voice and the operation costs of the station.

woman in blue and white tank top and brown pants
woman in blue and white tank top and brown pants

Sonic Scout Radio streams under a global licensing umbrella through our broadcast provider, which includes coverage for BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, and SoundExchange. This ensures that registered artists whose music is correctly tagged with metadata, will receive royalties through the proper channels.

Many independent artists aren’t fully familiar with how royalties work, so we aim to both educate and protect their rights through transparent processes. For example, an Artists song being played and it's BMI-registered and copyrighted, is exactly the kind of submission that will be recognized through these systems when played on air.

The Artists journey

Hobbyist / Bedroom Artist

  • Definition: Makes music purely for fun or self-expression, often at home.

  • Traits:

    • Records on basic equipment (laptop, phone, home setup).

    • Shares songs privately with friends/family or uploads to small platforms (e.g., SoundCloud, Bandcamp, YouTube).

    • No formal marketing, releases, or monetization.

    • Typically balances music with school, work, or other commitments.

Emerging Independent Artist

  • Definition: Starts taking music more seriously and testing public reception.

  • Traits:

    • Releases music on digital platforms (Spotify, Apple Music) via distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore.

    • Builds an online presence (social media, small gigs, open mics).

    • Experiments with branding, visuals, basic press outreach.

    • Small but growing fan base, typically local or niche online.

Developing Independent Artist

  • Definition: Gains traction, builds momentum, and invests in growth.

  • Traits:

    • Consistent release schedule (singles, EPs, albums).

    • Expanding fan base across regions and online communities.

    • Plays regional tours, festivals, supports bigger acts.

    • Starts working with a small team (manager, PR, booking agent).

    • Sees income from streaming, live shows, merch.

Breakthrough / Buzzing Artist

  • Definition: Achieves wider recognition and industry attention.

  • Traits:

    • Songs land on influential playlists (Spotify, Apple), blogs, media.

    • Builds strong visual identity and fan engagement.

    • Gets attention from managers, publishers, A&Rs, and indie labels.

    • Starts negotiating brand partnerships, sync licensing, and showcase festival spots.

    • Revenue becomes more stable and professional.

Signed Independent / Indie Label Artist

  • Definition: Signs with a respected indie label or distributor.

  • Traits:

    • Gains access to better recording, production, distribution, and promo resources.

    • Benefits from experienced management, PR, radio, and tour support.

    • Expands fan base nationally or internationally.

    • May get sync placements (TV, film, ads) and brand deals.

    • Begins charting or gaining industry awards/nominations.

Major Label Artist

  • Definition: Signs a record deal with a major label (Sony, Universal, Warner) or one of their affiliates.

  • Traits:

    • Access to top-tier producers, songwriters, studios.

    • Large-scale marketing, global distribution, and PR campaigns.

    • Major tour support, festival headlining, TV/radio appearances.

    • Positioned for chart success, awards, brand endorsements.

    • Intense commercial expectations and competitive environment.

Featured unsigned Indie Artists

Artists ready for their story to be told on Sonic Scout Radio

Nine Pound Shadow

Nine Pound Shadow is and indie / rock / rock folk family band from Barkeley, CA, USA.

Splinta

Splinta is an all-encompassing harderstyle powerhouse. Hailing from Newcastle Australia, Splinta’s relentless dedication to driving the progression of both the scene and the sound itself have been internationally recognized.

Coppola

After forming in 2010, Coppola have gone through several personnel changes in their short time as a band, but have now settled naturally into a sound they aim to craft and hone upon.

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