{{Short description|Music media sharing and data collection software}} {{Infobox software | name = Sound Credit | logo = | developer = Sound Credit | programming language = C++, PHP/Laravel, Python, Dart | released = 2017 | operating_system = Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | platform = Desktop, Mobile, Tablet, Web Browser | language = English | license = Proprietary | website = {{URL|https://soundcredit.com/}} }}
'''Sound Credit''' is a music collaboration, media sharing, and data collection platform for creators, with computer software applications for web browsers, Windows Desktop, macOS Desktop, iOS, and Android. It includes the Sound Credit cross-platform application.
Sound Credit is used in the music industry through multimodal interaction, with a free user profile option including identifier code generation, data entry and editing software developed for information quality (IQ). It also functions as a data hub and exporter for data transmission throughout the music industry supply chain for royalty payment and attribution purposes.<ref name=Avid/><ref name=scblog1/><ref name=ISNI/>
Music credits are loaded and saved into Sound Credit's DDEX RIN format implementation, as the first software available to the public with this capability.<ref name=CreatorCredits2020/> As of 2019, Sound Credit was included with Pro Tools subscriptions.<ref name=Avid/><ref name=music30/> ==History==
Sound Credit was originally released under the brand Soundways RIN-M.<ref name=ProToolsExpert/><ref name=MemphisFlyer2/><ref name=Mix/> Soundways later renamed as Soundways dba Sound Credit.<ref name=Pitchfork/><ref name=InsideMemphisBusiness/> RIN-M was renamed as the Sound Credit Tracker plug-in during the platform expansion.<ref name=TapeOp/>
In 2019, Sound Credit partnered with Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), a British music copyright collective, for an International Performer Number (IPN) integration as part of its cloud profile services.<ref name=MusicWeek/><ref name=PPL/><ref name=musically/>
Sound Credit also partnered with Avid Technologies, the makers of Pro Tools, and the Sound Credit platform applications are included with Pro Tools subscriptions.<ref name=Avid/><ref name=music30/>
In July 2020, Sound Credit partnered to become an ISO International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) Registration Agency, and released the first fully automated ISNI Registration feature as part of its cloud profile services.<ref name=ISNI/>
Sound Credit was noted as being used in the delivery of credits and information on Blake Shelton's release God's Country to Warner Music. The release received a GRAMMY Award nomination in 2020 and won Single of the Year for the 2019 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.<ref name=DMN/><ref name=Warner/>
==Features and usage==
===Sound Credit Application=== The Sound Credit application is cross-platform software for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS allowing users to manage media, share media, enter, edit, and export music data. This software is the primary application of the platform. Sound Credit runs natively on desktop computers.<ref name=scblog1/>
====Primary Features==== <ref>{{cite web |title=Sound Credit |url=https://www.soundcredit.com/ |website=Sound Credit Website |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref> * Cloud-based file storage, synchronization and access-controlled sharing * Comprehensive metadata entry for all recording and composition data * Publishing "Splits" data management * ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) Registration and Lookup * ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) Generator * GRid (Global Release Identifier) Generator * PRO (Performance Rights Organization) Registration for ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN * Native DDEX RIN export * CD insert and vinyl sleeve exports * Mastering workstation export (Magix Samplitude/Sequoia and Steinberg WaveLab) * Dozens of other export formats including draft label copy formats specific to many companies * Single-window user interface with nested menus, fully scalable * Incremental search
===Sound Credit Mobile App=== The Sound Credit mobile app allows media uploading, sharing, data entry, and profile management. * Android * iOS
===Sound Credit Tracker Plug-in=== The Sound Credit Tracker was a plug-in that worked with digital audio workstation (DAW) software, including Garage Band, Logic, Nuendo, Sequoia, Wavelab, Cubase and Pro Tools. This has been discontinued. * VST, AU and AAX plug-in format support * BWAV embedding of Artist Name, Song Name and ISRC Codes
===Sound Credit Kiosk=== The Sound Credit kiosk was a standalone system for checking-in to music recording sessions. This has been discontinued. * Magnetic stripe card support * Barcode reader support
==Investment Backing==
Sound Credit is a C Corporation based in the United States. It is one of approximately 100 companies backed by the Revolution Fund, led by Steve Case and which lists LPs including Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Meg Whitman and others.<ref name=MemphisFlyer1/><ref name=revolutioninvestors/> Sound Credit is also backed by investment from US-based venture capital firm, Innova Capital.<ref name=WMCTV5/> Sound Credit was founded and engaged in Techstars Global Accelerator Network accelerator program, StartCo.<ref name=startco/>
Sound Credit CEO and Co-founder, Gebre Waddell, appeared in 2019 on 60 Minutes in an episode about the Revolution Fund's investment in Sound Credit.<ref name=60Minutes/>
==Reception==
Sound Credit won the Rise of the Rest venture capital investment competition in 2018.<ref name=60Minutes/><ref name=WMCTV5/>
In 2019, Sound Credit was voted as a NAMM Show TEC Awards nominee. Sound Credit was the first music credits software to be nominated for a TEC award.<ref name=NAMM/>
Sound Credit appeared at the 2019 Creator Credits Summit in Stockholm hosted by Spotify, and the 2020 Creator Credits Summit.<ref name=sonicscoop/><ref name=scblog1/>
Sound Credit was also featured at Recording Academy/GRAMMY Membership Celebrations in Portland, Oregon,<ref name=Grammy1/> and Houston, Texas.<ref name=Grammy2/>
==References== <references>
<ref name="60Minutes">{{cite episode |series=60 Minutes |network=CBS |season=51 |number=22 |title=Billionaire on the Bus |first1=Sharyn |last1=Alfonsi |date=17 March 2019 }}</ref>
<ref name="TapeOp">{{cite magazine |last1=Crane |first1=Larry |title=Want Your Credits? Want Money Owed?: Sound Credit & You |date=2019-03-01 |publisher=Tape Op |location=USA |pages=42–44 |edition=130 |url=https://tapeop.com/interviews/130/want-your-credits-want-money-owed/ |accessdate=2020-11-25 |magazine=Tape Op}}</ref>
<ref name="InsideMemphisBusiness">{{cite magazine |title=2018 Innovation Award Winner: Gebre Waddell, Sound Credit |date=2019-09-11 |publisher=Contemporary Media, Inc. |location=Memphis |url=https://memphismagazine.com/business/2018-innovation-award-winner-gebre-waddell-sound-credit/ |accessdate=2020-11-25 |magazine=Memphis Magazine}}</ref>
<ref name="MemphisFlyer1">{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Alex |title=Sound Credit: Gebre Waddell Builds the Dream |date=2018-09-06 |publisher=Contemporary Media |location=Memphis |url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/sound-credit-gebre-waddell-builds-the-dream/Content?oid=15722582 |accessdate=2019-09-11}}</ref>
<ref name="MemphisFlyer2">{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Alex |title=Gebre Waddell's Soundways |date=2018-02-01 |publisher=Contemporary Media |location=Memphis |url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/gebre-waddells-soundways/Content?oid=10939214 |accessdate=2019-09-11}}</ref>
<ref name="DMN">{{cite web |last1=King|first1=Ashley |title=Warner Music Nashville Joins the Party on Standardized, Complete Music Credits |url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/12/16/warner-music-credits-announcement/ |website=Digital Music News |date=16 December 2019 |accessdate=2020-11-24}}</ref>
<ref name="ProToolsExpert">{{cite web |last1=Becka |first1=Kevin |title=Sound Credit Software and Portal Gives Music Professionals At All Levels Digital Access To Credits, Album Art, and Liner Notes |url=https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/production-expert-1/2018/8/5/sound-credit-sound-credit-logging-software-and-portal-gives-access-to-music-professionals-at-all-levels |website=Pro Tools Expert |date=11 August 2018 |publisher=Production Expert Ltd. |accessdate=2018-11-08}}</ref>
<ref name="Mix">{{cite web |last1=Becka |first1=Kevin |title=Soundways RIN-M Software |date=2017-10-23 |publisher=Future plc |location=England |url=https://www.mixonline.com/technology/soundways-rin-m-software-430580 |accessdate=2019-09-11}}</ref>
<ref name="Grammy1">{{cite web |title=Grammy.com Portland Member Celebration |url=https://www.grammy.com/membership/events/portland-member-celebration |website=Grammy Recording Academy |date=20 December 2018 |publisher=Recording Academy |accessdate=2019-03-27}}</ref>
<ref name="WMCTV5">{{cite web |last1=Luther |first1=Chris |title=Memphis startup wins $200K to ensure musicians receive royalties |url=https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/38187346/memphis-startup-wins-200k-to-ensure-musicians-receive-royalties/ |website=WMCActionNews5 |date=15 May 2018 |publisher=WMC5 |accessdate=2019-09-11}}</ref>
<ref name="Grammy2">{{cite web |last1=Albino |first1=Christee |title=Inside The Engineers' POV On The Craft of Mastering & Credits |url=https://www.grammy.com/membership/news/inside-engineers-pov-craft-mastering-credits |website=Grammy Recording Academy |date=16 October 2018 |publisher=Recording Academy |accessdate=2018-10-16}}</ref>
<ref name="NAMM">{{cite web |title=NAMM - Congratulations to the TEC Award Nominees: Production Essentials |url=https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2020/articles/congratulations-namm-tec-award-nominees |website=NAMM: Believe in Music |publisher=NAMM |accessdate=2019-09-20 |archive-date=2020-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930160514/https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2020/articles/congratulations-namm-tec-award-nominees |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |last1=Hu |first1=Cherie |title=Why So Many Hip-Hop Producers Are Putting Business Before Beats |url=https://pitchfork.com/levels/why-so-many-hip-hop-producers-are-putting-business-before-beats/ |website=Pitchfork |date=14 September 2018 |accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
<ref name="Warner">{{cite web |title=Blake Shelton's God's Country Pushes Forward the Movement for Music Credits |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://www.warnermusicnashville.com/news/blake-sheltons-gods-country-pushes-forward-movement-music-credits-3631 |website=Warner Music Nashville |date=19 December 2019 |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="CreatorCredits2020">{{cite web |title=Tools for capturing creator credits |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://ddex.net/tools-for-capturing-creator-credits/ |website=DDEX |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="ISNI">{{cite web |title=Music Industry ISNI Registrations Now Free and Automated |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://isni.org/page/article-detail/music-industry-isni-registrations-now-free-and-automated/ |website=ISNI |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="MusicWeek">{{cite web |last1=Paine |first1=Andre |title=PPL partners with Sound Credit to improve performer data |url=https://www.musicweek.com/digital/read/ppl-partners-with-sound-credit-to-improve-performer-data/078211 |website=MusicWeek |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="Avid">{{cite web |title=Sound Credit — Music Credits Enter the Digital Age |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=http://www.avidblogs.com/sound-credit-music-credits-enter-the-digital-age/ |website=Avid |date=16 October 2018 |accessdate=2020-11-26 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
<ref name="sonicscoop">{{cite web |title=Online Event Alert: DDEX 2nd Annual Creator Credit Summit |last1=Weiss |first1=David |url=https://sonicscoop.com/2020/10/28/online-event-alert-ddex-2nd-annual-creator-credit-summit-nov-17-19/ |website=Sonicscoop |date=28 October 2020 |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="music30">{{cite web |title=Music Credit Technology Finally Coming To Fruition With Sound Credit |last1=Owsinski |first1=Bobby |url=https://music3point0.com/2019/12/23/sound-credit/ |website=music30|date=23 December 2019 |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="musically">{{cite web |title=PPL teams up with Sound Credit to improve recording metadata |last1=Dredge |first1=Stuart |url=https://musically.com/2019/11/27/ppl-teams-up-with-sound-credit-to-improve-recording-metadata/ |website=musically |date=27 November 2019 |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="PPL">{{cite web |title=Sound Credit and PPL partner to improve performers' music credits |last1=Cohen |first1=David |url=https://www.ppluk.com/sound-credit-and-ppl-partner-to-improve-performers-music-credits/ |website=PPL |date=26 November 2019 |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="scblog1">{{cite web |title=Sound Credit Reveals Historic New Tech at 2020 Creator Credits Summit |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://blog.sound.credit/post/Sound-Credit-Reveals-Historic-New-Tech-at-2020-Creator-Credits-Summit |website=Sound Credit Blog |accessdate=2020-11-26 |archive-date=2020-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117201914/https://blog.sound.credit/post/Sound-Credit-Reveals-Historic-New-Tech-at-2020-Creator-Credits-Summit |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="revolutioninvestors">{{cite web |title=Rise of the Rest® Seed Fund Investors |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://www.revolution.com/entity/rotr/ |website=Revolution Fund |accessdate=2020-11-26}}</ref>
<ref name="startco">{{cite web |title=Entrepreneurs Flock to Memphis for Summer of Acceleration |last1=Fowlkes |first1=Andre |url=http://neverstop.co/entrepreneurs-flock-to-memphis-for-summer-of-acceleration/ |website=StartCo |date=15 May 2018 |accessdate=2020-11-26 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
</references>
==External links== * [https://www.soundcredit.com/ Sound Credit Website]
Category:Cross-platform software Category:IOS software Category:Windows software Category:MacOS software Category:Android (operating system) software Category:Music production software Category:American music industry Category:Black-owned companies of the United States Category:Online music and lyrics databases Category:Online music database clients Category:Entertainment databases Category:Software programmed in C++ Category:Software programmed in PHP Category:Software programmed in Python Category:Software programmed in Dart Category:2017 software