Editing Mixcloud (section)

==History==

===Founding (2008–2009)===
Mixcloud was founded as a startup company through the lean startup process in 2008 by Nikhil Shah and Nico Perez, who met at the University of Cambridge. Developers Mat Clayton and Sam Cooke were added to the team in its early stages. 

The startup was established in London, England, operating initially from a warehouse in West London. The initial concept emerged from the founders' frustration with the rampant piracy of DJ mixes and radio shows online, where creators struggled to share content legally without risking copyright infringement or takedowns. Shah and Perez aimed to create a dedicated platform that would serve as a legal alternative, enabling DJs, radio hosts, and podcasters to upload and stream their work while ensuring royalties were paid to rights holders through innovative licensing agreements. 

The platform launched publicly in 2009, positioning itself as a legal home for long-form audio content at a time when DJ mixes and radio recordings had no suitable legal streaming outlet.

===Early Growth (2010–2015)===
As of 2012, Mixcloud was reported to have over 3 million active users and over 500,000 registered Facebook application users. 

By 2015, Mixcloud had attracted 12 million monthly listeners and over 8 million uploaded shows from more than a million creators, expanding beyond DJ mixes to encompass diverse audio content. 

===Licensing Deals and Funding (2017–2018)===
In October 2017, Mixcloud signed a direct licensing agreement with Warner Music.  This followed earlier licensing arrangements with other major rights organisations, helping to legitimise the platform's vast library of user-uploaded content.

In April 2018, Mixcloud announced that it raised $11.5 million from WndrCo LLC, a holding company based in Los Angeles and San Francisco that invests in media and technology businesses for the long term, to fund Mixcloud's expansion globally. 

===Mixcloud Select (2018)===
In 2018, Mixcloud launched a fan-to-creator subscription service called Mixcloud Select. A few months later, the service added new features including the ability for audio creators to offer their subscribers exclusive content behind their own paywall. 

===Mixcloud Live (2020)===
In 2020, Mixcloud launched Mixcloud Live, solving real challenges for creators who want to stream legally and monetise online.  The feature allowed DJs, radio hosts, and other audio creators to broadcast live performances directly through the platform with full music licensing coverage, removing the legal risks typically associated with live streaming copyrighted music on other platforms.

===Acquisition of Encore (2024)===
In September 2024, Mixcloud announced the acquisition of Encore, one of Europe's leading online music marketplaces for booking live musicians. Encore, founded ten years earlier, helps artists make money through live music by connecting them with customers looking for live acts for their events. It has facilitated over 50,000 bookings and helped musicians earn £25 million through live performances. 

Upon joining Mixcloud, Encore continued to operate as an independent brand. The acquisition also saw Nikhil Shah, co-founder of Mixcloud, joining Encore as its new Chairman, having been an angel investor in the company since 2019.