// startup autopsy
Popcuts
The music marketplace that paid fans to discover hits — before Spotify made discovery free.
marketfitSlow Death
Years-long decline before final shutdown · Fatal mistake: Built a paid download marketplace at the exact moment streaming was about to make per-track purchases obsolete.
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2011 |
| Country | USA |
| Sector | Marketplace |
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Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Popcuts founded with the novel concept of letting fans earn royalties by discovering music early.
FUNDING
Raised a seed round to build out the marketplace platform and recruit early artist partners.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Spotify launched in the US, accelerating the shift away from paid downloads and undermining Popcuts' core model.
SHUTDOWN
Popcuts quietly shut down, unable to sustain the marketplace as streaming made paid-per-track music purchases irrelevant.