By James Murphy
So as technology seems to be making more and more of an impact on the music industry everyday, more and more online opportunities are popping up for musicians everyday. Attempting to make it easier and easier for artists and independent musicians to do many things. The main one that springs to mind is fan engagement. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have already proved this to definitely be the case.
Here is a collection of 10 websites and apps that may help you. Whether it is to engage more fans, book more gigs, improve your sound, live record, join a community of musicians, or take your music career to the next level.
1. Music Gateway
Music Gateway is specifically designed to allow creative and music industry professionals to connect and work together in a global capacity very easily.
Developed by industry professionals from all sectors, musicgateway help break down barriers that hinder career development by empowering individuals and companies alike.
Once joining, you’ll be given 3 pitches per month, you can use this free mode to start with and pitch on various projects, such as film, TV, A&R, Topline writing, and many more. You also have the option to upgrade to Pro, which gives you access to more pitches.
2. APRA
Apra is the Australian Performing Rights Organisation (PRO), and are responsibly for collecting performance royalties on songwriters, producers, etc behalf. APRA AMCOS has 87,000+ members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. They license organisations to play, perform, copy, record or make available our members’ music, and we distribute the royalties to our members. This is a must if you are a working musician, it gets you the money you are owed for performing your songs.
3. Studios301, Sydney
Studios301 is a studio in Sydney, they offer various services including online mixing and mastering. You can work with the best producers, mixers, and mastering agents from around Australia all at a reasonable price.
In recent years 301’s services and facilities have been used by Flume, The Jezabels, Matt Corby, 360, Megan Washington and Angus & Julia Stone.
International artists that have recorded at 301 include Skrillex, Kanye West, Lana Del Ray, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Muse, Jay-Z, Metallica, The Black Eyed Peas, U2, Snoop Dogg, Tiesto and Bruce Springsteen.
Dating further back, David Joy Bowie, Prince, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Duran Duran, The Easybeats, John Farnham, Icehouse, The Divinyls, Slim Dusty, The Angels, INXS and Midnight Oil have all recorded, mixed or mastered at Studios 301.
So if your looking to take your record to the next level, this is the place for you.
4. Triple J Unearthed
Established in 1995, Triple J Unearthed has kicked off the careers of thousands of musicians. With well over 120,000 tracks, it’s also a great place to discover your new favourite band.
You can upload and share your tracks with fellow artists and music lovers by signing in and creating an artist page.
Triple J Unearthed also has a full time digital radio station playing the very best music from triplejunearthed.com.
Every musician needs exposure, and this is the place to get a great start. Your Songs also chart on the unearthed website in your genre, this is also a great way for new fans to find you and love your music.
5. AIR – Australian Independent Record Labels Association
AIR negotiates with industry and government, lobbying on behalf of its members and the broader independent recording sector, to facilitate commerce and achieve fair market access and parity of terms with the major labels.
AIR is staffed by a professional team that knows the industry, and are available to give advice and referral.
AIR Membership provides access to tools and information to help you run a healthier, more profitable music business, in addition to the following services:
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
- AIR’s collective bargaining arrangements mark the first time the majority of independent labels and artists have access to music video royalties from MTV, Foxtel and Nightlife Music and Video.
- AIR has an agreement in place with XYZ Networks ([V] Hits, Music Max and Country Music Channel), MTV and Nightlife Music and Video.
- AIR received the first ever payment from MTV for royalties from music videos on that network and in 2015 came to an agreement which sees total member royalty revenues triple, whilst significantly increasing the amount of independent music videos to be broadcast on the network.
- AIR continued its agreement with Nightlife Music and Video ensuring that all indie artists played on their background music systems will receive royalties.
AIR is looking to negotiate broader powers with the ACCC with a view to expanding its collective bargaining program.
6. Taxi Music
Taxi is a Company that provide A&R services to various types of business including film, TV, Record Labels, Production Companies, Music Supervisors, Music Libraries. As a taxi member you are given opportunities to pitch your music for various projects. The only downside to Taxi is they charge to become a member, so you cannot first try out their service. However if you are serious about getting your music synced in film, TV, etc then this is a good investment. Taxi will critique your submissions and give you great feedback on where your at and what you need to do to land placements.
7. iRig – Iphone/Android App
iRig is an app created for recording live performances, as well the ability to record an instrument directly into an iPhone, iPad, or Samsung device. The thing that makes this app great is the fact that you can control the input and output levels of your recording depending on how close you are to the performance. This can make recording your own rehearsals very easy.
Recording a bands rehearsal on an iPhone/Samsung in a house environment can be hard on most occasions, so being able to alter the volume levels of the input and output is extremely handy for new musicians recording at home on their iPhone or Samsung device. Prices start at $59, so it’s a great way to start recording your tunes.
8. LANDR Mastering Service
LANDR is a mastering service dedicated to top quality at a fast turnaround. They are an online service; this makes it a very easy process.
9. Spotify Artist Insights
Spotify Artist Insights is something fairly new, it lets you view all your spotify statistics in a new way.
Fan Insights helps artists better understand:
- Who their fans are, including demographic information.
- Where their listeners are in the world and how this audience is evolving and growing over time.
- How their fan base is listening and their other music preferences.
- The level of passion and engagement of fans and how these behaviours differ between passionate and casual listeners.
10. TuneCore Publishing Administration –
When the songs you write are downloaded or streamed worldwide, you may be earning royalties you don’t even know about. TuneCore Music Publishing Administration finds and collects these royalties and pays them to you.
I hope these 10 websites and apps help you in some way with your music career. It’s definitely getting easier and easier to network with other musicians, producers, music supervisors, record labels, etc. Musicians also have a great amount of technology at their fingertips in this somewhat future age. So get discovering.
Tags: AIR aussie aussie independent artists australia featured featuring indie iRig LANDR music gateway music publishing studios301 taxi music triple j unearthed tunecore