Since this is the first iteration, I went the easiest route where people link their SoundCloud/Spotify/or Youtube channel.
I considered having MP3 uploads or even video uploads, but didn't seem worth it building a transcoding/streaming system, when someone could still upload things that is not them playing.
Another idea is to "verify" linked Spotify accounts by having the artist place a short random code in their Spotify bio, to prove they are actually the artist.
It’s awesome that you did the simplest thing. Whenever I’ve done these kinds of attempts to collab with strangers online kinds of things, I’ve always found that people will express a desire to be in a band but are awful at creating music. Just requesting that someone posts a sample through another channel is a great idea. Do you think this could become toxic though? Like people stealing tracks and trying to release them? My guess is no but you never know.
Anyway - great call on the song requirement, for a lot of us, it’s important to know that the people we work with can operate a daw and solve their own problems and care about creating a finished product. Unless they’re incredibly talented instrumentalists (usually not the case, they find bands) at a certain point it becomes either a jam sesh (not interested) or you become a producer for someone who isn’t very good.
> Unless they’re incredibly talented instrumentalists (usually not the case, they find bands) at a certain point it becomes either a jam sesh (not interested) or you become a producer for someone who isn’t very good.
For the case of instrumentalists finding bands -- the times I've used sites like this in the past are right after a move or considering stepping out of the music scene that I've been in (going from techno back to bass).
Also I feel like the Tinder-like mechanics would be suited to cities with big music scenes. You're right that it's easy to just stumble into everyone in smaller places. What I've enjoyed some on musician-finding sites is the ability go genre shopping to some extent. Sometimes I run across stuff I think I'd enjoy playing that probably wouldn't have popped out of my social network.
You're missing the bulk of the already small market if you're assuming people signing up for your app will universally have Spotify tracks up or their own YouTube channel. Soundcloud is more likely, but still not a given, as it's geared towards mostly finished tracks. Hint: the most sought after band members are bassists and drummers, and they don't tend to do solo tracks.
You want people to be able to have a low quality video of them noodling or playing along to something for 30 seconds.
I just use Soundcloud to dump my rough shit, my gear got housejacked, so feedback is all its good for anyway, the other platform are where the money is, once someone get to that point.
Are you a musician? Have you ever used a site like this?
My comments are literally based on the disappointments in using similar sites in the past. Most people don't add audio. Profiles without audio are useless. Making (and possibly providing minimal vetting?) people post audio would already be a big step in the right direction.
Just my experience but as a musician who used Bandmix for a while, I found that most profiles I was interested had audio. It felt like it was expected and profiles without links to audio weren’t complete.
Can't get a track to upload to the streaming pile of shit that is Bandmix. You, check me on Soundcloud and I will check you out in kind. Your Pal, Murderwords (in the paper bag mask)
I think, fwiw, I would rather work with someone who has the drive and motivation to finish a track of their own than merely recruit a noodler. I think that from a management perspective, I would also abhor opening up any sort of video/audio sharing because then you’re a target for the majors and you get DMCA’d into the ground when kids start uploading their remixes of Taylor Swift songs or whatever.
I work in the music industry. An important thing said once to my arrogant twenty something self by a product manager: "Our market is amateurs. The pro market is a unsustainably tiny." There's basically no product in the music industry that can be supported by just pros. There just aren't very many of them.
And again, most drummers and bass players don't create complete tracks on their own, and they're the main thing people are looking for. And honestly, a lot of drummers and bass players don't want to come into a band where the guitar player has already decided what the bass and drum parts should be. You can get a lot from listening to sketches / noodling. (By noodling I mean mainly improvising something unaccompanied, not necessarily trying to win the gold medal at guitar gymnastics.)
I'm a bass player. A younger version of myself lived from playing bass for a couple years. I still play quite a few gigs. I very, very rarely produce tracks (one every few years), and there's very little of my bass playing online.
Interesting. My perspective is pretty skewed as a semi-pro musician and someone who is mostly a recording artist and not a live band/jam guy. I think there are a lot of people who CAN do it all but might be open to collabs with the right person(s). You are correct that the pro market is vanishingly small but if OP thinks they’re making any money off of bassists who could just post on Craigslist I think they’re in for a surprise.
I've used sites that are trying something similar to find bands in the past. So I think I'm pretty close to the target market (or have been in my past). I don't want to post bass-player-looking-for-band on Craigslist or such -- did it once, and you get swamped by shitty bands who mostly still don't send any audio.
As a bass player, I want to hear if the singer can sing, and if the sketches of songs are good.
I can also play all of the standard band instruments at varying levels of competence, but I'm not much of a songwriter. What people expect from bass players and drummers is that they are good at catching things quickly and writing interesting parts.
For sure. When I’ve played bass in bands or filled up a stage for a live show, that skill is indispensable. And I don’t mean to downplay the importance of gigging or band-formation for this kind of thing: OP should cater to as many people as possible. I was originally just saying that I understand the desire to outsource content hosting to avoid the long fingers of the majors or user-generated content controversies.
I considered having MP3 uploads or even video uploads, but didn't seem worth it building a transcoding/streaming system, when someone could still upload things that is not them playing.
Another idea is to "verify" linked Spotify accounts by having the artist place a short random code in their Spotify bio, to prove they are actually the artist.