How We Support Independent Music

At Sonicbids, we have a deep commitment to funding, promoting and sustaining independent music of all kinds. Here's how:

• We Sponsor & Support Independent Music FestivalsThis past year we spent more than $500,000 to sponsor, support and create slots specifically reserved for independent bands and artists at festivals around the world. We are a proud, long-term sponsor of many indie-friendly music conferences ranging from South By Southwest and CMJ in the USA to Canadian Music Week in Canada, and WOMEX in Europe.
• We Share All Submission RevenueIn 2008, we shared more than $3 million of submission fees with music promoters who in turn use a big portion of that to produce indie-friendly opportunities, pay bands and promote the new music they've discovered on our site. Through this sharing arrangement, Sonicbids bands have been able to play, get paid and tour countries ranging from China to the UK; and play on festival stages across the globe.
• We Offer Partial Reimbursement for International Band Travel ExpensesWe offer partial coverage of bands' travel expenses, through partnerships with select festivals around the world. In 2008 we covered international travel fees for many bands to perform at events such as Eurosonic in Groningen, Netherlands; North By Northeast in Toronto, Canada; Italia Wave Festival in Florence, Italy; In The City, in Manchester, UK; Popkomm, in Berlin, Germany; and many, many others.
• We Pay for the Creation of Special Independent Music ChannelsThrough a new program we launched in 2009, we pay for independent music-only airtime on various channels on airlines; in movie theaters; in retailers, and streaming channels of commercial radio stations around the US. We estimate that close to 50 million people will listen and discover new independent music through these channels.
• We Sponsor & Support Independent Music Associations WorldwideWe are sponsors and partners of many international music export offices and offer free memberships to members of many international music associations around the world. These include the Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAMI); The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM); the Australian Independent Record Label Association (AIR); the performing rights organization BMI, and dozens of others.
• We Support Charities that Support MusicEach year, we make an end of year donation, to a charity that supports and promotes music or music education. Charities we've supported include Mr. Holland's Opus, War Child Music, Music Maker Relief Foundation, and New Orleans Musicians' Clinic's Emergency Fund.
• We Get Consumer Brands to Promote and Sponsor Independent MusicWe have set up a new team at Sonicbids that puts together special marketing programs for major consumer brands that help sponsor and promote independent music around the world. Partner brands include Converse Shoes, Diesel Jeans, Zippo Lighters, Gap, and many others. You can read more here.
• The Sonicbids "Listen" Free CD SeriesSince 2005 we have paid for and distributed more than 20,000 CDs featuring groundbreaking independent music at various events in the US, Europe, and Australia. These include all types and all genres of music conferences, advertising and marketing events, triathlons, road races and retailers.
• We Are Dedicated to Learning & ListeningSince 2008, we've started a series of member dinners that we host at different cities around the world, in order to collect feedback and better understand the evolving needs and challenges of our membership and the independent music community at large.
• We are Independent Musicians, Artists & Music Lovers OurselvesThe vast majority of our teammates here are either in a band, managing a band, or love and attend music shows on a weekly (or sometimes daily) basis. And if we are not in rock bands we are in dance companies, or theater productions and artist collectives.

We are committed to continue doing even more. Have ideas? Let us know.

Panos & The Sonicbids Team