MUSICat Now: A New a Pop-Up Version of MUSICat Platform that Can Empower Libraries to Help Local Musicians During COVID-19

From a Rabble Blog Post:

At Rabble, we’re piloting a range of projects to support local musicians during the COVID-19 crisis. Today, we’re announcing the latest of these initiatives: MUSICat Now. This pop-up version of our MUSICat platform, the same software used by libraries from Seattle to Austin, makes it possible for any public library to rapidly build a digital public space to support local musicians.

Because a major crisis requires a major response, we’re waiving all platform fees for libraries launching new local music collections with MUSICat Now. We’re also drastically streamlining the MUSICat onboarding process so that any public library can begin supporting working artists in their community through direct honorarium payments within weeks, even days. What’s the catch? Libraries must run open submission rounds and commit to pay artists a minimum of $200 to stream a licensed album in their MUSICat Now Collection. If your community will pay artists now, Rabble will work with you to build and support a digital public space for your music community.

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Artists need meaningful local support for their work more than ever. At Rabble, we’ve spent the last 5 years working with public libraries to reimagine music streaming through the lens of digital public spaces. With libraries across North America, we’ve built over a dozen digital public spaces for local music. In these spaces, libraries and artists agree to straightforward licensing terms friendly to both parties, with most libraries paying artists a one-time honorarium up front, usually around $200, to include their work in a collection.

Learn More About the Project in the Complete Rabble Blog Post

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries