Tinder For Songwriters?
Finding the perfect collaborator can feel a lot like dating. And just like dating, there's an app for that! Created by Kevin McCarty and Richard Casper, WSWS (We Should Write Sometime) was the solution for songwriters to find each other and work together using an app that utilizes GPS and integrated swipe right technology.
The app is currently free to download and use. When users sign up, they create a profile and a bio. In it, they can highlight their genre styles, list their skills (e.g. lyricist, melody-maker, topliner) and include what instruments they play. The profile allows users to provide links to their personal website or social media accounts (Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, etc). It also lets you select which affiliation you are currently with (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC). When an aspiring songwriter travels, they immediately have access to more than a thousand songwriters in the apps network. With the user setting their range to 50 miles or 100 miles from the city of their choosing, the app streamlines the process of setting up co-writes.
Even if two writers aren’t in the same city, they can find each other and set up a virtual session
The goal for the creators of WSWS is to make the collaboration process possible on a global scale eventually. Kevin and Richard are currently working on partnering with Zoom to provide longer video chat sessions that usually require a paid zoom membership.
A pro version of the app is in the works. This is going to include some kind of verification of more top tier writers with industry credits, sort of like Instagrams blue check status. This is going to allow songwriters to view who has placements already and offer to work with them.
Because of the spike in popularity of the app since we have been under quarantine orders, music publishers have discovered that they can also use this app in regard to talent search. Publishers have already reached out to Kevin and Richard asking who the most "swiped right" songwriters were in different genres!
With the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing, I do believe we will see a rise of innovation. Think about the 2008 recession and how companies like Uber, AirBnB, Post-mates have come about to meet the new needs of the world. This seems like a great application that will be able to solve a lot of problems currently in the music business in regards to collaborating. I encourage you to check it our for yourself!