Studios 301 launches ‘pay it forward’ project to help musos get their tunes onto streaming platforms

In these strange days of lock-downs, long lines at Centrelink and a pause on regular life, it pays to pay it forward.

Sydney’s fabled Studios 301 is doing just that with a novel initiative that helps the next guy.

The idea is a simple one. Anyone who books a full mix with Simon Cohen, the engineer and producer behind hits for Justin Bieber, Lizzo, The Black Eyed Peas, Thelma Plum and many more, the recording studio will provide an equivalent, full mix as a pay forward to any nominated individual.

In time, that music can live online, generating royalties for the recording artist whose live gigs are shelved for the foreseeable future.

“At Studios 301 we acknowledge the significant impact that COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have on the creative industries,” reads a statement announcing the initiative. “During this unprecedented time we are acutely aware of the challenges that many of our engineers, producers, clients, music makers, artists and extended team are being faced with.”

Studios 301 in Sydney

Studios, like every space where people gather to buy, sell or get things done, are being punished by the Coronavirus.

Studios 301, which was to host the FastForward Sydney next month, an event that has since been scrapped due to the health crisis, is not immune to the current challenges of doing business.

Due to the global pandemic, the studio has suspended bookings until May 31, with a discounted online mixing option now in place.

The cut-price offer still stands for artists and labels, explains Cohen. “I’m not challenging everyone else to match this,” he explains. “I know that not everyone is in a position where this makes sense for them but I’d love to do my part for binding the music industry closer together and help everyone get world-class sounding music out onto the streaming platforms.”

The studio initiative is announced as the trade bodies for music and the screen launch Aussie Made, a campaign which encourages all digital delivery services to get behind local content.

Click here for more on the “pay it forward” project.

https://studios301.com/pay-it-forward/

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.