Independent distribution company TuneCore has announced a series of local partnerships, workshops, and events intended to elevate the Cebuano music scene.
The platform now offers independent artists from Cebu and other cities in Visayas and Mindano the ability to release their music on the most popular digital stores & platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, Tidal, and more, through the company’s UNLIMITED distribution plans. According to a press statement, artists on any TuneCore UNLIMITED plan can release as much music as they want to audiences around the world while keeping full ownership of their music and retaining control over their career. Interested users can use the code ‘CEBU35’ for a discount on their purchase.
Earlier this year, during a workshop with 50 independent artists from Cebu plus representatives from Spotify and YouTube, TuneCore’s Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Cyrus Chen, shared the company’s goal of pushing local-first initiatives to better serve the artists in the region. Chen shared, “There is a lack of education among local independent artists on how to kickstart their careers as well as a lack of performance opportunities in the region. This is where TuneCore comes in, developing workshops and masterclasses on behalf of artists and establishing a community hub to ensure more regular activations in Cebu.”
TuneCore Country Coordinator Bong Andres adds, “TuneCore is very hyper-local. We have local teams on the ground that speak the native language to pursue partnerships with key players in the industry. Through these collaborations, we support the local music industry by providing funding to community hubs and working with TuneCore ambassadors to organize workshops and gigs, and reach larger audiences.”
Cebu-based venue Cebu Making Space is now TuneCore’s official Community Hub, providing a venue where local indie artists can stage gigs and share their music to larger audiences. Making Space is a co-making space that consists of a Makerspace for woodworking, digital fabrication, crafting, and other creative endeavors; a Tea Shop & Gallery for small art exhibitions; and a multi-use Studio where all the events take place.
According to a press statement, the venue shared that, “TuneCore is the perfect partner for Making Space because of its independent spirit and its vision of providing a space for all artists, musicians, and creatives to pursue their passions.”
TuneCore also announced their local ambassador, Bobbi Olvido. Olvido is a musician, producer and events organizer based in Cebu City. He has been active in the indie music scene for the past 16 years as a member of different bands and projects such as Sunday Sunday, Foc Fashion, Kubra Commander, Coney Reyes On Camera, Soda Can Genie, The Spirals, Snubear, Red Twin Motel, Concave, and Sheila and the Insects. He also runs John Bottles Events, a DIY events production that produces small to medium scale shows to help uplift the Cebu indie music scene.
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