For the third time, the special Kent District Library streaming platform will accept music submissions from local and regional artists. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Streaming at KDL Vibes: Some of the local artists on the platform.
KDL Vibes, a Kent County-based streaming platform that highlights fresh and original music, has announced its spring submission period for local artists seeking to broaden exposure for new releases.
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“Our goal is to continue to curate a collection that represents all of the West Michigan music scene as a whole,” said Adam Marth, a Kent District Library staff curator.
“There is an abundance of creativity and artistry in our area, and we want our collection to reflect that. The Vibes team at KDL leans into our community jurors for their expertise and connection to our music scene.”
Striving to Represent West Michigan’s Music Community: KDL’s Adam Marth (Courtesy Photo)
Artists can submit music to the platform between June 5 and July 31, with a panel of jurors selecting releases that will get added to the KDL Vibes streaming service. Each artist selected will receive a $250 honorarium.
The community of jurors for this submission round are Michigan Music Alliance executive director Elle Lively, WYCE-FM programmer Shelby Schneider, musician Dutcher Snedeker and music festival organizer “Farmer” John Crissman.
“We will take the quality of the music into account, but we also want a nice balance of genres in our collection,” Marth explains. “This will be our third open submission period to date and our third year since launching Vibes. During that time, West Michigan’s music scene has expanded, and I believe that word about KDL Vibes has expanded to more artists as well.”
KDL Vibes is looking to add about 40 new submissions to the collection, which currently hosts 69 local artists and 601 songs.
“Since the previous submission period, we have also hosted an array of KDL Reference Desk Mini Concerts, which are pop-up style mini concerts right in the library featuring an artist from our collection. We are also planning a multiple-day event in the fall which will showcase artists in the collection,” Marth said.
‘GIVING LOCAL ARTISTS THE SPOTLIGHT THEY DESERVE’
Grand Rapids musician and hip-hop artist Adrian Wright says by “compensating artists more appropriately for their work in comparison to other streaming services,” KDL Vibes helps artists continue their creative work.
“I love everything KDL Vibes is doing,” he said. “By centering local acts in their streaming service, Vibes is giving local artists the spotlight they deserve, while connecting the community and encouraging collaboration.”
For artists interested in submitting their work, the process is simple. During the submission period from June 5 to July 31, they can visit the KDL Vibes website and fill out a submission form, which includes a representative song jurists can use to make a final decision. There are a few requirements: The music must be original and include a minimum of 3 tracks or be at least 30 minutes in length.
For listeners seeking something new to explore, KDL Vibes offers links to music videos, photos, merchandise and tour dates in easily accessible links on the artist’s bio on the platform. With a focus on originality and creativity, the platform aims to become a hub for innovative musicians and a new home for emerging talent.
“It allows listeners who may not have sought out our local music scene too much, an opportunity to listen to this wealth of music on one website,” Marth said.
“There are also direct links on each artist’s profile that can navigate users to their respective websites and social media accounts. The developers at Rabble really did a wonderful job designing this site and have been wonderful to work with since we launched.”
Marth said he hopes as KDL Vibes grows it will help “chronicle the immense artistic talent in the area, and provide new ways and opportunities for our residents of Kent County and beyond to celebrate and support our vibrant arts community. I would love for there to be more live music opportunities within our library walls as well.”
Check out the full roster of KDL Vibes artists online here.
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