District libraries are seeking tracks by artists from the Grand Rapids and Traverse City areas for special streaming services that showcase Michigan music. Details at Local Spins.

Serita’s Black Rose: The Grand Rapids act is featured in the KDL Vibes streaming service and plays Vibes Fest on Aug. 10. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The concept of regional music streaming services catering to local and regional acts is spreading.
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Next week, Kent District Library based in Grand Rapids will once again offer a submission period for area bands seeking to join the “KDL Vibes” collection launched in 2021 – just as the Traverse Area District Library in Traverse City prepares to debut its “TADL Waves” streaming service.
For the first time, Traverse Area District Library is seeking submissions of music from northern Michigan artists with a panel of jurors choosing up to 20 of them for what it calls the “first wave” of acts featured on the targeted streaming platform.
The entry period for TADL Waves is open now until July 8 online at waves.tadl.org/submit.
Josh Denby, TADL’s head of Sight and Sound for the Woodmere Branch, said the streaming service idea was sparked in part by the library’s current collection of more than 500 CDs by 200-plus local artists. However, the “changing habits” of patrons means they’re now mostly streaming music.
So, TADL Waves was spawned after Denby caught wind of Rabble’s MUSICat service that helps connect listeners to regional artists.
“A lot of (listeners) have moved away from physical media,” Denby noted. “There are great services for getting electronic copies of books, audio books, movies and television to our patrons, but I want to help people find local music in the sea of content choices.”
The aim of TADL Waves is to showcase “a wide variety of genres” created by artists from the greater Grand Traverse County and Northwest Michigan region because library patrons embrace “an eclectic mix” of musical styles, he said.
“We ask artists to tell us about themselves and their connection to our music community when they submit,” said Denby, who described the Traverse City area music scene as “vibrant” with “tons of shows available for the community.”
Artists have until July 8 to submit songs here, with the first lineup of selected tracks announced on July 22 during TADL’s Summer Reading Club “Finale Party.” The service will go live in late July or early August, with the library also hosting a special listening party. Details will be posted at tadl.org/events.
KDL VIBES AIMS TO ADD TO ITS COLLECTION, HOSTS AUGUST ‘VIBES FEST’
Meanwhile, Kent District Library – which already features 100 albums by 96 artists on its KDL Vibes streaming platform – hopes to add about 30 new submissions by West Michigan musicians, with its fourth submission period running June 24 through Aug. 31. Artists can submit songs online at https://vibes.kdl.org/submit starting Monday (June 24).
The KDL Vibes digital collection pays a one-time honorarium of $250 to bands and artists selected by a panel of jurors which this year features Nicole LaRae, Della Marie Levi and Audrey Pearson.
“In addition, we will be celebrating our Vibes collection with a second annual Vibesfest taking place at our Cascade Township Branch,” said Adam Marth, KDL branch librarian.
“Vibes Fest will include two daily concerts Aug. 5-9, and the event will culminate with an all-day music extravaganza on Aug. 10.”
The 2024 Vibes Fest will feature performances by Serita’s Black Rose, Phabies, Earth Radio, Ralston Bowles, Porter Kenyon, Folias Duo, Rabbit Fur, Driving in the Bike Lane, Josh Garvelink, Pia Lu, Singing Lungs, Trillium and Julianne Howe-Bouwens. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Cascade Township Branch Library, 2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE.
Stream existing tracks on the KDL Vibes platform here. And read more about KDL Vibes at Local Spins.
Copyright 2024, Spins on Music LLC