Steve PMHMusicians can’t succeed without other musicians. Maybe you need someone to record vocals, add instrumentation, lay down some beats, or even write a few bars of music. But all too often, finding someone to collaborate with can be a huge hurdle.
If you are experiencing this dilemma, I have the solution for you. One of the best ways to find a professional musician for hire is to look online. In this article, we will explore some of the best sites that will help you find a pro musician ready for a collaborative gig.
7 Sites to Hire Musicians
Below are 7 of the best sites to hire musicians. Some of these sites are platforms that allow you to engage a wide variety of freelancers and gig workers, including musicians.
Other sites will give you the chance to hire both musicians and other professionals in the music industry. Read on to see which of these platforms is right for you.
1. Fiverr
Fiver is ideal for buyers who are looking for simple recordings at a reasonable price. Fiverr has millions of sellers offering services, so buyers have a vast market from which to compare and select.
All services offered on Fiverr are digital. While Fiverr is not explicitly dedicated to musical professionals, professional musicians provide digital services like musical recordings, voiceovers, mixing and mastering, and many more services that musicians can do remotely.
Since Fiverr is such a mass market, you’ll have to do some filtering to find top-quality talent. However, they make it easy to view profiles, see reviews, and even message freelancers with questions before locking in a payment.
Pros:
- Established marketplace
- Transparent pricing and reviews
- Easy to navigate
Cons:
- Not exclusively dedicated to music
- Does not vet freelancers
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2. Twine FM
Twine FM is similar to Fiverr in that it is a marketplace for diverse types of freelancers. However, Twine focuses specifically on freelancers in the creative spaces of music, design, and film or marketing.
Twine is a growing network of over 400,000 freelancers. Their hiring process involves a level of curation and selection that will help you find the right fit more quickly. You can find in-house or remote talent through Twine and browse portfolios and customer reviews easily.
Twine has no upfront cost, so you can browse without worry. They offer secure payments and good customer support.
Pros:
- Focused on creative freelancers
- Easy to use
- Transparent payment and reviews
Cons:
- Not specifically focused on music talent
3. Melody Nest
Melody Nest is for musicians and music producers. The site provides a higher-end and more curated experience for buyers than a general marketplace like Fiverr. The site is by musicians for musicians and helps musicians and other creatives find their perfect match.
The team at Melody Nest review each client’s project proposal and handpick potential freelancers that are the best fit for the job. You can choose from a wide range of services like vocalists, keyboardists, cover art designers, music producers, and more.
Melody Nest is ideal for musicians looking for a curated experience and for help finding the perfect fit.
Pros:
- Transparent payment
- Curated recommendations match you to the perfect talent
- Vetted talent
Cons:
- Not as many artists and traffic as other sites
4. AirGigs
Like Melody Nest, AirGigs is a by-musicians-for-musicians platform that helps music creators find top talent for recording sessions. AirGigs has users from over 160 countries and has top-tier talent, including Grammy winners. AirGigs has been around since 2012.
AirGigs provides the platform for communication, reviews, and file sharing. Verified buyers post reviews so you can feel confident you’re getting your money’s worth.
AirGig secures payments through PayPal, and sellers pay between 8-15% commission, lower than some other sites. This feature makes AirGigs a very musician-friendly option.
Pros:
- All-purpose music platform
- Extensive list of hireable music services and top talent
- Fair and transparent payment
Cons:
- The number of sellers and traffic can be smaller than other sites.
5. Landr
Landr is another site that can help you find a musician. Although its primary emphasis is on helping the musicians themselves gain recognition, it provides a service called Landr Network. The network connects over 3 million creators across a wide range of professions, including: vocals, mixing and mastering, beatmakers and producers, songwriters and composers, and more.
The creators on the platform come from a wide range of experiences, and you can find anything from newbies to industry pros. Want someone who has worked with Alicia Keys or Billie Eilish? You can find them here.
Pros:
- Home of pro musicians across a wide range of skill sets
- Provides business management services for music creators
- Easily search and filter by genre, services, price, and tier
Cons:
- A bit pricier than some other options
6. SoundBetter
SoundBetter, now owned by Spotify, is one of the most well-known platforms among musicians worldwide. Their reservoir of talent includes Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy winners, and they have thousands of verified reviews.
SoundBetter is a one-stop-shop where you can hire just about any music professional for a fee, including songwriters, mastering engineers, producers, and performers. They offer excellent customer support, payment protection, sound quality, and copyright protections.
SoundBetter is one of the most elite options available for finding talent. Because of this, you’ll often pay more for a project.
Pros:
- Wide range of services and top talent
- Backed by Spotify
- Great customer support
- Free or subscription options
Cons:
- It can be more expensive than other sites
7. Vocalkitchen
If you’re a DJ looking for recorded vocals, Vocalkitchen might be the marketplace for you. Focusing solely on electronic vocals for DJs, Vocalkitchen offers curated selections of freelance vocalists, songwriters, and vocal producers. They have a few partnerships with well-known musicians that help add heft to their brand.
They provide a wide range of pre-recorded vocals you can select and purchase for a fair market price. Vocalkitchen focuses on helping DJs find what they need and helping vocalists advance their careers. Since it’s such a niche service, Vocalkitchen is an excellent option for DJs and vocalists to find partnerships and content.
Pros:
- The only agency on our list specifically focused on vocals and DJs
- Fair pricing and sample packs available
- Curated content
Cons:
- Sound recordings can be pricey
- The site can be slightly buggy
A Few Considerations to Make When Hiring a Musician Online
A lot goes into hiring a musician for a gig. Thankfully the internet makes it much easier to do just that. However, there are still a few things you should keep in mind before you start this venture.
In the sections below, you can learn all you need to know about hiring a musician online.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Musician?
In general, session musicians will charge a median rate between $50-$150 per hour. However, the cost to hire a musician can vary widely, based on their level of experience, area of expertise, and even site ratings.
It also depends on the type of service you need and how fast you need it. For example, if you’re paying for a guitarist on SoundBetter, a session might cost you anywhere from $100-$300 per song, or an experienced songwriter may charge $650 for a piece.
A music producer on Twine will likely charge between $150-$500 for a days’ work. Some musicians will charge based on the length of a final project, like $400 for every 15 minutes of the final piece or song.
This variance is why it’s important to know what level of expertise you need from a musician. Mass marketplaces like Fiverr will help you find a better deal, while curated markets like SoundBetter will help identify more reliable talent. You can use these websites to help you compare prices and find the proper musician for your budget.
How Long Do I Need a Musician for?
If you’re considering an hourly rate, you want to know how many hours your project might take. Estimating the length of the project ahead of time will help you identify projects within your budget range.
The length of time will depend on the type of project and – yes – the musician’s experience level. You may also want to consider paying a higher rate if you need a quick turnaround or immediate availability.
If you’re hiring a musician to produce a recording, sound, or other services, you should consider paying by project rather than by the hour.
Conclusion
Overall, we think SoundBetter is the top choice for finding a pro musician. They have the track record, star power, and Spotify backing to ensure you get your money’s worth. Of course, if you have a simple job and a lower budget, something like Fiverr could be a great pick.
The internet has made it easier than ever to find professional musicians for hire. As long as you know where to look, you should have no problem finding one for your next project. If you don’t know where to begin, the seven sites on our list are a great place to start.
