How Musicians Together began.

[Mark H]

I am an amateur musician, with no ambition to 'make it' - I just enjoy playing and writing songs. For a couple of years I posted my videos on Youtube and at first it was a fantastic experience. I made friends and enjoyed a real sense of community amongst fellow musicians. Also, every now and again one of my tunes, or a collaboration with other musicians, would get into the music section's 'top rated', 'most discussed', or 'most viewed' . Getting on that front page was a real buzz for amateurs like me. But for the more ambitious artists it could be hugely significant. It gave their music a chance to go viral and perhaps even launch a career.

Then suddenly, sometime in 2010, Youtube changed the way the music category worked. Only artists already signed to big labels could get anywhere near the front page of the music section. All the amateur and aspiring musicians became virtually invisible overnight. Presumably Youtube had struck some kind of revenue-sharing deal with the labels - the profits, obviously, had to come first. The number of views on our videos fell through the floor. A significant part of the fun of being a musician on Youtube evaporated, along with much of the sense of community. Perhaps most devastating of all, was the way in which the more promising artists amongst us had what was probably their best avenue of discovery completely shut off.

So the idea began to form that somebody, somewhere should do something about it. A site should exist that did all the things for amateur and undiscovered musicians that Youtube used to do - and more (I already had a vision, not just to host videos and a community, but to actively promote members). Yet no-one seemed to be doing it; or if they were it just wasn't catching on. So in early February 2011 I thought to myself, "Well, if nobody else is going to do it, I'll have a go." After all, my complete lack of knowledge and experience in creating or running websites made me the perfect man for the job. I got in touch with a couple of my old Youtube friends and basically said, “I’ve got this crazy idea. If I find a way of doing it, are you going to come along?” Showing no skepticism at all about how or whether it could be done (ahem) they immediately agreed.

After doing a bit of research I found the pieces of software needed and some idea of how to put the site together. All it needed now was a name. Dozens of awful ones were considered, along the lines of myonlinemusicvids.com or yourmusicvideos.com. I was getting nowhere until I decided to stop and think about what the site was really going to be about; its raison d’être. It was, and is, about the musicians and the music; about sharing our music, about connecting with one another in a community of like-minded people and about promoting each other, as well as being promoted by the site. Ultimately, it is about musicians coming together in the realization that they stand more chance of achieving their dreams together than apart – Musicians Together.

By chance, destiny or divine intervention (you decide), the domain name was available. If anyone has ever tried to register a neat, catchy, fairly short domain name in the last few years, you will know just how difficult they are to find. I have been told recently that the name Musicians Together is a bit lacking in pizzazz. I suppose most shiny new internet sites these days do have much funkier names, like Zing, Stikr or Kerplunk (weren’t they a band in the 70’s?). I like Musicians Together though – it does what it says on the tin.

At the time of writing, barely three months after the launch of MT, things are getting a little crazy. We are in the process of moving to our third server already – because each time I have bought extra disk space or bandwidth it has been filled with great music within a matter of weeks. We are experiencing phenomenal growth, for such a young site. This bodes really well for the future; particularly for the extra exposure it brings to our members and their music. It also means we are going to be able to add extra features, services and promotional outlets for the music.

I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ here to those people who have made all of this happen. I have merely provided an outline. It is the most dedicated members of MT who have completed the picture. I won’t attempt to mention any names here (you know who you are), because I would probably miss someone out. But those of you who have given so generously of your time, enthusiasm and money are making MT what it is. And it is you, and our newer, dedicated members, who, in doing more of the same, will enable MT to reach its full potential as the very best community and promotional outlet for all of us amateur and undiscovered musicians.

[kentishbloke]

Hear Hear...and as one of those 'old friends' I was never sKeptical or indeed sceptical, since Mark has a passion for music rivaling my own I was more than happy to throw my lot in with him, having too become disillusioned with YouTube. 3 months on, I have no regrets only a growing sense of pride and admiration for what has thus far been achieved. With the advent of the MT magazine and several other long term plans that Mark has in mind, I am 100% behind him and join him in thanking those who have so generously donated. I won't go into figures, but Mark has committed himself financially to this cause and is in it for the long haul.....lets move forward together
Tim aka kentishbloke

Don't eat the Yellow snow.Frank Zappa

[reliablebow2]

Just a quick note to say Hooray for all the effort and vision and sticktoitinitis! I think the name does say it all too....so glad to be a part of this...onward!
Michael (reliablebow2)

[Mark H]

Just a quick note to say Hooray for all the effort and vision and sticktoitinitis! I think the name does say it all too....so glad to be a part of this...onward!
Michael (reliablebow2)

Cheers Michael. If nothing else, you have proven your utter dedication to the cause by coining a new word especially for us  

[stormforcemusic]

Well done Mark for your total dedication and all your hard work with setting up this site for people like us.  Thank you for the opportunity in joining this community to help and learn from fellow musicians.    Carry on the good work.  Thanks.

[ChrisHuebner]

Just a quick thank you for starting the site an all your hard work.

[shagpile]

just thought id say a huge thanks for actually getting up and doing something about the state of youtube at this time... and i wish you all the sucess you deserve with MT!  It is only my second day here and i already hav met some great people and some old freinds from youtube .. it feels like a family again how youtube used to be!!

Well done and Thank you..

Shaggy!

[Mark H]

Just a quick thank you for starting the site an all your hard work.

Thanks Chris - much appreciated

[Mark H]

just thought id say a huge thanks for actually getting up and doing something about the state of youtube at this time... and i wish you all the sucess you deserve with MT!  It is only my second day here and i already hav met some great people and some old freinds from youtube .. it feels like a family again how youtube used to be!!

Well done and Thank you..

Shaggy!

Cheers Shaggy. Glad you're liking it here so far. Long may it continue!

[7billionsinging]

A huge thank you to Mark and dedicated MT members who made this happen.  I've been here for a few days and really enjoyed it, it's a great atmosphere.  Thanks a lot for all your hard work in putting it together and keeping it going, it's much appreciated! 

[Mark H]

A huge thank you to Mark and dedicated MT members who made this happen.  I've been here for a few days and really enjoyed it, it's a great atmosphere.  Thanks a lot for all your hard work in putting it together and keeping it going, it's much appreciated!

And thank you for being here. It's great to have you on board