Bridging the gap between the Asian music markets and the West, SURF Music has built a reputation for connecting musicians with buyers for exclusive placements across continents. Now, the company has built SURF Sessions, a place music creators can visit every day for new project discovery, file management, and global collaboration with real-time language translation tools baked in for seamless idea sharing.

“SURF has always focused on global music discovery, but mostly by helping advertisers, film directors, marketing teams, and businesses discover songwriters and producers, and place their tracks,” explains Ken Kobori, Founder and CEO of SURF Music. “Now we are thrilled to take a step toward helping music makers discover each other and explore the new creative possibilities that they can unlock through borderless collaboration.”

With the launch of SURF Sessions, music creators - from topliners to track makers - can apply for a session to collaborate with award-winning producers, or start their own public or private sessions and invite others to join.

A new project begins in SURF Sessions when a creator has an idea for a track and needs a collaborator. They post a project proposal consisting of a short description of their intentions for the project with a demo or stems. Instrument, mood, and genre tags can also be applied for easy discovery.

Musicians and producers looking for their next project can sift through proposals until they find the perfect match for their skills and interests. 

Once the creator of the proposed project has chosen their collaborators, the power of SURF Sessions’ comprehensive platform for streamlining and managing the creative process takes full effect. Serving as a dynamic cloud-based storage locker, file sharing mode allows each artist to drag and drop their work into organized folders. This feature supports both audio and visual content, so collaborators can even brainstorm and mock up cover art for their tracks. Once they’re happy with the results, creators can export their finished track to any distribution platform, or place it directly onto SURF’s marketplace–maintaining all of their rights to the song.

SURF Music is also introducing a tiered pricing structure to provide a lower barrier to entry for emerging and rising songwriters and producers starting at $19.99/month. From its pinboard of project briefs for creators seeking collaborators to organized file sharing, SURF is built to support both creators and creative teams through their entire creative journey. With SURF Plus, individual creators can place up to 25 tracks on the marketplace, submit five track briefs per month, and enjoy 100GB of file storage. SURF Pro creators enjoy the same features with 500GB of storage and unlimited track briefs and uploads to the marketplace, plus a dedicated account manager and catalog support. SURF Creator Teams is offered with the same tiered Plus (emerging creators) and Pro (established) subscription options.

“Our ultimate goal is to maximize creators’ opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get their music out into the world,” explains Jona Higa, COO at SURF Music. “Now we have the honor of walking alongside songwriters and producers from the very beginning of the process of finding collaborators all the way through the vital creative stage and onto monetization.”

About SURF Music

SURF Music is a one-stop shop digital tool and marketplace for songwriters, producers and music makers globally to connect, chat, and collaborate and then sell their unreleased music to buyers across the global entertainment industry. We are re-energizing the music industry by providing transparency and accessibility for global music discovery, connectivity, and collaboration.

The city of Busan looked to SURF Music to find thematic, Olympic-style music to accompany their bid for the World Expo 2030. 

For the city of Busan, South Korea, the World Expo 2030 symbolizes globalization and amplification of their great city to the rest of the world. Busan wanted to connect with the best of Korean entertainment and music to showcase an iconic global sound that would resonate with people of all ages, and support the city's initiatives around Expo candidacy. The city of Busan was connected with SURF Music, a B2B music marketplace for exclusive placements, by advisor and South Korean music producer, songwriter, and artist Shaun Kim, as the go-to place to find the perfect track fast. This led them to discover singer Lee Mujin and songwriter Ben Samama, along with co-writers on the song Peter Hanna and Sky Adams, who commissioned a track specifically for the Expo’s promotion called “Welcome to World Expo.”

“With SURF, advertisers, marketing teams, film directors – you name it – have this new discoverable way to find hidden talents all around the world,” says Kristine Kim, GM of Korea at SURF Music. “The city of Busan is wanting to be recognized on this global scale, and is trusting SURF as a partner at this very vulnerable stage.”

Busan wants to be a stamp in the world, with a goal to be the #1 content city of the world. Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Pyramids in Egypt, Busan wants instant recognition for their transformation and drive toward building up current global technologies and themes, for the better. Hosting of the 2030 World Expo will amplify this, as an international event that serves as a bridge between governments, companies, international organizations, and citizens. Busan’s partnership with SURF will continue through the Expo’s judgment day in November 2023.

SURF Music helped the city of Busan discover and connect with global music artists, producers, and songwriters, willing and able to match the specific needs for their 2030 promotional bid. After submitting a detailed brief of their requests for this commissioned song, SURF returned a playlist of unreleased music by real artists, vying for the chance to work with Busan on this promotional piece. Although their ultimate decision was between two artists, Busan went with “Welcome to World Expo” by Lee Mujin, based on its concept and iconic, catchy sound.

“Busan Metropolitan City, along with SURF Music, which is creating new forms in the music industry, was a delightful and meaningful project to be involved in as the central city of Korea's digital industry,” says Shaun Kim, South Korean Producer and Creative Advisor at SURF. “The Busan Expo project was incredibly enjoyable and innovative, and I am excited for the next project to be carried out with SURF Music!”

AI-search powers the SURF marketplace, featuring unreleased demos by hundreds of global songwriters, producers, and music creators for businesses, and access to creative briefs from labels, ad agencies, and film/tv production companies for artists. From the marketplace, these artists and music creators can manage their catalog via AI song tagging, organize playlists, and submit songs that fit a certain brief, as did Busan’s team and the submitting songwriters and artists for Busan’s World Expo bid. This is all conveniently offered on a monthly subscription basis, greatly simplifying the discovery and usage process.

“We have a hybrid approach to AI, where human interaction is vital to make connections and establish trust between musicians, producers, and businesses or entities searching for music,” says Jona Higa, COO at SURF Music. “Even though we are a digital platform, real musicians making and sharing this music is a vital part to our process in order to showcase what SURF can do versus other competitors.”

About SURF
SURF Music is a digital tool and marketplace for creators to sell their unreleased music to buyers across the global entertainment industry. We are re-energizing the music industry by providing the transparency and accessibility for global music discovery, connectivity, and collaboration.

Mono Stereo Groove will host their 2nd Annual M.S.G. Writing Camp to celebrate and amplify the AAPI music community through round tables, networking, and panels curated for Asian hitmakers in the music industry.

MSG has partnered with APIECE, Warner Music Group’s API ERG, Sony Music Publishing, Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter, LIONS SHARE, and SURF Music for this year’s week-long event, which will take place in Los Angeles, CA at the WMG Campus from May 15-19, 2023, coinciding with Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

MSG Writing Camp started during the COVID-19 pandemic by Rose Tan, a Filipino and Chinese songwriter who has been writing for more than 15 years. She wanted to increase opportunities and visibility for API creatives, as in her own experience, she had very rarely been in rooms with other people with similar backgrounds as her and wanted to create a safe space for growth and learning.

“The main objective of this camp, ultimately, is to actually release music,” Tan said, adding that Brooke Alexx’s single “All My Exes’ Moms” is a success story from last year’s inaugural event. “We want people to realize that AAPI creators are already creating across the music industry, and not just during the month of May.”

“We are so grateful to be able to host such an important event during AAPI Heritage Month, but our goal is to be celebrated for our contributions to music all year long,” says Brian Reyes, ASCAP.

Panels will take place during the camp, featuring API executives and songwriters from across the world/US. Representatives from SURF’s team will take part in the main panel on Wednesday evening, Advancing AAPI Leaders and Creators in Music, with other industry executives including Karen Kwak (EVP/Head of A&R, Warner Records), Jon Chen (Sr. Director of A&R, Warner Chappell), Dinah Jane (artist/songwriter and former member of the pop supergroup, Fifth Harmony) and moderated by Jamie Dominguez (Sound Royalties Regional Director of Business and Artist Relations and Governor of The Recording Academy’s NY Chapter). SURF’s Chief Operating Officer Jona Higa and Chief Creative Officer Justine Suzuki, who both serve on MSG’s board of directors, will be available to advise and mentor songwriters as they work on their records, sharing valuable expertise into music monetization and revenue streams, including the hosting of a “Lunch and Learn” event on Thursday, May 18th.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Mono Stereo Groove to launch its 2^nd annual songwriting camp, and we look forward to further elevating AAPI representation and creativity across music,” said Sony Music Group EVP Philanthropy and Social Impact Towalame Austin.

M.S.G recognizes that none of this would be possible without the generous support of their sponsors including Spotify, Sound Royalties, Angry Mob Music, SHURE, Soho House DTLA, Poketo, Arturia, Health-Ade Kombucha, Nectar Hard Seltzer, Nuero and more.

M.S.G is an acronym for Mono Stereo Groove, a creative collective of songwriters, producers, artists, engineers, and music executives of Asian descent. M.S.G was launched in early 2022 but has been a concept the founding partners envisioned for quite some time. Founded by platinum selling songwriter/producer, Rose Tan, PRO executive, Brian Reyes and manager/music executive, Maria T. Lyons knew there was a need to create a space to showcase and support API talent and to build a bridge for Asian creatives to be able to meet, connect and collaborate. Mono Stereo Groove’s mission is to amplify and create visibility for the API creative community by recognizing its rich history and influence globally and in mainstream American music.

SURF Music is popular in Japan and South Korea and has recently broken into the US market as a finalist for the 2023 SXSW Innovation Award. With a platform of unreleased tracks by hundreds of songwriters, producers, and music creators, SURF allows creators to access creative briefs from labels, ad agencies, and film/tv production companies and submit songs for consideration, among other exciting opportunities on the platform.

“MSG Writing Camp brings great visibility to API creatives,” says Justine Suzuki, CCO at SURF Music. “We know that by partnering with MSG and continuing to support initiatives in this space, additional opportunities will become available for the API community.”

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A SXSW Innovation Award finalist, the Tokyo-based platform for music dealmaking has its big American debut and launch.

SURF Music (discover.surf) has been selected as a finalist for this year’s SXSW Innovation Award, one of only four companies in the Media category. This moment marks the global launch of this game-changing B2B platform and marketplace, which allows creators to sell their unreleased music to buyers across the global entertainment industry. It provides both sides of the equation with tools to find each other, organize tracks, collaborate, and close deals.

SURF will take part in the SXSW Innovation Awards ceremony on March 13, 2023 in Austin. Full details here.
 
In quasi-stealth mode, SURF Music has been making waves in Japan and South Korea for the last three years, though its business and vision are truly global. SURF currently works with every major record label in Japan and Korea, and more than 200 vetted A&Rs. A&Rs and music buyers can filter and discover songs using SURF’s fine-tuned AI-powered search, can put holds on cool tracks, and can place these tracks with their artists and in their projects.

SURF allows them to discover unreleased demos by hundreds of invited songwriters, producers, and music creators from across the planet, a number poised to grow quickly after launch. These creators can access creative briefs from labels, ad agencies, and film/tv production companies, can manage their catalog via AI song tagging, organize playlists, and submit songs that fit the brief. 

SURF’s highly organized and intuitive marketplace makes what has traditionally been a chaotic process manageable and beneficial for everyone involved. Music buyers can find what they need, and creators can make meaningful connections with others like them, as well as with the music industry pros they used to have to cold call or DM. The platform plans to regularly roll out new features that improve dramatically on existing tools for creators and buyers.

“We want to connect creators in a way existing marketplaces simply can’t. SURF will offer AI to help surface the right tracks and creators, and analytics to help creators see who is listening and how,” explains founder and CEO Ken Kobori, a songwriter and producer with charting hits under his belt, “Behind our platform are very real people from different parts of the world with networks and experience in the industry. Though we’ve established ourselves in Japan and South Korea, we’re here to let the industry know we’re jumping into this market. We’re thrilled to be at the starting line, ready to run.”