What's the deal with we7?! Find out all you need to know here!
 How long has we7 been running?
we7 was set up in 2007 by Peter Gabriel, Steve Purdham, Gareth Reakes and John Taysom as a way to support the growth of new artists as well as those who are already established.
What is the idea behind we7?
we7 was created on the belief that digital music should benefit artists and consumers alike. We believe that digital music should be accessible for everyone and that a sustainable business model can be found to support the entire music ecosystem.
Ultimately, there are only two people who really matter in the music ecosystem: the consumer and the artist. Consumers want the opportunity to listen to the music they want, while artists want only to be paid for the work they do. Digital music has the chance to meet both of these needs – if it is handled in the right way.
How does it work?
The we7 platform is a free music streaming site with over 2 million tracks available to users. Through the site it’s possible for users to access tracks and bands that they wouldn’t otherwise have encountered and unlike music piracy, every time a track is played the artist will be paid. With additional features on the site which enable users to share their favourite tracks across social networks and blogs and create playlists for friends, great music can propagate far quicker than traditional channels.
we7’s service is supported by an ad-funded revenue stream with future plans to expand out into ad-free premium subscriptions. The ad model which is based on a short brand message between tracks can be both subtle and effective. It can integrate a brief advert or message – 15 seconds at the most – into the music experience without interrupting it. When the subscription model is launched users will then be able to choose whether they would prefer to access their tracks with or without adverts.
What can unsigned bands & artists get out of the service?
The benefit to unsigned acts is two-fold; it allows their fans to access music for free to create a loyal fan-base and the artists earn money for their tracks by the innovative use of adverts. To get onto we7, bands must first pass through the TasteMakers community, a site set up to determine which acts make it onto the site, and once featured bands rapidly feel the benefit.
Is there a fee for bands/artists to join?
There isn’t a fee for bands to join, they just need to be chosen by the members of the TasteMakers community to make it onto the site or alternatively they can enter the we7 Presents competition.
we7 Presents is an initiative to promote unsigned music. Influencers from NME, Music Week, the Guardian and Ditto Music pick 5 bands every two months to be featured on the homepage of the site with additional promotion via banner ads and inclusion in we7’s various social media activities. The site receives 2.5 million visits per month and a recent band to be featured, Hitchcock were signed to a label shortly after being featured.
 Do unsigned users of we7 gain much exposure?
One of the first bands to break through in TasteMakers was Doppler Shift who has seen a phenomenal success since uploading their music. Matt Chapman of the band comments "we7.com has been a great resource for The Doppler Shift as it's provided an opportunity for our fans to download our music completely free, without our pockets suffering! For most new bands, it's pretty much impossible to make any money in the early days, but TasteMakers has allowed us to make money and still keep the fans happy. we7.com and TasteMakers will become the home of great unsigned music in months to come and something that every new band should think about."
The bands selected through the we7 Presents initiative benefit from a promotion package worth £10,000 in ad space and inclusion in PR programmes. Something that will provide a serious boost to any musicians trying to make their name in the industry and build an audience.
Any general tips/advice for unsigned bands?
The best tip we can give for unsigned bands is to keep looking for platforms to engage and grow your audience. From gigs to music sites it’s important that your music is accessible without handing it out for free. We’re determined to help new British artists succeed and launching on we7 is a fantastic way to achieve broader awareness.
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