Downwrite

WHERE WE STARTED Like many great ideas, Downwrite began as a discussion over a few beers. Chicago-based musicians, Mark Rose and Bob Nanna, were talking about how they saw the music industry going. The big question was how could they make a successful and rewarding career from songwriting amid the abundance of music and inexpensive access to it online. Their answer was Downwrite—a unique community of artists and fans coming together to connect, collaborate, and create. WHERE WE'RE GOING Downwrite’s success proves that people are still willing to pay good money for great music. And we believe that our model has the potential to transform the music industry. Already, Downwrite supports the creative, community, and commercial needs of artists. And it allows fans to connect with their favorite musicians in a personal way never before possible. Now, we’ve brought in experts from the business, entertainment, and tech sectors to make the most of the unique platform we’ve built. We envision a diverse community of commissioners using Downwrite. Look how the influencer trend on social media has turned individuals into brands, the explosion in the number and popularity of podcasts, and the way companies endeavor more than ever to set themselves apart from competitors. In all these cases original music, whether a song, signature tune, jingle, company anthem, or something else can enhance a brand or product. Sure, you can pay to use a pre-recorded track and hope it becomes associated with your brand. But why co-opt something when you can co-create it? By turning Downwrite into the modern equivalent of the old major record companies, we also offer artists much more than a shop window. Unlike other songwriting enterprises, Downwrite works behind the scenes to register and protect our artists’ work, and every song or composition has the potential to earn backend royalties and fees. Mark and Bob saw that the way music is created and consumed was changing. Today, it is still evolving. Downwrite is evolving with it—to reinvent how music is made.