For several years, many Nigerians have found success working freelance online for clients in America and Europe. Now Gemtracks Beats, a music industry marketplace that was founded in 2016 in Los Angles has finally arrived in the country.
Founded by DJ Jesse Neo in Los Angeles, the site acts as a marketplace that provides to recording artists all the necessities that a traditional record label would provide as reported in The Jerusalem Post. This includes access to instrumental beats, songwriters, audio engineers and even recording studios.
“The idea for creating a website to serve the music industry began when I was out of work and was looking for new ways to sell my music,” Jesse explained. “So I created a website and began listing my beats. Suddenly without days, sales were coming through. Eventually it became my fulltime job.”
Gradually as the platform increased in popularity, Jesse was advised to transform it into a marketplace where anyone could sell beats and provide other musical services like session singing to other musical clients.
“I have been in love with the arts and culture of Africa for many years now,” Jesse continued. “When I found out that more and more Africans were getting access to the internet, it was a no-brainer to open Gemtracks Beats to Nigeria so that musicians here would be able to earn some extra money and even get their work heard overseas.”
Today, more than 10,000 members have signed up to the website, include music professionals that have worked with the major labels like Warner, Universal and Sony.
“It so incredible how the internet has been able to connect artists from different continents to work on music together,” the DJ said. “I only wish I could have started the website sooner.”
Besides buying and selling beats and freelancing, members are also able to book recording studios nearby so that they can easily record their vocals.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still going on into the foreseeable future, there is no better time for Nigerians to get started into online freelance work.