Launching a groundbreaking initiative to transform how emerging artists connect with music industry professionals, ROSTR and Bandsintown have partnered to create EARLY, a showcase platform designed to provide direct exposure to key decision-makers. The debut event, scheduled for October 2025 in Los Angeles, will bring together over 300 influential industry figures searching for fresh talent in an environment specifically crafted for meaningful discovery.
EARLY addresses a significant gap in the music industry ecosystem where developing artists often struggle to establish valuable connections despite having performance-ready material. By creating a curated, intent-driven platform, the showcase offers artists a rare opportunity to perform for a concentrated audience of A&R representatives, managers, agents, and publishers who can directly impact career trajectories.
Bridging the industry connection gap for talented artists ready to perform but lacking crucial professional relationships.
Applications for the showcase open until September 7, 2025, with selected artists benefiting not only from the live performance opportunity but also from extensive promotional support. Bandsintown will leverage its global platform reaching millions of music fans to create custom promotional campaigns for participating artists, while ROSTR will develop an online content series showcasing performers to tens of thousands of industry professionals worldwide.
“We’ve designed EARLY as an independent, curated platform that serves both artists seeking legitimate industry exposure and professionals needing efficient talent discovery,” explained a representative from the organizing team. The initiative extends both companies’ missions – ROSTR’s focus on empowering artist-side professionals and Bandsintown’s commitment to championing independent platforms that create tangible value for artists. This collaboration aligns with industry trends like Spotify’s expanded integration with social platforms to enhance music discovery and artist visibility. Artists should also focus on personal branding while preparing for the showcase, as a well-defined artistic identity helps make lasting impressions on industry professionals.
Unlike large commercial festivals, EARLY maintains a deliberately focused approach on emerging talent discovery. The showcase will debut at El Cid in Silver Lake, featuring three acts performing 30-minute sets followed by a headline DJ. The showcase format provides a time-efficient scouting opportunity for industry decision-makers while offering artists an equal opportunity platform for discovery regardless of existing connections. Participants will also gain valuable insights into creating engaging content that can help build their brand story and connect with audiences across platforms.
Through this partnership, ROSTR and Bandsintown aim to accelerate artist development by creating a direct path to industry recognition, potentially shortening the typically lengthy journey from independent artist to signed talent with significant industry support.
