BandLab Technologies

BandLab Technologies is a Singapore-based company that operates a social music platform, called BandLab, and also owns a variety of music-related brands. These include Harmony and Heritage Guitars; the Guitar.com, NME and Uncut media platforms; and the Swee Lee musical instrument retailer and distributor.[1]

BandLab Technologies
TypePrivate
IndustryMusic collaboration software; instruments and accessories; music publications; retail
FoundersKuok Meng Ru
Steve Skillings
HeadquartersSingapore
Key people
Kuok Meng Ru, CEO
ProductsBandLab, Cakewalk, Guitar.com, Harmony Company, Heritage Guitars, lab.fm, MONO, MusicTech, NME, Swee Lee, Teisco, The Guitar Magazine, Uncut
WebsiteBandLab Technologies

History

BandLab Technologies was founded in 2015 by Kuok Meng Ru and Steve Skillings. Kuok was a Singaporean mathematics graduate from Cambridge University who is the son of agribusiness conglomerate Wilmar International's billionaire founder and CEO Kuok Khoon Hong, and Skillings was the developer of the JamHub audio mixer.[2] Kuok was also the owner of music retailer Swee Lee, acquired in 2012.[3] BandLab Technologies' first product, a Cloud Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) called BandLab, was released in November.[2]

In July 2016, the company acquired Composr, an iOS app for recording audio and making music. The app and its users were integrated into BandLab.[2] In September, the company acquired MONO Creators Inc, an American manufacturer of instrument cases, straps and accessories.[4] Also in September, BandLab Technologies acquired 49% of iconic American music magazine Rolling Stone from publisher Wenner Media.[5]

In September 2017, the company acquired Chew.tv, a video streaming service for DJs. The service was renamed Chew By BandLab, and was integrated into BandLab's web platform.[6] Also in September, the company signed a sales and marketing partnership with Heritage Guitars.[7] In November, the company announced it was relaunching the Harmony Company guitar and Teisco musical instrument brand names.[8]

In February 2018, BandLab Technologies acquired digital audio workstation Sonar from musical instrument company Gibson, after Gibson acquired and closed Sonar's developer, parent Cakewalk.[9] Sonar was renamed Cakewalk by BandLab.[10] In October, the company acquired brands including The Guitar Magazine and MusicTech from UK-based publisher Anthem Publishing.[11]

In January 2019, BandLab Technologies sold its 49% stake in Rolling Stone to American publishing company Penske Media.[12] In May, the company bought the music publications NME and Uncut from United Kingdom publisher TI Media.[13] In August, the company announced that it was integrating its livestreaming service Chew into BandLab and renaming it as BandLab Live.[14]

In July 2020, the company released BandLab Albums, software for digital distribution for independent artists.[15] In October, the company reported that 22 million people were using the BandLab app.[1]

Brands
  • BandLab - a free online Cloud Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) tool for creating music and collaborating with other musicians.[3] It works in a browser or with a standalone app.[16] Bandlab includes BandLab Albums, a digital distribution tool for musicians, allowing them to also create exclusive content for listeners such as demo tracks and behind-the-scenes videos.[15][2] The tool also includes BandLab Live, a livestreaming feature.[14]
  • Cakewalk by BandLab - a digital audio workstation formerly known as Sonar.[10]
  • Guitar.com - a music news website that also publishes The Guitar Magazine.[17][11]
  • Harmony Company - originally America's largest musical instrument manufacturer, relaunched in 2018 by BandLab with guitars and amplifiers.[18]
  • Heritage - a United States-based guitar manufacturer.[1]
  • lab.fm - an online music publication.[17]
  • MONO - a manufacturer of instrument cases, straps and accessories.[4]
  • MusicTech - an online music technology publication.[11]
  • NME - formally known as New Musical Express, a UK-based music journalism website and former print publication.[13]
  • Swee Lee - a Southeast Asian musical instrument distributor and retailer.[3]
  • Teisco - a brand of musical effects pedals.[17]
  • Uncut - a UK-based monthly music and entertainment magazine.[13]

Business model

BandLab Technologies doesn't charge for its software or digital musical content, but instead focuses on retail, manufacturing and media advertising sales.[17]

References
  1. "Covid: NME owner says pandemic impact wasn't all negative". BBC. 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. "What You Need To Know About BandLab, The Singaporean Startup Behind That Rolling Stone Deal". Vulcan Post. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  3. "BandLab's Meng Ruo Kuok on building a business model around music". DealStreet Asia. 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  4. "BandLab debuts a new 'Albums' tool for self-releasing artists". Deal Street Asia. 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  5. "A Large Stake in Rolling Stone Is Being Sold to This Singaporean Company". Fortune. 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  6. "BandLab Technologies acquires Chew.tv, a video streaming service for DJs". Techcrunch. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  7. "Heritage Guitar Teams with BandLab". MS Retailer. 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  8. "BandLab to Reboot Teisco and Harmony Guitar Brands". Reverb. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  9. "BandLab Acquires Cakewalk Assets from Gibson". Reverb. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  10. "Sonar now free, renamed 'Cakewalk by BandLab'". Sound On Sound. 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  11. "SG music platform BandLab acquires The Guitar Magazine, Musictech". Deal Street Asia. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  12. "Penske Media Takes Full Ownership of Rolling Stone". Variety. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  13. "Music bible NME sold to Singapore's BandLab". Financial Times. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  14. "'BandLab Live' adds livestreaming to popular social music platform. 'Live' replaces previous streaming platform, Chew.TV". BandLab Technologies. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  15. "BandLab debuts a new 'Albums' tool for self-releasing artists". Musical.ly. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  16. "Getting set up for remote collaboration: Collaborative Platforms". MusicTech. 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  17. "Singapore's BandLab Technologies acquires iconic music magazines NME and Uncut". Tech In Asia. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  18. "NAMM 2018: Harmony resurrected with new guitars and amps". Music Radar. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
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