Linnea Schossow – “My Journey as a Musician and Co-Founder of a Platform to Protect Artists”

One of the most challenging aspects of supporting singers and songwriters today is helping them overcome a legitimate fear of scams and exploitation. The online world, while full of opportunity, can also be a risky place. As a singer, songwriter, and producer who’s been in the music industry for 17 years, I completely understand these concerns. I’ve had the privilege of releasing over 80 songs across various electronic music labels, had music featured in Netflix series, and even one of my tracks on a Grammy-nominated album.

From Artist to Advocate: The Birth of a Platform for Creators

I’d love to share how, driven by passion and purpose, I became a co-founder of a company committed 100% to advocating for artists’ rights and educating creators on how to protect their work.

Thirteen years ago, I was already active in the industry and had the good fortune to connect with many like-minded creators when I was invited to a private Facebook group for professional singers and songwriters known as the Vocalist Songwriters Alliance (VSA). The group was created by a fellow artist, Antonia Lucas, and served as a members-only space where experienced artists could connect and share experiences. It was an inspiring community, brimming with legends and talents from all over the industry. It grew to 300 members quickly. It felt like stepping into a treasure trove of talent—an inspiring network filled with the very voices we admired and aspired to learn from. Legends, heroes, and creative forces were all there, connecting and sharing openly. For the first time, singers and songwriters could truly collaborate, share, and support each other in a way that felt unprecedented and empowering.

Becoming Part of the Solution: Addressing Industry Issues

As more people joined, I became an admin, and I saw firsthand the issues we all faced: unfair treatment, lack of credit, misleading contracts, and an overall sense of isolation among artists. Together, we discussed these topics openly, which helped us realize we weren’t alone. Through VSA, artists began to find confidence in challenging some of these issues. For example, there was frequent misuse of the “featuring” label on credits when singers and songwriters were often integral to the creative process and should have been credited as collaborators, not as secondary contributors. This dialogue encouraged many of us to demand fairer standards and helped set the foundation for long-needed change.

A New Vision for the Future of the Music Industry

Years passed, but the underlying issues didn’t. Antonia felt compelled to create a more robust solution, one that could address these problems at scale. She approached me about co-founding a platform dedicated to creating a fairer music industry, and I immediately accepted. Together, we rebuilt the whole platform and envisioned a comprehensive resource that would cater to the needs of singers, songwriters, producers, and everyone else involved in music production.

Building the Platform: Empowering Artists through Education and Advocacy

Our platform has taken four years of dedication, and today, it serves as a one-stop hub for artists’ rights, education, and professional development. We’ve self-funded every aspect, designing it to be accessible, with free membership and numerous resources, from educational tools to community connections. We’re also planning webinars with A-list musicians, workshops led by renowned professionals, and access to a network of music industry experts, including lawyers, producers, and marketing specialists. Artists can find guidance on royalty collection, contract negotiation, collaboration etiquette, and so much more—a true playground for musicians to thrive.

Our Mission: Advocating for Artists’ Rights and Industry Change

While some advanced services are paid, many tools and resources are free because our mission is rooted in advocating for and empowering creators. We believe in protecting artists’ rights, helping them build confidence, and elevating industry standards.

Our platform was built to be a space for the music community to thrive, learn, and build a more supportive and equitable industry together. Antonia and I are artists first and foremost, and our hearts are in this mission to educate creators, help them build confidence, and advocate for higher standards in the industry.

If you’re an artist with questions about your rights, curious about navigating the music industry, or just want to share your own story, feel free to reach out to [email protected]. Let’s work together to create a more empowering future for artists everywhere.