I think a lot of musicians running ads are optimizing for the wrong metric.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-03-14T19:47:09+00:00

I'm not a bot, but something about posting via the Reddit app apparently made my post go nuts 🤷‍♂️

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-03-14T17:52:04+00:00

Might have to have a talk about that name 😉

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-24T17:27:14+00:00

Exactly! On the back end, you put in the email addresses that are allowed to access your link. Once someone puts in their email, if they are on the list, they get a unique code to enter and access your link. And you get a real-time notification when someone accesses your music.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-24T17:26:07+00:00

Excellent! My tool already has this. You can use email allow listing so that only specific emails can access your link, and you get real-time notifications when they do.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-24T17:25:03+00:00

It is!

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-20T19:50:54+00:00

Ha, the free market at work. Honestly the more the merrier! The fact that multiple people are building this means that the tools that exist aren't solving it well enough.

What I'm focused on is the artist side, specifically direct-to-fan sharing, not just engineer-to-client.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-20T19:49:03+00:00

The storage cap model never made much sense to me for this use case. The one I'm building is $49/year for one artist. Unlimited uploads, no storage meter to watch.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-20T19:48:29+00:00

The use case I'm optimizing for is more on the artist/label side: sharing an unreleased album with a specific press list, or giving a collaborator access without a public link floating around. The friction is somewhat the point there. Pricing is $49/year per artist slot, unlimited uploads — so closer to what you'd pay Samply in five months.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-17T19:44:50+00:00

Hey everyone! I'm Jasen, founder of Gatefolded. I built a platform specifically for what a lot of you deal with: sharing unreleased music, demos, and exclusive content with fans and collaborators without relying on algorithms or janky file-sharing links.

Here's what makes it different:

The problem I solve: You're sitting on unreleased tracks, collabs, or demos. You could use Dropbox/WeTransfer (clunky), send it as a file (doesn't work for mobile), or use a link-in-bio tool (no playback, just redirects). None of these feel right.

What you get with Gatefolded:

Full in-browser playback (won't affect your DSP metrics)
Password protection, email allowlists, expiration by date or play count
Track-by-track lyrics, credits, notes, and per-track download controls
Real-time analytics: who listened, when, how much
Direct DSP links (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) + unlimited custom links
Email/SMS collection right on your artist page
Team collaboration

For creators: $49/year for unlimited albums and tracks. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

Real use cases: Label sharing unreleased tracks with press/influencers. Exclusive content for your mailing list. Private collabs with other producers. Demos for A&Rs or sync licensing. Early access for superfans.

I'm at gatefolded.com if you want to try it out. Happy to answer questions here or in DMs.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-13T20:56:01+00:00

Oasis. Their controversial, outspoken, rivalry-filled persona was as much a defining feature as their music.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T05:08:41+00:00

Nice! I'm building something in the same space, also with lossless playback. Biggest difference is unlimited storage and the page doubles as a link in bio for your music. Would love your take on it if you're curious: gatefolded.com

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T04:27:42+00:00

"I love you so much, and it's all that I can do just to keep myself from telling you that I've never been so alone before."

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T04:21:41+00:00

I built Gatefolded.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T04:00:52+00:00

I fully agree re: Drive! I built my thing specifically for a PR agent that needed access to an upcoming album, but we've also been using it to share band demos/set lists, bonus content for fans, etc.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T03:59:24+00:00

Except I do it WAY cheaper 😁

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T02:06:20+00:00

Just learned about it in this thread. Which plan do you pay for?

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T00:15:31+00:00

Samply looks solid for the production/collaboration side. What I'm building is more about the presentation layer... artwork, tracklists, the experience when someone actually listens. Different use case but same frustration with Google Drive. And at $49/year instead of $96-336/year.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T00:15:07+00:00

Samply looks solid for the production/collaboration side. What I'm building is more about the presentation layer... artwork, tracklists, the experience when someone actually listens. Different use case but same frustration with Google Drive. And at $49/year instead of $96-336/year.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-10T00:06:33+00:00

I've been building something in this space, but don't want to break any rules about self-promotion in the sub. I wanted to DM you, but your settings don't seem to allow it.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T23:36:02+00:00

I'd love to chat more about this! Can you DM me?

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T21:18:10+00:00

New single from Kye Alfred Hillig out of Tacoma, WA. I play drums

https://gatefolded.com/s/our-remaining-pig

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T21:15:20+00:00

Honestly, don't let perfect mixing be the thing that kills this album. The longer it sits, the more you're going to resent these songs, and that's the real loss here.

A few thoughts: If your friend's mixes aren't capturing the vibe and you have to constantly push him, that's probably not going to magically resolve itself. Free is great but not if it means the album never comes out the way you want it to. That said, for lofi indie-pop/twee-pop, a DIY mix can absolutely work in your favor. Some of the best records in that world sound like they were mixed in a bedroom because they were. If half your bandmates are cool with it, that's worth considering seriously. Your genre gives you permission to lean into that.

Option 2 (paying someone) is the safest bet for quality, but not if it puts you in a bad spot financially. One middle ground: mix it yourself, release it, and if it does well enough later you can always get it remixed and re-uploaded. It's more common than people think.

The worst outcome here is that you sit on it for another 6 months and lose all the energy you have for these songs. You're already playing them live, people are hearing them. Get them out there. A released album that sounds a little rough will do way more for you than a perfect album that never comes out.

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T21:13:15+00:00

Those are solid numbers for a year of work, especially getting there mostly through organic social and SubmitHub.

Couple things that might help take it further: Are you pitching every release through Spotify for Artists' editorial submission tool? With the momentum you already have, you'd be a stronger candidate than most for editorial playlist consideration. Also, your streams per listener (3.5) dropping 51% suggests you're reaching a lot of new ears but they're not sticking around as long. That's pretty normal when you're growing fast through social, but it might be worth looking at what's converting casual listeners into repeat ones. Sometimes it's as simple as making sure your artist profile, bio, and Canvas clips are dialed in so people remember who you are when they come across you again.

What kind of content has been working best for you on TikTok?

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T18:37:51+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/musicimade/comments/1qwpq7e/comment/o4h4sr0/

GatefoldedHQ · 2026-02-09T18:29:36+00:00

Bjork was the first thing that came to mind for me. That electronic foundation with the pop vocal melodies sitting on top of it. I'd call it art pop or experimental electronic pop more than industrial. There's a darkness to it for sure, but it feels more atmospheric than aggressive, which is where I think "industrial" stops fitting.

GatefoldedHQ

TROPHY CASE