Independent musicians.
Live, studio, and everything between.
The Booking Agency lists verified independent musicians across 160+ countries. Live performance, session work, composition, wedding and ceremony music, corporate events. Find the right musician, then book them directly.
Who you will find here
Music is one of the broadest categories on the platform. The musicians here range from classically trained instrumentalists with conservatory backgrounds to producers who also perform, singer-songwriters who do session work between tours, and session players who are the first call for studios in their city. What they share is that they work independently and they are looking for bookings directly.
Live performance and recorded work are different hiring decisions. A musician who is exceptional in a live room may or may not be the right session player for a recording project that needs clean takes and quick transitions between charts. Most musicians on TBA are explicit about which they focus on, which makes it easier to filter the right way from the start.
Geographic range matters here as much as in any other category. If you are planning an event in a city with a specific musical culture, finding a local musician who is embedded in that scene means authenticity that you cannot airlift in. Similarly, if you are scoring a project with a regional sound, there are session musicians on the platform who are already working in those traditions.
Founder note
[MONIQUE / ANDREW: Add a short personal paragraph here about musicians on TBA. What surprised you about the range of talent, a booking or collaboration story, or what you think makes an independent musician worth hiring over going through a booking agency. 3-5 sentences, first person, specific.]
What musicians on the platform do
Live events and studio sessions are different disciplines. Here is what you will find.
Live Performance
Solo performers, duos, bands, and ensembles available for events, venues, and private bookings. Live musicians cover genres from jazz and classical to pop, R&B, folk, and world music. Many are available for venue residencies, one-off events, or touring support work.
Session Musicians
Studio session players for recording projects. Session musicians read charts or work by ear depending on the project, and they typically deliver takes efficiently. If you are producing an album, an EP, or commercial music content and need specific instrumentation, session work is the right hire.
Composition and Scoring
Original music for film, television, advertising, games, and branded content. Composers on TBA range from film score specialists to advertising composers with sync licensing experience. Most deliver in the formats required for post-production workflows.
Wedding and Ceremony Music
Ceremony musicians, cocktail hour performers, and reception entertainment. String quartets, solo guitarists, pianists, harpists, vocalists. Wedding musicians typically meet with clients in advance, prepare a customized set list, and handle the logistics of setting up in unfamiliar venues.
Corporate and Brand Events
Ambient background music for corporate functions, conference entertainment, brand activations, and hospitality events. Corporate musicians understand the difference between foreground entertainment and music that supports a room without dominating it. Many have experience in hotel and venue residencies.
Teaching and Music Education
Private music tutors for individuals, masterclass instructors for groups, and music educators available for corporate workshops or artist development programs. Many professional performers also teach, and booking them for tuition gives students access to working musicians rather than exclusively academic teachers.
How booking a musician works
Discovery platform. Browse, connect, and book directly.
Find the right musician
Browse by location, genre, and specialization. Most profiles include demo recordings, performance samples, or portfolio clips. Review their work before reaching out.
Send your brief
Message with the project details: event type or recording context, date and location, repertoire requirements, equipment situation, and any style or genre preferences.
Book and pay directly
Agree on terms, pay the musician directly. The Booking Agency is the discovery layer. No fees, no transaction processing, no intermediary.
What to look for when hiring a musician
Recordings that match your use case
Ask for a recording close to the context you are hiring for. A live recording from a similar venue tells you more about how a musician performs under real conditions than a polished studio demo. A session recording tells you about their ability to work efficiently in a studio context. Both are useful, but they answer different questions.
Repertoire flexibility
Establish early how much flexibility the musician has on repertoire. Classical and jazz musicians typically have a deep repertoire they can access quickly. Pop or contemporary performers may need lead time to learn specific songs. For events with must-play lists, share the list during the initial conversation, not after the booking is confirmed.
Venue and equipment logistics
For live events, confirm what the musician needs from the venue: PA system, mic stands, monitors, a piano or organ (if applicable), and load-in time. Handling this in advance prevents the situation where the musician arrives and the venue has not set up what was expected. Most venues have a standard tech rider process; ask the musician for theirs.
Professionalism in the pre-booking conversation
A musician who asks the right questions before a booking is more likely to execute well on the day. They should want to know about the event, the audience, the space, and any specific requirements. A musician who confirms availability without asking anything is either very experienced or not paying attention. Either way, follow up with specific questions to confirm they understand the brief.
Musician rates: what to expect
Musician rates vary significantly by specialization, experience, event type, and location. A two-hour corporate event performance runs differently from a full day of recording sessions. Session rates are typically quoted per hour or per day with an agreed number of takes or songs. Live performance rates often include setup and breakdown time.
As rough orientation: solo live performers for private events typically range from $200 to $800 for a 2-3 hour set depending on experience and market. Wedding ceremony musicians (string duo, soloist) often range from $400 to $1,500. Session musicians in most markets range from $50 to $200 per hour for studio work. Composers and scoring work is typically quoted per project based on the number of minutes of original music required.
Musicians in 160+ countries
Whether you are looking for a classical guitarist in Lisbon, a jazz trio in Seoul, a kora player in Dakar, or a session bassist in Buenos Aires, the platform has independent musicians working in these markets. For projects where regional authenticity matters, hiring locally gives you access to musicians who are embedded in the musical culture you are drawing from.
Common questions
What information do I need to give a musician when making an inquiry?
Event type and date, venue or recording studio, duration required, genre and style preferences, number of musicians needed if more than one, whether PA and sound equipment is provided, and any specific songs or repertoire requirements. The more context you provide, the more accurate the quote.
Do musicians bring their own equipment?
Depends on the musician and the booking type. Solo performers often bring their own instruments. Larger ensembles may require a PA system. Session musicians work in your studio with your equipment or bring their own instruments. Confirm equipment requirements early so there are no surprises on the day.
How do I book a musician for a recording session?
Contact the musician with the project details: instrumentation needed, style and genre, whether charts will be provided or they should work by ear, session length, recording location, and your timeline. Session rates are usually quoted per hour or per day. Remote recording (DI files or stems sent digitally) is also available from many session musicians.
How far in advance should I book a musician for an event?
For weddings and large events, 4-12 months ahead is standard. Popular musicians in high-demand markets book out quickly on peak dates. For corporate events and smaller bookings, 4-6 weeks is usually adequate. Session work can often be arranged with shorter notice.
Can I hire a musician from another country?
Yes. The platform lists musicians across 160+ countries. Cross-border bookings are common for touring support, festival performances, and international sessions. Cross-border work may require attention to local work permit rules. For studio sessions, remote recording is often the simplest option for international collaborations.
How do I book and pay a musician through TBA?
The Booking Agency is a discovery platform. You find the musician here, make contact directly, agree on terms, and pay them directly. No booking fee through the platform, no transaction layer between you and the musician.
Find your musician
Browse verified independent musicians, filter by location and specialization, and book directly.