Organizer Information
Assemble Sound was founded in 2015 with the guiding hypothesis that sustainable artist development could be fostered by creating a physical studio space that facilitated collaboration. The company purchased a historic 1872 church in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood in March 2015, and initially operated as a free DIY studio space. Assemble Sound has since evolved into a Detroit-based music company that includes a record label operated as a joint venture with Atlantic Records, alongside a sync licensing, supervision, and composition business. Co-founders include Garret Koehler, along with Nicole Churchill (licensing director and music supervisor) and Tifani Sadek. Past artists connected to the studio's residency program include Curtis Roach, Jax Anderson, Hala, and Siena Liggins.
Title & Description
Assemble Sound Musician Studio Residency
Assemble Sound's Studio Residency brings artists, producers, and songwriters into its Detroit recording studio to create music without cost as a barrier. Now in a project-based format, artists apply to create and record a specific body of work, and selected residents are granted free access to the studio and its gear for as long as needed to complete that project — whether a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. Applicants define what they're creating, what they need, and how long they expect it to take; Assemble Sound assesses fit against studio bandwidth and mission.
Categories
- Residency
- Music
- Sound/Music
- Studio
- Recording
Eligibility
- Open to artists, producers, and songwriters with a compelling, clearly defined body of work they want to create
- No residency location requirement — applicants do not need to live in Detroit, but must be able to be physically present in Detroit to complete the residency (housing is not provided for non-local residents)
- Not specified in the source: age, career stage, genre restrictions, or geographic/citizenship eligibility
Program Benefits & Awards
- Free access to Assemble Sound's Detroit recording studio and equipment, for the length of time needed to complete the specified project
- Orientation from the studio manager or interns
- Full ownership and control retained by the artist over any recordings created during the residency
- Residents may bring in their own collaborators (engineers, producers, songwriters, musicians) to work on their sessions
Not included: a free engineer, producers, session musicians, songwriters, distribution support, sync services, funding, or other resources — residents are responsible for arranging and covering any such services themselves.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Location
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Additional Details
- The studio's capacity for residents fluctuates because it must primarily serve Assemble Sound's record label and commercial music business first.
- There is no fixed cap on the number of concurrent Studio Residents — new residents are added as capacity permits, indefinitely.
- Applicants with urgent timelines are cautioned that the program may not move fast enough for their needs, though they're still welcome to apply.
- Guests who are not actively working on the resident's music are not permitted in sessions without prior permission from the Assemble Sound Studio Manager.