Mastering the Music Biz Case Study
Task: To identify a problem that can be solved with a mobile app that doesn't currently exist.
The Design Process
Empathize – through UXR methods, conduct research to understand the problems of your potential users.
Define – combine all your research and observe where your user's problems exist. Find opportunities for innovation.
Ideate– Brainstorm a range of crazy, creative ideas that address the unmet user needs to be identified in the define phase.
Prototype– Build real/ tactile representations for your ideas (low, mid, and high fidelity wireframes).
Test– Return to your users for feedback.
Role– UX Research , UI Design, Wire Framing. and Interaction Design.
Tools–Figma, FigJam, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Define – combine all your research and observe where your user's problems exist. Find opportunities for innovation.
Ideate– Brainstorm a range of crazy, creative ideas that address the unmet user needs to be identified in the define phase.
Prototype– Build real/ tactile representations for your ideas (low, mid, and high fidelity wireframes).
Test– Return to your users for feedback.
Role– UX Research , UI Design, Wire Framing. and Interaction Design.
Tools–Figma, FigJam, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

My Goals
Allow users : to have access to the resources and tools needed to start–up an independent music label.
Allow users: to connect with upcoming musicians, artists, and professionals in the music industry.
Allow users: to have a voice and use a platform that would benefit them in their career goals.
Problem: A challenge today with the upcoming musicians in the industry includes different ways to finance things like studio time, paying for coordinating features, and finding ways to get paid for sharing music.
Solution: Is to create an app that focuses on starting a music business from start to finish, including resources and tools for musicians and artists, such as Branding identification, graphic designers and marketing tools, logo branding, connecting with other musicians and artists, scheduling studio time, sharing music finding location venues, and professional studios.
Question: What if there was an app for musicians and artists to access resources and tools to start an independent record label? What resources and tools would be useful for this app to be a success for musicians and artists to use regularly to kick-start their careers?
Allow users: to connect with upcoming musicians, artists, and professionals in the music industry.
Allow users: to have a voice and use a platform that would benefit them in their career goals.
Problem: A challenge today with the upcoming musicians in the industry includes different ways to finance things like studio time, paying for coordinating features, and finding ways to get paid for sharing music.
Solution: Is to create an app that focuses on starting a music business from start to finish, including resources and tools for musicians and artists, such as Branding identification, graphic designers and marketing tools, logo branding, connecting with other musicians and artists, scheduling studio time, sharing music finding location venues, and professional studios.
Question: What if there was an app for musicians and artists to access resources and tools to start an independent record label? What resources and tools would be useful for this app to be a success for musicians and artists to use regularly to kick-start their careers?
Empathy Map
Validated User Cases
Creating an app would help musicians and artists start their music businesses where they can access all the resources and tools needed to run a successful music business.
The primary goal is to improve and create a music business platform by benchmarking music business apps that users felt were somewhat successful but needed major improvement.
Interviews
During the ideation phase of the project, I conducted user interviews to build new personas and to inform the design. Together with the team, we prepared an interview script with 32 open-ended questions, focusing on our target audiences’ values, motivations, and daily routines. In 2 days, I recruited and interviewed 6 users remotely. We referenced the user interview findings throughout the entire design process.
Users Story Feedback
As a user: I want funding for marketing and professional studio space and equipment.
As a user: I would want connections with venues in my city.
As a user: I need to know these venues' managers to get my artist there performing
.
As a user: I would need at least one mix–engineer and recording engineer for my artist.
As a user: If we are a big independent music label, I would want a graphic design and marketing department to handle all of the advertisements for promotional events and the sales portion of the business.
As a user: I would want a social media coordinator to handle all social media platforms and interactions with promoters and fanbase.
As a user: I want a good lawyer for business purposes.
As a user: I want to find good producers for my music.
As a user: I would want to find a good personal and business manager for my music business.
As a user: I would want radio airplay, press, and presence in record stores around a region, including following up on sales and getting the money due.
As a user: I would want a guarantee the app would connect to the right local figures established in the scene and industry.
As a user: I would want some incentive.
As a user: I would want scheduling at local events within 50 miles or so radius.
The primary goal is to improve and create a music business platform by benchmarking music business apps that users felt were somewhat successful but needed major improvement.
Interviews
During the ideation phase of the project, I conducted user interviews to build new personas and to inform the design. Together with the team, we prepared an interview script with 32 open-ended questions, focusing on our target audiences’ values, motivations, and daily routines. In 2 days, I recruited and interviewed 6 users remotely. We referenced the user interview findings throughout the entire design process.
Users Story Feedback
As a user: I want funding for marketing and professional studio space and equipment.
As a user: I would want connections with venues in my city.
As a user: I need to know these venues' managers to get my artist there performing
.
As a user: I would need at least one mix–engineer and recording engineer for my artist.
As a user: If we are a big independent music label, I would want a graphic design and marketing department to handle all of the advertisements for promotional events and the sales portion of the business.
As a user: I would want a social media coordinator to handle all social media platforms and interactions with promoters and fanbase.
As a user: I want a good lawyer for business purposes.
As a user: I want to find good producers for my music.
As a user: I would want to find a good personal and business manager for my music business.
As a user: I would want radio airplay, press, and presence in record stores around a region, including following up on sales and getting the money due.
As a user: I would want a guarantee the app would connect to the right local figures established in the scene and industry.
As a user: I would want some incentive.
As a user: I would want scheduling at local events within 50 miles or so radius.
Getting Started
For the perfect user experience, I used the LEMErS UX Evaluation Method by asking the following:
Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
Memorability: Do users remember the interface, brand, and product? When users return to the design after not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these, and how easily can they recover from them? Is the error acknowledged proficiently?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design? Are there pleasant surprises?
Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
Memorability: Do users remember the interface, brand, and product? When users return to the design after not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these, and how easily can they recover from them? Is the error acknowledged proficiently?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design? Are there pleasant surprises?
Benchmarking
Spotify
After I received feedback from the users on Reddit, I began benchmarking different music apps that focus on sharing and distributing music for upcoming musicians and artists. One of the apps I researched was Spotify because most users said that Spotify is a great Superior recommendation algorithm, Offers information about concert dates, and is great for sharing music listening habits with friends. However, it lacks Unacceptable low streaming quality, missing some important artist catalogs, and the advertising-based streaming delivers far lower royalty payments to creators. The overall takeaway is that Spotify's user specific playlists are a wonder. Still, the service is no longer competitive now that the other major players have moved to lossless or better streaming. Spotify needs an update before it gets left behind. I wanted to design an app where musicians and artists could get their music royalties within six weeks to 6 months after distributing their music to MMB's: Mastering the Music Biz platform.
SoundCloud
The second app I benchmarked was SoundCloud. Again, SoundCloud's user experience was more positive than the Spotify user experience. one of the users stated SoundCloud made me one of the most focused indie artists by providing enough tools and features to develop and improve the quality of my tracks. I enjoyed getting to know the new artists, listening to new voices without knowing them, and sitting back and enjoying the quality. The idea of this platform is pure and simple, and It s nothing but a futuristic tool to help indie artists. The pros the user stated were that SoundCloud was the most helpful and supportive app for underground and indie musicians. The track and album uploading features are countless, and it has high engagement among fellow artists and musicians. It encouraged me to keep doing my job and raised my motivation with every feedback I received from the listener. Seeing a community of artists and musicians with pure and untouched talent was delightful. However, the cons number of tracks for the trial version is low. I wish the app could allow us to have at least three more tracks, but no complaints. I always try to renew the subscription to avoid having these problems. They also stated One of the cons of Soundcloud is that it is overshadowed by larger platforms such as Spotify, apple music. Artists always decide to upload their content to these platforms, which is the con that I see in SoundCloud, but even so, it is still a good source of new music. I wanted to design MMB's Mastering the Music Biz app where everyone was satisfied with the outcome of app needs and wants, making them return to the app in the future.
User Personas
User Task Flow
MMB: Mastering the Music Biz
(Mid Fidelity)
Once the usability issues were resolved, I moved on to design the final screens in Figma. My goal was to create a visual identity that’s aligned with the brand’s values and message, which is: “brand motto”. Also, I’ve checked the competition and took a deep dive into my catalog of references for inspiration.
This is a mockup of my MMB: Mastering the Music Business app where musicians and artists have a place to learn about how to start their own independent record label. As well as, have the access to resources and tools to connect, share, play their music.
This is a mockup of my MMB: Mastering the Music Business app where musicians and artists have a place to learn about how to start their own independent record label. As well as, have the access to resources and tools to connect, share, play their music.
MMB: Mastering the Music Biz
(High Fidelity)
After the interview and benchmarking process I asked the user of Reddit this question:
"What resources and tools would be useful for this app to be a success for musicians and artists to use regularly to kick-start their careers?"
5 Top Answers:
As a user: I would want connections with venues in my city
.
As a user: I would want a social media coordinator to handle all social media platforms and interactions with promoters and fanbase.
As a user: I would want scheduling at local events within 50 mile or so radius.
As a user: If we are a big independent music label, I would want a graphic design and marketing department to handle all of the advertisements for promotional events and the sales portion of the business.
As a user: I want a good lawyer for business purposes.
"What resources and tools would be useful for this app to be a success for musicians and artists to use regularly to kick-start their careers?"
5 Top Answers:
As a user: I would want connections with venues in my city
.
As a user: I would want a social media coordinator to handle all social media platforms and interactions with promoters and fanbase.
As a user: I would want scheduling at local events within 50 mile or so radius.
As a user: If we are a big independent music label, I would want a graphic design and marketing department to handle all of the advertisements for promotional events and the sales portion of the business.
As a user: I want a good lawyer for business purposes.
Testing
Joel Johnson: The MMB's: Mastering the Music Business is a well-done app that is simple to use from start to finish. I was tasked with finding the feed's page once I logged into the account provided. I love the app's color palette, using four colors that didn't overwhelm the user experience.
Shartae Cotton (Twin Sister): I thought the app was great! As an artist myself, there aren't any app platforms where musicians and artists can share their music and connect with other upcoming artist who can relate to what they are going through. I thought the MMB's: Master the Music Business was a great social media platform where musicians and artists can have a place they can call their own. The MMB's: Mastering the Music Business is well done. I was tasked with finding a discovery page where the user can view upcoming musicians' and artists' music and request collaboration with another artist. I wish this were a real app available for users like myself.