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# Vocana and Sonicbids Launch ‘Pay the Artists’ Live Gig Series Across NYC
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/vocana-and-sonicbids-launch-pay-the-artists-live-gig-series-across-nyc/
- Published: 2026-01-20T20:44:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-26T14:55:39.000Z
- Description: Pay the Artists will bring independent artists and discovery-hungry fans to five venues across New York City starting in January 2026.
- Author: News
- Tags: Apps, Mobile & SMS, Live & Ticketing, live event, Live Performance, series, Sonicbids, Vocana

[**Vocana**](https://www.vocana.co/?ref=hypebot.com) and [**Sonicbids**](https://sonicbids.com/?ref=hypebot.com) have announced a new live music collaboration aimed squarely at supporting independent artists and the venues that help sustain them. Titled **Pay the Artists: A Vocana Live Series**,the initiative will bring a run of six concerts to five [independent New York City venues](https://www.bandsintown.com/?city%5Fid=5128581&ref=hypebot.com) beginning in January.

The series kicks off on **January 21** at **Arlene’s Grocery**, with additional shows planned through April 2026 at **SugarMouse, SourMouse, Drom,** and **Berlin**. Each event will feature lineups curated by Sonicbids, drawing from its long-running artist discovery platform and reflecting the shared indie-first values of both companies.

Beyond showcasing emerging talent, the program is structured to directly benefit artists financially. Performers will receive a $200 guaranteed bonus, plus 100% of the ticket revenue, with any discounted ticket pricing subsidized by Vocana. Fans who download Vocana will gain access to those discounted tickets, positioning the series as both a discovery engine and a fan engagement tool.

Sonicbids has spent decades connecting independent musicians with live performance opportunities, while Vocana — currently in public beta — aims to rethink streaming economics through human curation, deeper artist data, direct fan connections, and a payout model designed to better serve independent creators.

![Vocana screenshot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/spcdn-shortpixel-ai/spio/ret_img-q_cdnize/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1-20-vocana.jpg)

### Why We Support This

The goal of a gig series like “Pay the Artists” should be pretty clear in the name. It supports each company in this partnership’s mission to secure opportunities that are *also* tied to guaranteed pay, full remuneration for the labor of live performance work, and to bring iconic independent venues in a live music city like New York into the spotlight.

If this model succeeds, there’s no reason why a funded series like this wouldn’t be possible wherever live music is part of the cultural nightlife.

The series also reflects a broader shift away from purely algorithmic discovery and toward intentional curation and community-based exposure. By connecting live shows with a streaming platform focused on fairness and direct fan relationships, the initiative suggests a more integrated path forward—one where live music, streaming, and artist income reinforce each other instead of competing for attention.

### **Kickoff Event Info**

**Pay the Artists: A Vocana Live Series: The Blend #4**

**Shannon Summers / Tiger Would / Lady Lychee**  
Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton, NYC)  
January 21, 2026; doors at 6:30, show at 7:30

Tickets: [**Get discounted tickets here.**](http://dispatcher.rockpaperscissors.biz/ls/click?upn=u001.BvdrUs28OMivwDjSViXx5A2sKVz1WzU-2FOEpbJIZOi3KqgbDlx9gggs30hXZ-2BLnG9ag10%5FpIbxPfpDI69aAybPrpOfg22vGf9NOlnyaQTVrjTGPGt6hwbhkVjMsmTh1jv7dRurh-2B3-2FDhzD8OIcbDY4VlXZOJ-2BqPLl4rWfqpTK9SDVuf-2Fe-2FoXH0I3YzgHZ3WpzHMpZqQcnsRqr-2BRyiFtBAsvso4cdLtt3keUbSHsNjGoI29ej7kpMDizKMO9Yw-2BgE5IRZwydTIgKbzCBfNhKYn558dwrmrMYgGB8PMGm7EbBls-2FwoA84lfziHjrWG78Fg-2BuZLoFbwEm5npuJVbo6waRxlo6xw-3D-3D&ref=hypebot.com)  
Ages: 21+

---

[**Sonicbids**](https://sonicbids.com/?ref=hypebot.com) pioneered online music representation and became the industry’s leading marketplace connecting artists with promoters, venues, and career-defining opportunities worldwide. With more than 500,000 artists on the platform, Sonicbids remains the go-to destination for musicians and talent seekers looking to book, discover, and collaborate.

Founded by music lovers and indie-music veterans, [**Vocana**](http://vocana.co/?ref=hypebot.com) is an indie-only streaming platform designed to strengthen the relationship between artists and fans. Built around user-centric payments, direct artist-fan connection, human-led discovery, and transparent, actionable artist-level data, Vocana enables fans to directly support the artists they listen to and enables artists to truly understand their audience. Vocana is currently in public beta.