Impatience? What Even Is That?
A friend recently nudged me and asked, "Anna, isn’t it time to spill some Sleeve secrets?" Believe me, I’d love to! But startups are a lot like creating an album—sometimes, you have to keep things under wraps longer than you’d like. It’s like that moment when you’re almost finished recording or about to sign a new collaboration but can’t announce it just yet. You can almost taste the future, but you're stuck in the now. That’s where we are at Sleeve right now.
Lately, I’ve sensed a bigger kind of impatience in the music world. One of the listeners I spoke with last week summed it up perfectly: “I’m in this weird holding pattern. I’m done with Spotify, totally disillusioned with Bandcamp after the acquisition and layoffs, and I’m overwhelmed by the unfiltered mess of music on SoundCloud—even though, to be fair, there’s still some killer electronic stuff on there.” People are frustrated. They're waiting for something better, something that connects them more meaningfully with music.
And it’s not just listeners. I recently caught up with an old friend who used to play in one of those mid-sized bands that never quite cracked the charts but still played festivals like Roskilde. He said, “What’s happening now is criminal. Back in the day, we had bands like Sonic Youth, us, and a bunch of others with niche audiences. We could tour, record, and make a living. But now? Where do we go? We’re all forced onto streaming platforms built for chart-toppers.” His frustration is shared by so many musicians who feel trapped by the current system.
Honestly, this whole startup journey feels like that moment right before the drop in a song—you crave the release, but the tension? That’s where the magic is.
I promised to send these newsletters weekly, and I’m keeping that promise. Even if I can’t spill all the exciting details yet, it’s special to share this journey with you. Got thoughts, questions, or wild ideas? Send them my way—I’d love to hear from you.
But hey, I can share this: here’s a sneak peek of what we’re working on with the Sound incubator:
The music industry is fully digital now, but most musicians outside the top charts barely make anything online. That’s where Sleeve comes in. We're creating a platform that makes it easy for musicians, bands, and creators to connect with their core listeners—and get paid for it.
Sleeve allows artists to earn a steady income through fan subscriptions and direct sales of exclusive content—without the tech headaches. It’s a space designed just for musicians, giving them full control over their work and their relationships with fans.
With strong industry partnerships, we’re shaping a sustainable future for independent music—where artists thrive, and fans get more of what they love.
Stay tuned,
Anna
