CMJ is not some messy festival in the middle of a field. Oh no. CMJ is a festival spread throughout the gloriously messy clubs of New York City. Every year, 1300 bands come from around the world for one raucous week in October. Bands of varying size, sound and seniority perform in more than 80 clubs across Manhattan and Brooklyn -- leveling the playing field and making for a truly memorable community experience.
CMJ Music Marathon is now in it's 33rd year, and unlike many music festivals which feature huge stages or sprawling amphatheaters, CMJ brings musicians and fans close together. In smaller clubs and bars, fans get up close and personal with their favorite bands.
Nearly every chart-topping indie band has performed at CMJ at some point in their careers. Who am I talking about? See: Arcade Fire, Spoon, Gotye, Daft Punk, Feist, Eminem, even Run-DMC. Not bad, right? See the steps below to find out how to get in on the action.
So how do you apply to perform at CMJ? It's easy: create a Sonicbids account, upload your best songs and media to create the bangin' EPK, then submit to CMJ.
Who listens to and picks the bands? The legendary ears of the CMJ staff.
How many bands get accepted? Over 1300. So put your best foot forward and get ready to crush it. And remember it's usually better to get your application on the early side, if possible.
Do I need to have been on CMJ's charts? It's not a requirement, but it doesn't hurt.
How do I get started? Click right here where it says Apply to CMJ