TuneCore launches AI-powered audio mastering service

The service enables artists worldwide to ensure their music meets industry standards, sounds excellent on all streaming platforms and speaker setups, and highlights the unique qualities that make their music stand out.

TuneCore says the new tool’s technology addresses technical issues in uploaded tracks without altering the artistic vision, processing each song individually, without relying on presets or genre-based biases. TuneCore Mastering will compete with other services like Senegalese startup Senmixmaster, Norway-based Masterchannel, Canada-based LANDR and US-based eMastered.

“TuneCore Mastering’s AI technology was developed without having been trained on any copyrighted material, in line with TuneCore’s four pillars for responsible AI engagement: consent, control, compensation and transparency,” a statement reads. “By utilising AI, TuneCore Mastering also helps artists who may not be able to afford to hire a mastering engineer release professional-quality tracks, increase the chances of their songs being played by listeners worldwide, and start earning money from their music earlier in their careers.”

According to TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson, the mastering tool adds to a suite of products helping artists on the platform make better music. “Audio mastering helps ensure that an artist’s music sounds polished and complete, but comes with a significant financial and technical barrier for many artists,” she said. “TuneCore Mastering’s ethically-built AI technology alleviates these barriers, providing an instant audio mastering option for artists who wouldn’t have the means to have a professional master it for them. Through TuneCore Mastering, we are excited to be able to offer our artists the ability to easily and affordably ensure their music sounds the way it is meant to be heard across all platforms and audio configurations.”

TuneCore Mastering is now available to all TuneCore artists at a pay-per-use rate of $5 per track. To access it, artists must upload their unmastered audio, allow a few minutes for processing, and then review their optimised track before downloading and distributing it to stores and streaming platforms through TuneCore. Artists can upload tracks and receive full-length previews before purchasing the mastered versions. 

The new tool follows TuneCore’s revelation earlier this month that its artists have earned over $4bn since 2006. TuneCore head of Africa Andile Mbete told Music In Africa that the feat is a “significant achievement for the business and serves as proof that, like many artists around the world, African artists have the opportunity to build commercially viable, long-lasting careers as independent musicians, a concept that is generally met with great reservation by many artists on the continent. 

On new strategies TuneCore is employing to support independent self-releasing artists in Africa, Mbete said: “Our focus as TuneCore is establishing ourselves as a true artist development platform. We aim to help our artists earn more by ensuring that they find their audience and deliver the best music they can through our various tools and resources like TuneCore Accelerator.

“From an African perspective, we have worked hard to create as many platforms as possible for our artists through our digital and social channels and through the creation of bespoke events and development programmes like creator camps, masterclasses, and listening sessions for the local media industry and fans.”

In January, TuneCore revealed in a report that over 8 000 independent artists had enrolled in its Accelerator programmes across multiple DSPs like YouTube and Apple Music.