The Ways to Find Band Members Have Increased — But "Which One Should I Use?" Remains Unclear
The way to find band members has changed dramatically over the past decade. In the old days, you could only post flyers on bulletin boards at rehearsal studios, ask people at live house afterparties, and rely on notices at music stores. Now you can search for member recruitment across the entire country with just a smartphone and send messages to people of interest.
There's no doubt it has become more convenient. However, people often say "there are so many services, I don't know which one to use anymore." with9, which was once popular, ended service in 2023, and now old and new services are mixed together.
In this article, we focus on 6 band member recruitment sites and apps that are actually usable as of 2026 and conduct a thorough comparison across 8 criteria including pricing, multilingual support, search features, and foreign member support. Since I am also the operator of Membo, this comparison may not be completely neutral, but I won't lie. I'll honestly write about both the strengths and weaknesses of each service.
As I also wrote in "Common Traits of People Who Can't Find Band Members", choosing which service is less important than actually taking action. After reading this article, I hope you'll find a service that works for you.
1. OURSOUNDS — Japan's Largest Established Recruitment Site
Features and Strengths
OURSOUNDS is Japan's largest band member recruitment site. Its overwhelming advantage is the massive user base of approximately 650,000 monthly visitors, making it the top choice for those who want to search from a large pool of candidates.
I have used OURSOUNDS myself. The sheer number of users is overwhelming, and even in Tokyo, when you narrow down by genre or instrument, you'll find plenty of recruitment posts. In provincial areas, cities like Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka offer good options.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Completely free
- Supported Languages: Japanese only
- Search Features: Searchable by genre, instrument, and region (prefectures). Bulletin board format where new posts appear at the top
Ideal For
Japanese native speakers who want to efficiently search from the largest user base in the country. Particularly strong for searches in major urban areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
Things to Note
Only available in Japanese, so it's not ideal for meeting foreign members. Since it's bulletin board-style, old posts get buried easily and require frequent checking. Combining it with area-specific search strategies will improve efficiency.
2. bandcrew — Simple and Easy-to-Use Bulletin Board
Features and Strengths
bandcrew is a band member recruitment bulletin board with simple, intuitive operation. With no unnecessary features, the flow of "post recruitment → view → contact" is straightforward and easy to understand. Since it specializes in band recruitment, even people searching for band members for the first time can use it without confusion.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Completely free
- Supported Languages: Japanese only
- Search Features: Searchable by region, instrument, and genre. Simple bulletin board format
Ideal For
People who want to casually post or search for member recruitment without complexity. Perfect for those thinking "let me just try it first."
Things to Note
Fewer posts than OURSOUNDS. In provincial areas, there may be few or no matches. Only available in Japanese.
3. BandMix.jp — Global Matching-Type Service
Features and Strengths
BandMix.jp is the Japanese version of an American band member matching service with localized versions in countries worldwide. The UI supports 7 languages. By filling in detailed profiles and using a matching-based search system, it's also an option for those wanting to form a band with foreign members.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Viewing is free, but sending messages requires monthly paid membership
- Supported Languages: UI supports 7 languages
- Search Features: Searchable by genre, instrument, and region. Profile-based system
Ideal For
People who want to connect with band members from overseas. English-speaking musicians may be registered.
Things to Note
Message sending is paid, which is the biggest drawback. The psychological hurdle of "I found someone interesting but have to pay to contact them" is quite high. Also, the number of users within Japan is smaller than OURSOUNDS or bandcrew.
4. Jimoty — Community-Focused General Bulletin Board
Features and Strengths
Jimoty is a general community bulletin board known for buying and selling secondhand items and local information exchange. While not specifically for band recruitment, it has a "member recruitment" category and is ideal for finding members in your local community. Map-based search is also available.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Completely free
- Supported Languages: Japanese only
- Search Features: Can filter by area (city/ward/town level) and includes map search
Ideal For
People who think "I just want to find someone nearby to play with." Since it's easier to continue if rehearsal studios are also nearby, prioritizing geographic proximity is a rational choice.
Things to Note
Since it's not a music-specific service, posts get buried under non-music content. Within the "member recruitment" category, posts for light music club circles, choirs, karaoke partners, and other non-band recruitment are mixed in. The filtering by genre and instrument isn't as sophisticated as dedicated band sites.
5. SNS (X, Instagram, etc.) — Unmatched Viral Potential
Features and Strengths
Hashtag searches like "#BandMemberRecruit" "#MemberWanted" on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram are now standard. The viral potential is the strongest among all services, and unexpected connections can come from followers retweeting or resharing. Posting performance videos directly communicates your musical style.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Completely free
- Supported Languages: Multilingual (platform itself is international)
- Search Features: Hashtag search only. No band-specific filter features
Ideal For
People already sharing their music activities on SNS. If you have followers, you can leverage viral potential. Many patterns involve posting cover band performance videos to be discovered by people with similar interests.
Things to Note
There are no band recruitment-specific features whatsoever. You can't systematically search by instrument or genre, and posts quickly disappear down the timeline. With few followers, viral effect is nearly zero. Many people also hesitate to use DMs for contact.
6. Membo — 8-Language Support with Translation Chat on a Multilingual Platform
Features and Strengths
Membo is a 8-language supported, completely free band member recruitment platform. Supporting Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Hindi, it enables smooth communication with people of different languages through real-time translation chat.
It supports map search and station-specific search, allowing searches like "within 30 minutes from Shibuya Station." With over 7,000 recruitment listings, you can filter by genre, instrument, region, and age group. Push notifications keep you from missing new recruitment posts.
Pricing, Languages, and Search Features
- Pricing: Completely free (all features available)
- Supported Languages: 8 languages (Japanese/English/Chinese/Traditional Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese/Nepali/Hindi)
- Search Features: Genre, instrument, region, map search, station-specific search, and age group filter support
Ideal For
People wanting to form a band with foreign members, and foreign residents in Japan searching for bandmates. With translation chat, even Japanese speakers uncomfortable with English can message foreign members. Of course, it works fine for Japanese people searching for other Japanese members too.
Honest About Weaknesses
Since I'm Membo's operator, I'll be honest about weaknesses. Member numbers are still small. We're nowhere near OURSOUNDS's 650,000 monthly users. This is a service that just launched in January 2026. "I registered but there's no recruitment nearby" is definitely possible.
But that's exactly why early users are founding members. Services gain value as more people use them. If everyone thought "it looks good but there aren't enough people so I won't use it," no service would ever grow. Based on my experience struggling to find a bassist, "taking action" is far faster than "waiting."
Comparison Table — All 8 Criteria at a Glance
Here's a comparison table of the 6 services mentioned above across 8 criteria.
| Membo | OURSOUNDS | bandcrew | BandMix.jp | Jimoty | SNS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Completely free | Free | Free | Partially paid | Free | Free |
| Multilingual Support | 8 languages | Japanese only | Japanese only | 7-language UI | Japanese only | Multilingual |
| Translation Chat | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Map Search | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Station-Specific Search | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Number of Listings | 7,000+ | Numerous | Mid-scale | Few | Numerous (mixed) | --- |
| Push Notifications | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Member Support | ◎ | △ | △ | ○ | △ | ○ |
Recommendations by Purpose — Find the Service Right for You
Japanese Native Speaker Wanting the Largest User Base
→ OURSOUNDS. The overwhelming monthly user count of 650,000 is an advantage no other service can match. In Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, you'll find plenty of candidates even when narrowing by genre or instrument.
Want to Form a Band with Foreign Members / Foreign Resident Searching for Japanese Members
→ Membo. 8-language support and real-time translation chat are unique to Membo. It's the only service where you can message across language barriers.
Want Everything Quick and Simple
→ bandcrew. Simple operation leaves no confusion. Recommended even for band beginners thinking "I just want to post a recruitment first."
Want to Search Locally
→ Jimoty. Can filter by city/ward/town, so it's strong for finding "people within cycling distance." Just be prepared for posts to get buried under non-music content.
Want to Connect with International Members
→ BandMix.jp. Localized in countries worldwide, giving you potential connections with international musicians. The downside is message sending requires payment.
Want to Leverage Viral Potential
→ SNS + Membo Combined. Spread performance videos on SNS while systematically posting recruitment on Membo. Combining both gives you the best of both worlds.
The Case for Using Multiple Services — You Don't Have to Pick Just One
Actually, you don't need to limit yourself to just one service. Using multiple services actually increases the chances of finding a member.
My recommendation is using OURSOUNDS to tap into Japan's largest user base, Membo to reach internationally-minded members including foreigners, and SNS to promote your musical style — a three-pronged approach.
Most services are free (except BandMix.jp), so there's no harm in registering for all of them. If you're struggling because you can't find a drummer or you can't find a bassist, more channels are better. "There's someone unique to this service" exists on every platform.
A Word from the Author
As Membo's operator, I naturally want to say "Membo is the best." But honestly speaking, OURSOUNDS still has an overwhelmingly larger user base domestically at this stage. For Japanese native speakers seeking band members, there's no reason to exclude OURSOUNDS.
However, the reason I created Membo isn't about winning the numbers game. The thrill of jamming with a foreign band member exists beyond the language barrier. Music communicates without words. But to form a band, you need to communicate things like "when, where, and what time to meet." I created the translation chat to break through that wall.
Membo has few members now. But that's precisely why early users are founding members. Please help us grow this platform together. Your recruitment post might be exactly what a foreign musician somewhere in Japan is looking for.
Whatever service you choose, also read about how to perform at live houses and how to choose rehearsal studios. This makes things smoother once you've found members. A band isn't successful when you "find" members. "Making music together" is where it all starts.
