Searching for "member recruitment" and wondering which site to register with?
I've been playing in bands for over 40 years since moving to Tokyo in my twenties. There was a time when I was based at Mandala in Kichijoji, and nights spent jamming at UZU in Fussa. When I dove back into member recruitment in my fifties, I tried every recruitment site out there. I've experienced being ignored after applying, and finally getting a response only to find the genre was completely wrong.
That's why I can say this: Your choice of site makes all the difference.
In this article, I'll pick 7 major band member recruitment sites and apps available in 2026, honestly comparing their features, strengths, and weaknesses. I'll also introduce recommendations by purpose so you can understand "which one suits me best," so please read to the end.
What You Should Know Before Choosing a Member Recruitment Site
Recruitment sites can be broadly divided into 3 types. Choosing the type that matches your purpose is the shortest route to finding members.
Message Board Type
You write your own recruitment post and wait for interested people to contact you. OURSOUNDS and Band Channel are this type. They have many posts and you can also search actively. However, posts tend to get buried easily.
Matching Type
You register your profile and preferences, and the system suggests compatible partners. bandcrew is this type. It's efficient but depends on the service's member count.
General Platform Type
Sites that aren't music-specific but have band member recruitment categories within platforms that handle various genres of recruitment. Jimoty is a prime example. User numbers are overwhelming, but finding people serious about music can take time.
7 Band Member Recruitment Sites & Apps
1. OURSOUNDS
| Type | Message Board |
|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2005 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | oursounds.net |
OURSOUNDS is synonymous with band member recruitment - it's that established. With over 20 years of operation since 2005, it boasts Japan's largest member count and post volume.
Strengths:
- Overwhelming number of posts, making it easy to find candidates in any region nationwide
- Can include YouTube audio when posting, allowing musical style confirmation in advance
- Supports both article search and member search
- Can browse posts without member registration
- Focuses on thoroughly eliminating fraudulent users
Concerns:
- Due to high post volume, your own recruitment can get buried easily
- UI is somewhat dated, smartphone usability could be improved
- Japanese-only support (difficult to interact with foreign users)
Good for: People who want to search through many candidates. Those in rural areas with limited options.
2. bandcrew
| Type | Matching |
|---|---|
| Launch Year | April 2025 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | band-crew.com |
A new matching-type service launched in 2025. The compatibility assessment feature is its biggest characteristic, suggesting members who might suit you based on profile and skill information.
Strengths:
- Efficient matching through compatibility assessment
- Smooth communication via chat function
- Visualizes interest through skill registration, likes, and footprint features
- Modern, user-friendly UI
Concerns:
- Started in 2025, so some regions still have few members
- Matching accuracy depends on user numbers, so future growth is key
- Japanese-only support
Good for: People who prioritize efficiency and want the system to find compatible members. Those comfortable with new services.
3. with9
| Type | Message Board + Community |
|---|---|
| Member Count | About 410,000 IDs |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | with9.com |
A large-scale service with about 410,000 IDs. In addition to member recruitment, the community function allows you to interact with like-minded people.
Strengths:
- Japan's largest member count provides a large base for encounters
- Can embed YouTube videos to showcase your activities
- Recruits not only band members but also staff and live performers
- Community function makes it easy to connect with music friends
Concerns:
- While member count is high, there seem to be many dormant accounts
- Japanese-only support
Good for: People who want to enjoy music communities in addition to member recruitment.
4. Band Channel
| Type | Message Board |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| URL | bandch.com |
A message board where you can search posts by prefecture. Simple and easy to understand is its strength.
Strengths:
- Easy to find local members through prefecture-based search
- Can specify detailed conditions when posting (genre, part, age, activity frequency, etc.)
- Simple UI that's easy to navigate
Concerns:
- Post volume is smaller compared to OURSOUNDS or with9
- No chat function, contact methods depend on external platforms
- Japanese-only support
Good for: People looking for local band members. Those who prefer simple usage.
5. Jimoty
| Type | General Platform |
|---|---|
| Band Recruitment Posts | About 40,000 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | jmty.jp |
A comprehensive site where you can post any local information. The band member recruitment board has about 40,000 posts.
Strengths:
- Overwhelming post count and user base
- Easy to use with smartphone app
- Community-focused, easy to find nearby members
- Safe messaging function allows communication without sharing direct contact information
Concerns:
- Not music-specific, so posts with low commitment levels are mixed in
- Weak filtering for musical search conditions (genre, skill level, etc.)
- Japanese-only support
Good for: Beginners who want to casually find members. People prioritizing regional focus.
6. membo.info
| Type | Multilingual Matching |
|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2026 |
| Cost | Free |
| Languages | Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean + 8 others |
| URL | membo.info |
This might be self-promotion, but I'll introduce it honestly since the author is involved with this service.
membo.info's biggest feature is 8-language support. Foreign musicians living in Japan and Japanese people can find members beyond language barriers. The translation chat function allows communication with foreign members even if you're not good at English.
Strengths:
- Supports 8 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese
- Map-based search lets you visually explore activity areas
- Real-time translation chat for smooth communication with foreign members
- Supports not only bands but also theater, circle, and drama group member recruitment
- Aggregates and displays recruitment information from other Japanese sites (with automatic translation)
Concerns:
- Started in 2026, so user numbers are still growing
- For domestic Japanese-only recruitment, OURSOUNDS has more posts
Good for: People who want to meet foreign members. Those interested in international bands. People also looking for theater or circle members.
7. BandMix
| Type | Message Board (International) |
|---|---|
| Cost | Basic free (Premium paid) |
| Languages | English |
| URL | bandmix.com |
The world's largest band member recruitment site originating from America. Primarily English-speaking users.
Strengths:
- Musicians worldwide are registered, allowing connections with international members
- Rich audio upload functionality
- Abundant music content including blogs and columns
Concerns:
- English-only, not usable in Japanese
- Very few users residing in Japan
- Premium features are paid
Good for: People proficient in English who want to connect with international musicians.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
| Service | Type | Cost | Multilingual | Chat | Map Search | Audio | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OURSOUNDS | Message Board | Free | - | - | - | YouTube | Most Posts |
| bandcrew | Matching | Free | - | Yes | - | - | Compatibility |
| with9 | Board+SNS | Free | - | - | - | YouTube | 410K IDs |
| Band Channel | Message Board | Free | - | - | - | - | Simple |
| Jimoty | General | Free | - | Yes | - | - | 40K Posts |
| membo.info | Multilingual Matching | Free | 8 Languages | w/ Translation | Yes | - | International |
| BandMix | Board (International) | Partially Paid | English Only | Yes | - | Yes | Global Scale |
Purpose-Based Recommendation Guide
Want to Find Members Quickly
→ Recommend using OURSOUNDS + Jimoty together. With many posts, put recruitment on both and compare responses.
Want to Carefully Find Compatible Members
→ bandcrew. Efficient matching through compatibility assessment. However, since it's a new service, combining with OURSOUNDS is safer.
Want to Form a Band with Foreign Members
→ membo.info is the only choice. Translation chat function works even if you're not good at English. Many foreign musicians living in Japan are registered, offering encounters unavailable on other sites.
Looking for Members in Rural Areas
→ OURSOUNDS + Band Channel. Prefecture-based search functions let you narrow down to local members.
Want to Meet Professional-Oriented Members
→ Check OURSOUNDS posts with audio files. You can verify performance levels. Additionally, ROCKJOINT networking events are effective.
Want to Connect with International Musicians
→ BandMix (if proficient in English) or membo.info (if you want to use Japanese).
5 Tips for Successful Member Recruitment
Regardless of which site you use, how you write your recruitment post greatly affects response rates. Here are 5 tips from 40 years of experience.
1. Write Specific Favorite Bands/Artists
"I like rock" doesn't convey anything. Write "70s hard rock like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple" and only people with matching musical tastes will respond. This ultimately reduces wasted communication.
2. Clearly State Activity Frequency, Location, and Goals
Be specific like "Studio practice twice monthly in Tokyo. Goal to perform live within 6 months." Vagueness leads to "this isn't what I expected" and dissolution. The most common reason for band breakups isn't actually musical differences but different levels of commitment to activities.
3. Include Audio or Performance Videos
Response rates are completely different between text-only and audio-included recruitment posts. It doesn't need to be perfect performance. Even a smartphone-shot studio video works if it makes someone think "I want to play with this person."
4. Post on Multiple Sites Simultaneously
There's no reason to limit yourself to one site. Posting simultaneously on OURSOUNDS, Jimoty, membo.info, and 2-3 sites simply increases encounter probability. Each site's user base surprisingly doesn't overlap much.
5. Reply Quickly and Politely
If you don't respond for 3 days to someone who contacted you, they've already applied to other recruitments. Member searching is about timing. Reply the same day you get a notification.
Side Story: Jumping into Member Recruitment in My 50s
I'll be honest.
When I put out member recruitment in my 50s, what I first felt was "feeling out of place." Looking at recruitment sites, they were centered around people in their 20s and 30s. I initially hesitated whether a 50-year-old should apply to posts with "Let's rock!" energy.
But when I tried, I got responses. What surprised me was getting contact from younger generations too. "We don't care about older bands or age, as long as the musical style matches." I was happy.
Members are found and leave repeatedly, then I recruit again and meet again. It's a cycle. But each time, new musical doors open. The band I formed with a drummer I met in my 50s created a completely different groove from my 20s.
Recently, I've had more opportunities to session with foreign musicians. Even without common language, starting an A blues instantly connects us. Nationality and age don't matter. That's what music is about.
To those discouraged by not finding members: Don't give up. Try different sites. Change how you write. If that doesn't work, try services that can reach demographics you couldn't meet before. Encounters will definitely happen.
Summary
As of 2026, band member recruitment options are quite comprehensive. What matters is choosing a service that matches your purpose and continuing without giving up.
- For post volume → OURSOUNDS
- For compatibility focus → bandcrew
- For meeting foreigners too → membo.info
- For casual start → Jimoty
Using multiple sites together is strongest. And for recruitment posts, "write honestly about your music."
The companion who will perform beside you is surely somewhere looking just like you.
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