Gigg startup offers music lovers a place to group

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Gigg's free app allows music lovers to connect with friends through sharing song lyrics and posting comments. (Photo by Chris Bunker)
Gigg’s free app allows music lovers to connect with friends through sharing song lyrics and posting comments. (Photo by Chris Bunker)

Gigg, a local startup, is receiving global attention as it continues to expand and offer the world something never seen before.

Gigg first launched last year as a platform for music-lovers to discover new artists and for new artists to share their music. Gigg is a website where music tournaments are held between amateur artists for prizes. Essentially, Gigg allows artists to get their music out there, which in turn allows listeners to find new music to love. Additionally, users who love music can build accounts and a network to share photos, videos and lyrics.

Gigg’s tournaments host new artists from around the world who hope to win special prizes such as performing live at concerts or professionally recording songs. Because the tournament is online, the bands or artists upload their music, after which users vote on their favorite performance.

Jeremy McLerran manages the operations for Gigg and said some of the competitions may require that the winner get the most likes, while other competitions are more sophisticated in narrowing down options with a bracket system.

“Because each event is sponsored by a mainstream artist or organization, each one creates a unique opportunity,” McLerran said.

Gigg has hosted the competition for the Stadium of Fire for two years. This year, local band “The Strike” won the tournament, giving them the opportunity to open for Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jepson on Independence Day. Though Gigg competitions are international, BYU students are a huge part of the competitions.

“We certainly aren’t limited to BYU students, our competitions are mostly national, some are global,” McLerran said. “BYU has so many talented people and such a lively music scene that we get a lot of interest from this area.”

Gigg allow users to see song lyrics and share them with friends. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Allen)
Gigg allow users to see song lyrics and share them with friends. (Photo courtesy of Jessie Allen)

Gigg is perfect for anyone who may be sick of listening to the same songs on the radio repeatedly. In addition to its website, Gigg’s free app allows users to share song lyrics that might help them express their current mood and post other relevant media. Users can also search millions of songs to find new, refreshing music that they may have never heard otherwise.

Jessica Allen, a senior public relations major from Harrisonburg, Va., works for Gigg as a social media administrator. She uses the app regularly and loves everything about it.

“It really is a one-stop shop,” Allen said. “It incorporates everything that I love. I have my network of friends on there and I can upload pictures and videos. I can also find music that I love.”

Gigg’s latest online contest is partnered with the world-famous Jay Sean. Contestants have been asked to make a cover for Jay Sean’s track “Mars” and post it to Gigg’s website. Winners will be able to spend time in the studio with Jay Sean.

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