Abstract

This paper explores the transformation of music communities from traditional physical collaboration to digital communities. The focus is on Facebook and how it helps “bedroom producers” from the world share ideas, learn from others, and collaborate for musical works. The paper also highlights some challenges in these online communities, such as misinformation and gatekeeping. Using a personal case study from an EDM Facebook group, this paper argues that using Facebook can build strong, supportive online music communities.

1.Introduction

Music has always been a way for people to connect, but the ways we create and share it have changed dramatically over time. According to Shelemay (2011), the form of musical communities in the early days were more tied to musical practices in different locations and different ethnic or cultural groups. Initially, music activities are served to societal needs such as ceremonies and celebration. In this era, music was not only a part of artistic creation, but also a symbol of social unity. Gamelan in Indonesia is one example where it emphasizes the important contribution of every group member to the coordination and harmony of the overall musical performance. This approach shows its social interaction and collective identity rather than just a form of music.Today, as the rise of technology and the Internet, the production and cooperation in musical practices have become more convenient and broader to individual music producers who are having DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and studio-level plugin in their computer to compose music that could only be done in a recording studio in the past, they also known as “bedroom producers’. In the present day, bedroom producers from different countries can connect to each other more easily through the Internet and by using the convenience of social media platforms to form a community for music creators to discuss and exchange information about music composition. This essay will explore how Facebook serves as an ideal platform for music producers around the world to build their community. Also in this essay I will add in my personal experience to support this paper. 

2. The Evolution of Musical Communities

The impact of music online communities to every individual music producer is significant. In the past, music producers had to rely on music schools, recording studios, and local group gatherings to network, share knowledge, and collaborate on music projects. For example, Berger (2018) indicated that in the medieval ages,  the monasteries and cathedral schools were a major place for musical learning. These physical limitations restricted the flow of music information and opportunities for people who have the possibilities to achieve accomplishment in the music industry. However, the rise of different social media platforms gives an opportunity to those individuals to learn and share their works with others regardless of their location. This has led to a phenomenon where people build online communities through the interactive features of these social media platforms to communicate and share thoughts in real time. This approach broke the barrier where resources and expertise were limited. On top of that, This also reflects what Hampton (2016) describes as a “persistent–pervasive community,” where social media helps people stay connected and interact continuously. It combines strong social bonds which is a feature of traditional communities with flexibility and mobility which is another feature of modern life. 

3. Facebook as a Platform for Musical Collaboration

Although there are a number of social media platforms such as Reddit which have massive music production communities for music producers, considering that the globalization and interactivity in today’s world has become a trend, Facebook serves as a crucial space amongst these social media platforms that provide platforms for various music producer communities to thrive. There are several reasons why I believe Facebook is an ideal place for music producers to build communities to communicate and collaborate. First, compared to Reddit, Facebook has a larger user base. This means that Facebook has better global recognition compared to other social media platforms, and it allows Facebook to appeal to more people who are interested in music composition, and Dixon’s (2025) data collection also supports this, by showing that Facebook has the most users in the world nowadays. Additionally, data from Sheikh (2025) shows that it has users across various age groups, which makes it an ideal platform for music producers of all ages and backgrounds to connect and collaborate. 

Second, Facebook’s ability to create both public and private groups features allow users to participate in real-time discussions and receive instant feedback from different individuals, which allows music producers to engage with others better and builds a sense of community. For example, music producers can join specific music production groups that focus on specific genres, techniques or even different DAW users groups to exchange ideas, learn, and even collaborate with people while ignoring distance. Even though others like X, Reddit, Instagram which all have quite similar features, due to Facebook’s huge number of users, the feedback can be more diverse and provide different angles for producers to learn from each other. In addition, some experienced producers will use Facebook’s streaming features to showcase their project while sharing ideas with other members, or organize an online class for music composers who are in the group. By streaming their production process or finished works, these producers offer a clear vision on how they do their project or certain methods to improve their music. This move not only serves as an opportunity for self-promotion, but also allows other less experienced producers to learn from the expert and gain insights into techniques, mindset, and sound design practices that they can apply to their own projects. Walzer (2016) further explained that the transparency of internet and social media allows researchers to observe how musicians create in private studios. This has facilitated some independent music producers into university teaching, where they share practical experience in navigating today’s music industry. Furthermore, There are some groups which allow producers to sell their products like sample packs, loops, beats or others through posting in communities. Unlike third-party websites, doing it in Facebook groups offers a more targeted audience, where producers can engage with l buyers who share similar music production interests. This approach gains further community cohesion as some producers not only share their creative work, but also support each other financially while having access to unique sounds and beats. More than that, this action also helps producers build their connections with clients and producers. For instance, some bedroom producers can build a good reputation by selling good resources to others and make it easier for bedroom producers to have opportunities to work in a better environment without having an industry connection.

4. Challenges in Online Music Communities

While Facebook seems like a suitable site for music producers to connect, share, and collaborate their musical works, there are also challenges and limitations of it. There are several risks that can make it difficult for newcomers and inexperienced producers to benefit from these online communities. One of the challenges, and also what I have experienced before is the intimidating nature of these communities for newcomers. Usually, there will be quite a number of expert or experienced producers in a community, although this seems like a good thing as they can help answer most of the questions and problems of newcomers in their early stages, but when they are discussing advanced techniques, gear, and innovative production methods that is difficult for beginner to understand, it will lead to a situation where some freshers feel overwhelmed or discouraged, making it harder for them to engage or ask questions. In the words of Glynn and Jeong (2003), this incident is called “Knowledge Gap”， as information flows into a group,  individuals with stronger knowledge foundations can learn it more quickly and effectively, while those with a lower knowledge foundations may struggle to adapt to it, eventually widening the gap between them. But as I mentioned before, there are experienced producers who will stream in communities for education and interaction purposes with others. Therefore these less experienced producers can bring out their question during the stream to solve this problem. Another challenge is the quality of the information shared within these groups. Since Facebook groups are open to anyone, the level of every member could differ significantly. This can be confusing for some people as some given advice might be outdated or misinformation, as Music production is an ever-evolving field, with constant updates to software, plugins, and production techniques. Although people can counter misleading information by commenting on it, some newbies cannot recognize which suggestion is good or bad, and it could be time-wasting for those who end up following these obsolete practices rather than learning the latest industry standards. Lastly, there are some elite producers who have the gatekeeping mindset, this is also a threat for inexperienced bedroom producers. They may dismiss newcomers’ questions as too basic or expect them to already have a certain level of knowledge before engaging in discussions. This can create a toxic environment where only high-level discussions are allowed, which discourage new members from actively participating in the community. 

5. Case Study: EDMProd Artist Community

Now, I will analyze how the dynamics of music producer communities on Facebook looks like in 2019 with my own online interactions with others. My example will be a Facebook Group called “EDMProd Artist Community”. It is a private group where EDM (Electronic Dance Music) enthusiasts can join, and has more than nine thousand members. So in order to get into this group, you need to answer a few questions in the beginning, the question will be different by each community. While I have already forgotten some of the questions, I still remember some like Who is your favourite producer, Which EDM songs you love the most, What level do you think you are currently at. These questions ensure that members have a basic understanding of EDM and an interest in learning more about music production. After you finish answering all the questions, they will ask you  to read through the guide before you post or interact with others in the group (Figure 1). This approach is important to let the new members introduce themself, also while the other members welcoming you into the community, it actually fostered a sense of belonging (Figure 2). Once members join the group, they are encouraged to read through the group rules to know which approach is acceptable and which are not (Figure 3). In my example, you can see one of the key rules  is to be respectful to all members in the group, and this rule is also applied to other communities nowadays. These rules will prevent the culture of gatekeeping while shaping a more friendly community to let people communicate better. A good example to support this is in Figure 4, you can see even though I was asking some basic questions, people in the groups are still giving me positive feedback, which makes me feel like I belong to this group and encourages me to participate with others in conversation. Moreover, there is a weekly feedback thread where producers can share their song and get feedback from others (Figure 5), as I mentioned earlier it prevents people from learning misleading and outdated music production knowledge. On top of that, people can also get a better review of their song or be inspired by others. While this example may be somewhat outdated and this group has already stopped updating, the fundamental rules and behaviors within these communities have remained mostly the same across different music producers’ communities till this day. 

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, the appearance of social media platforms have significantly transformed the way music producers connect and collaborate. The convenience of digital tools and the accessibility of social media have allowed more individuals from all over the world to join communities, share ideas, and improve their musical work. Facebook in my opinion is the ideal platform for music producers to form communities and communicate. On the one hand, obstacles such as knowledge gaps, misinformation, and gatekeeping still exist within these communities. On the other hand, with good management and setting group rules, people can also build a community that is similar or even better than the physical ones. Ultimately, it will narrow the boundary of knowledge and location and it will be easier for independent music producers to work together and bring out more unique ideas of music to the world.

Figure 1. Screenshot of the guide of the community (Lee, personal communication, 2025).

Figure 2. Screenshot of me introducing myself to the community (Lee, personal communication, 2025).

Figure 3. Screenshot of my post with responses from community members (Lee, personal communication, 2025).

Figure 4. Screenshot of the weekly feedback thread (Lee, personal communication, 2025).

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