Philly app Cypherr aims to help indie artists make a living

Remember when independent artists actually used MySpace? It was all about pumping new music into your account and building a following large enough to push Tom out of your Top 8. Philadelphia entrepreneur Antonio Srado remembers. He was one of those artists.

“That was during the boom of MySpace,” Srado said. “I built a large fan base but it was difficult to book performances — and that’s how I made money.”

He began to explore platforms that capitalize on the nexus between available technology and independent artistry, and came up dissatisfied. Five years in the U.S. Army, one degree from California University of Pennsylvania and a stint as Instamour’s VP of branding have kept him from realizing his goal of creating a platform for artists, by artists.

Enter Cypherr.

As Srado puts it, Cypherr is LinkedIn meets SoundCloud. It’s “an interactive platform that holistically gives musicians the tools to succeed in the music biz,” Srado said.

Cypherr is currently in development, but the beta is due to launch by the end of January. Users will be able to vote for the features they want to see on the site, including:

• Connect with other independent artists
• Upload music available for free download
• Create playlists with music from your favorite independent artists
• Book shows directly through venues via an events tab
• Easily navigate open mics in your region
• Find tips on music entrepreneurship through Cypherr’s blog

Right now, Cypherr is being led by a team of three: Srado is the founder & CEO. Long Nu Nhan is serving as the startup’s communications director, booking events and pitching stories for the blog. Finally, Srado has tapped the music industry experience of singer, writer and producer Paris Viore. At age 15, Viore was signed to Jay Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records. She is currently on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music roster.

The self-funded startup proposes to launch aggressively, without the help of incubator programs or crowdfunding. Viore, however, is in charge of targeting angel investors.

“We will teach musicians what they need to know to succeed and earn money in the industry,” Srado says.