Are you searching for "member recruitment" and confused about which site to register on?
I've been playing in bands for over 40 years since moving to Tokyo in my twenties. I've had eras based at Mandala in Kichijoji, nights of jamming at UZU in Fussa, and when I jumped into member recruitment again in my 50s, I tried recruitment sites one after another. I've experienced being ignored after applying, finally getting a response only to find the genre doesn't match at all, and many other disappointments.
That's why I can say with certainty: Your choice of site makes a huge difference in results. Sometimes the lack of finding members isn't just about the site — I recommend also reading 5 Common Traits of People Who Can't Find Band Members and Solutions.
In this article, I'll pick out 7 major band member recruitment sites and apps available as of 2026, and honestly compare their characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. I'll also introduce recommendations by purpose so you can figure out "which one is right for me?" Please read through to the end.
What You Should Know Before Choosing a Member Recruitment Site
Member recruitment sites generally fall into 3 main types. Choosing the type that matches your goals is the shortest path to finding members.
Bulletin Board Type
You write your own recruitment post and wait for inquiries from interested people. OURSOUNDS and Band Channel are this type. There are many posts and you can also search yourself. However, posts can easily get buried.
Matching Type
You register your profile and preferences, and the system suggests compatible matches. bandcrew is this type. It's efficient, but depends on the service's member count.
Comprehensive Platform Type
Sites that handle various genres of recruitment, with band member recruitment as one category. Jimoty is a prime example. User numbers are overwhelming, but finding people serious about music may take time.
7 Band Member Recruitment Sites and Apps
1. OURSOUNDS
| Type | Bulletin Board |
|---|---|
| Operating Since | 2005 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | oursounds.net |
When people think of band member recruitment, OURSOUNDS comes to mind — it's that established. With over 20 years of operations since 2005, it boasts the nation's largest member count and post volume.
Strengths:
- Overwhelming number of posts makes finding candidates easy regardless of region
- YouTube audio can be included in posts for pre-checking musical style
- Supports both article search and member search
- Can browse posts without registering
- Strong efforts to eliminate fraudulent users
Drawbacks:
- With many posts, your recruitment can easily get buried
- UI is somewhat outdated; smartphone usability could improve
- Japanese language only (difficult to interact with foreign users)
Best for: People wanting to search through many candidates. Those in regional areas with limited options. Also check how to find members by region for additional guidance.
2. bandcrew
| Type | Matching |
|---|---|
| Operating Since | April 2025 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | band-crew.com |
A new matching service launched in 2025. The compatibility diagnosis feature is its biggest strength, suggesting members who might be right for you based on profile and skill information.
Strengths:
- Efficient matching through compatibility diagnosis
- Chat function enables smooth communication
- Skill registration, likes, and profile view features visualize interest
- Modern UI that's easy to use
Drawbacks:
- As a 2025 service, some regions still have low member counts
- Matching accuracy depends on user growth, so future success varies
- Japanese language only
Best for: Those prioritizing efficiency who want the system to find compatible members. People comfortable with new services.
3. with9
| Type | Bulletin Board + Community |
|---|---|
| Member Count | Approximately 410,000 IDs |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | with9.com |
A large-scale service with approximately 410,000 IDs. Beyond member recruitment, its community feature lets you interact with like-minded musicians.
Strengths:
- One of Japan's largest member bases provides significant dating pool
- Embed YouTube videos to showcase your activity
- Can recruit not just band members, but also staff and live performers
- Community feature naturally builds music friendships
Drawbacks:
- Large member count also means many dormant accounts
- Japanese language only
Best for: Those wanting to enjoy both member recruitment and community interaction with music friends.
4. Band Channel
| Type | Bulletin Board |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| URL | bandch.com |
A bulletin board where you can search posts by prefecture. Simplicity and clarity are its strengths.
Strengths:
- Prefecture-by-prefecture search makes finding local members easy
- Posts allow detailed condition specifications (genre, part, age, activity frequency, etc.)
- Simple UI you can navigate without confusion
Drawbacks:
- Fewer posts compared to OURSOUNDS or with9
- No chat function; communication depends on external channels
- Japanese language only
Best for: Those seeking band members in their local area. People who prefer simplicity.
5. Jimoty
| Type | Comprehensive Platform |
|---|---|
| Band Recruitment Posts | Approximately 40,000 |
| Cost | Free |
| URL | jmty.jp |
A comprehensive site where any local information can be posted. The band member recruitment board contains approximately 40,000 listings.
Strengths:
- Overwhelming post count and user base
- Mobile app for convenient access
- Local focus makes finding nearby members easy
- Secure messaging lets you communicate without sharing direct contact info
Drawbacks:
- Not music-specific, so low-commitment posts are mixed in
- Weak filtering for music-specific search criteria (genre, skill level, etc.)
- Japanese language only
Best for: Beginners wanting casual member search. Those prioritizing location.
6. membo.info
| Type | Multilingual Matching |
|---|---|
| Operating Since | 2026 |
| Cost | Free |
| Supported Languages | Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and 8 others |
| URL | membo.info |
This becomes self-promotional, but since the author is involved with this service, I'll introduce it honestly.
membo.info's greatest feature is 8-language support. Foreign musicians living in Japan and Japanese musicians can find members across language barriers. With real-time translation chat functionality, you can communicate with foreign members even if English isn't your strong suit.
Strengths:
- Supports 8 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Vietnamese
- Map-based search lets you visually explore activity areas
- Real-time translation chat enables smooth communication with foreign members
- Covers not just bands, but also theater, circles, and theater troupes
- Aggregates and displays recruitment info from other Japanese sites (with auto-translation)
Drawbacks:
- As a 2026 startup, user numbers are still growing
- For Japanese-to-Japanese domestic recruitment, OURSOUNDS has more posts
Best for: Those wanting to meet foreign members. People interested in international bands. Those seeking members for theater or circles. For specific benefits of international bands, see benefits and considerations of forming bands with foreign members.
7. BandMix
| Type | Bulletin Board (Overseas) |
|---|---|
| Cost | Basic Free (Premium Paid) |
| Supported Languages | English |
| URL | bandmix.com |
The world's largest band member recruitment site originating from America. Centered on English-speaking users.
Strengths:
- Musicians worldwide are registered, connecting you with overseas members
- Rich audio upload functionality
- Abundant music-related content including blogs and articles
Drawbacks:
- English-only, so not usable in Japanese
- Very few Japan-based users
- Premium features require payment
Best for: English speakers wanting to connect with overseas musicians.
Comparison Chart at a Glance
| Service | Type | Cost | Multilingual | Chat | Map Search | Audio | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OURSOUNDS | Bulletin Board | Free | - | - | - | YouTube | No.1 in Posts |
| bandcrew | Matching | Free | - | Yes | - | - | Compatibility Diagnosis |
| with9 | Bulletin Board+SNS | Free | - | - | - | YouTube | 410K IDs |
| Band Channel | Bulletin Board | Free | - | - | - | - | Simple |
| Jimoty | Comprehensive | Free | - | Yes | - | - | 40K Posts |
| membo.info | Multilingual Matching | Free | 8 Languages | With Translation | Yes | - | International Exchange |
| BandMix | Bulletin Board (Overseas) | Partially Paid | English Only | Yes | - | Yes | Global Scale |
Purpose-Based Recommendation Guide
Want to Find Members Fast?
→ Recommend using OURSOUNDS + Jimoty together. With many posts across both, post your recruitment on both and compare responses.
Want to Carefully Find Compatible Members?
→ bandcrew. Compatibility diagnosis enables efficient matching. However, as a new service, combining with OURSOUNDS is safer.
Want to Form a Band with Foreign Members?
→ membo.info exclusively. Translation chat feature works even if English isn't your strength. Many foreign musicians living in Japan register, offering connections unavailable elsewhere.
Looking for Members in Regional Areas?
→ OURSOUNDS + Band Channel. Prefecture-specific search features narrow down local members.
Want to Meet Pro-Level Members?
→ Focus on audio-included posts on OURSOUNDS. You can verify playing level. Additionally, ROCKJOINT networking events are effective.
Want to Connect with Overseas Musicians?
→ BandMix (if English-fluent) or membo.info (for Japanese usage).
5 Tips for Successful Member Recruitment
Regardless of which site you use, how you write your recruitment dramatically changes response rates. Based on 40 years of experience, here are 5 tips.
1. Write Specific Favorite Bands and Artists
"I like rock" doesn't convey much. "70s hard rock like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple" tells the right people you're their match. Ultimately, fewer wasted conversations. For beginners, complete beginner's guide to joining a band is helpful too.
2. Specify Activity Frequency, Location, and Goals
Be concrete: "Studio practice twice monthly in Tokyo. Target live performance within 6 months." Vagueness leads to "this wasn't what I expected" and dissolution. The most common band breakup reason isn't actually musical differences — it's temperature differences about commitment.
3. Include Audio or Performance Video
Text-only recruitment and audio-included recruitment get vastly different response rates. Perfect performance isn't needed. Even smartphone-recorded studio video matters if it makes people think "I want to play with this person."
4. Post Simultaneously on Multiple Sites
No reason to limit to one site. OURSOUNDS, Jimoty, membo.info — posting on 2-3 sites simultaneously simply increases odds. Each site's users surprisingly don't overlap much.
5. Respond Quickly and Politely
If you don't reply for 3 days to someone who contacted you, they've already applied elsewhere. Member recruitment is about timing. Reply the day notifications arrive.
Bonus: My Story Jumping into Member Recruitment in My 50s
To be honest.
When I posted member recruitment in my 50s, the first feeling was "out of place." Looking at recruitment sites, the focus was 20s and 30s. I hesitated about whether, as someone in their 50s, I should even apply to posts with that "let's play music!" energy.
But I tried anyway, and got responses. What surprised me was contacts from younger generations. "Age doesn't matter to me if the music fits," they'd say. That made me happy.
Members would come and go, I'd recruit again, meet someone new. That cycle repeated. Each time, new musical doors opened. The band I formed with a 50-something drummer had groove completely different from my 20s.
Lately, jamming with foreign musicians increased. Without shared language, if you start an A blues, you instantly connect. Nationality and age don't matter. That's what music is. For part-specific recruitment realities, check recruitment realities and discovery methods by part.
To those discouraged by not finding members: Don't give up. Try different sites. Change how you write. Still nothing? Try services reaching people you couldn't before. Connections always exist.
Summary
As of 2026, band member recruitment options are quite developed. What matters is choosing the service matching your goals and persisting.
- For post volume → OURSOUNDS
- For compatibility focus → bandcrew
- For meeting foreigners → membo.info
- For casual start → Jimoty
Multi-site use is strongest. And write recruitment honestly about your music.
The bandmate next to you waiting to play is somewhere searching too. Start finding members with Membo right now.
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