Hey everyone! Gerard here. You may know me as our founder, editor-in-chief, primary music reviewer, event wrangler, staff photographer, ideasmith, podcast host, and… a lot of other things. Those are a lot of titles, and taking us from Point A (2016) to Point B (now) has been equally a lot of fun and a lot of work.

Since November 2018, when we transformed into Underground Music Collective and set up shop in Nashville, we’ve had opportunities to connect with people – musicians, fans, and industry folks alike – from all over the world. We’ve grown our platform to include things like UMC Fun -N- Games; our livestream-turned-live event series, Live from the 615; and multimedia content services for independent artists. Through it all, we’ve stayed committed to pumping out reviews and features on the daily, for artists of all genres, in any location. We look forward to sharing countless more songs and stories in the months and years ahead.

Some recent time on the road has given me the opportunity to pause, reflect on the journey that has brought us here, and look ahead to where I want UMC to go. I see exponential growth and ridiculous potential in our future, where your songs and stories have an even greater opportunity to reach untold millions the world over. However, to reach that goal… our small, yet mighty group needs help, and the first step toward finding it is to define UMC as a truer, stronger Collective. (I chose that word for a reason, after all.)

So, I’m taking some time this summer to go on the hunt for more folks who love music, love writing about it, and love doing it often. I’m mentioning this, because effective today (Monday, June 14) and continuing into the summer, you will notice a dip in our content output. Do not be alarmed – this is a temporary strategic move that will allow me to pour energy into finding more voices for the Collective. I will also be using this time to put systems in place to ensure that our UnderDogs have everything they need to tell more of your stories, more often, and in a timely manner.

As we begin to put the pieces in place for UMC 2.0, we will share updates and introduce you to new members of the team. Keep submitting your music, because they will surely be eager to give it a listen!

Meanwhile, you’ll catch us putting on Live from the 615 shows this summer and fall (including this one at The East Room on June 24, which will be FIRE). Michelle and Jenna will check in every Wednesday with a new UMC Fun -N- Games, and we are always more than happy to offer our multimedia services to you. You may even hear a new episode of The Quinn Spinn hitting our feed once in a while. In fact, I have one or two in the can that I’m excited to share!

Oh, and if you’ve read this and think you fit the description, I encourage you to reach out and write for us!

We’re firm believers in the rising tide that raises all boats, and we look forward to your embarkation onto ours. Together, we will grow!

Yours in Music,

Gerard Longo
Founder: Underground Music Collective
Co-Founder: Live from the 615
Host: The Quinn Spinn