Melband: Melbourne’s music forum legacy

In the early 2000s, Melband was the best location for musicians in Melbourne to find bandmates, gigs, or just meet other music lovers. This popular forum-style website became a wonderful place for artists from all across Victoria and beyond to get information. Although Melband is no longer operating, it may still influence Australia’s music landscape.

In this article, we’ll talk about how Melband grew and eventually fell apart, how it changed the Australian music landscape, and what musicians might do today instead.

What was Melband?

Melband was an internet group made just for people in Melbourne who love music. It was a good place for musicians to

• Find or make bands
• Buy and sell tools and other things
• Promote events and gigs in your area
• Network and discuss industry news

The forum’s layout made it easy for people to make posts, reply to messages, and keep conversations going. Melband was the start of many artists’ careers in music.

Why artists in Australia needed Melband

Melband was more than just a place to talk; it was a big part of the culture. For more than ten years, it was the centre of Melbourne’s eclectic music scene, promoting creativity, teamwork, and a sense of community.

Key reasons why Melband was loved:

• Accessibility: Anyone could join and post for free, so people of all ages and ability levels could use it.
• Targeted audience: The site wanted to connect musicians in Melbourne and the suburbs around it.
• Career launchpad: Many bands that started on Melband went on to tour the country and put out albums.

The end and decline of Melband

Even though Melband was successful, it slowly lost its hold on the local music scene. The main reason was the growth of social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and BandMix. These new platforms had a better user interface, real-time updates, and a greater audience, which made old forums look old.

Eventually, Melband stopped doing things. The website is no longer working as of 2024, and you can’t browse the forum archive anymore. Many Australian musicians have positive recollections of it and talk about it a lot on sites like r/melbournemusic on Reddit, where individuals exchange memories and feelings of nostalgia for collaborations that started on the site.

Modern alternatives to Melband in Australia

There are still many ways for Australian musicians to meet and work together, even though Melband is no longer functioning.

1. Facebook groups
Musicians currently use Facebook a lot to interact with each other. Melbourne Musicians is one of the most popular Facebook groups, featuring thousands of members who post regularly.

• Bandmate wanted ads
• Promotion of events
• Selling gear for music
• Talks about what’s going on in the area.

2. BandMix Australia
Musicians may make profiles, show off their skills, and meet other musicians who match their interests on BandMix.com.au. It is easy to use and focused on Australia, so it is a great choice for both new and expert painters.

3. Community Music Victoria (CMVic)
Community Music Victoria wants everyone in the state to make music together. They are in favour of the following:

• Music Workshops
• Jam sessions and singing groups.
• Leaders organise music programmes.

People who live in rural regions or work on community projects will find CMVic to be quite helpful.

Why do music communities still matter?

Facebook and other sites are excellent for bringing people together and making things easier, but there is still a strong justification for music-only communities.

Here’s why:

• Focused content: Musicians need niche tools, discussions, and classifieds — not general social chatter.
• Stronger community feel: A purpose-built space encourages more meaningful, long-term connections.
• Fewer distractions: Unlike major social networks, music-focused platforms reduce noise and increase value for artists.

May we get Melband back?

There is still a need for music platforms at the grassroots level; therefore, there is optimism that something like Melband will come again, maybe with new technology but the same sense of community.

The Australian music tech business may use some new ideas, like a new website, a mobile app, or even a Discord server that is run by someone else. If it is well thought out, a new “Melband 2.0” might become a venue where artists from all across the country can meet.

Conclusion

Melband was more than simply a website; it helped musicians in Melbourne get to know each other. Even though it is no longer in use, artists who utilised it to start bands, careers, and lifetime friendships still feel its effects.

As the world of digital music changes, Australian musicians should keep looking for or forming groups to help them reach their artistic ambitions. Whether you’re starting your first garage band or looking for a violinist for your folk trio, the spirit of Melband lives on via the connections we build.