Hey Audio Artist Academy fam, I need to talk to you about something that's been on my mind. When I introduced the monthly cash prizes for our top members, my intention was to reward your dedication and activity. But honestly? It backfired. I've noticed the energy shift. It feels like some of you have been chasing the money rather than genuinely connecting and helping each other grow. It got to a point where some members even created fake accounts to reward their own posts and climb the rankings faster. That's a huge red flag and completely goes against what we're building here. (Yes, I have proof for this!) I've also seen members leave, and I can't help but think the competitive prize structure and this kind of behavior played a role in that. That's not what this community is about, and I take responsibility for creating a system that encouraged the wrong kind of engagement. So we're making a change - effective immediately. The money prizes are gone. Instead, here's the new monthly recognition for our top 3 most active members: 🥇 1st Place: 30-minute 1-on-1 call with me (feedback session, Q&A, whatever you need) 🥈 2nd Place: Written feedback or voice note on one of your tracks 🥉 3rd Place: Community spotlight - I'll feature your work in a Skool post here and give you some exposure These rewards are about learning, growth, and visibility - not cash. I want this to feel like recognition, not a competition that divides us. Thanks for understanding, and let's get back to what matters: supporting each other and making great music together.

Hi friends, I have no doubt that you would know such a legend from the gaming-music industry, and I don’t mean anyone other than Akira Yamaoka. Since I don’t have time for games anymore and I played Silent Hill 2 when the sequel came out back in 2001, and I absolutely fell in love with the game. I played through it about ten times and saw all the endings. And that music really resonated with me back then too. Only now that the remake from Polish studio Bloober Team came out recently, I got my hands on the completely reworked soundtrack with 93 tracks. Well, it ended up with me having to order the 6LP version, which will be released in the fall. What do you think about the soundtrack? It’s available in full on YouTube. https://youtu.be/Q47veZhrMW8

Every once in a while, someone in our community shares a journey that perfectly captures what this whole thing is about. That’s exactly what happened when I sat down with Matt, who just a couple of years ago was stuck — struggling to break into the trailer music world, doubting himself, and unsure where to go next. In his words: “I had the music... but no plan. No idea where to send it, who to talk to, or how to even approach people. It felt like shouting into the void.” But things did change. Matt went from working completely alone to: - Signing with three trailer music libraries (including ones doing Marvel and AAA placements) - Releasing a full trailer album - Writing custom tracks that are now being pitched to major campaigns - Finally getting to work on trailerized pop song arrangements — a dream of his from the start - All of this happened once he stopped working in isolation and started building a real strategy, accountability, and support system around his music career. 🎥 In this video, Matt talks about: - The moment everything began to shift - How real feedback, live calls, and step-by-step planning helped - And why the echo chamber so many composers are trapped in is the real creativity killer - Watch the full interview in the attached video. If you’re curious about the program Matt is talking about — the one that gave him the tools, clarity, and support to finally break through — you can check it out here: 👉 Learn more about the Audio Artist Rise Program There’s no magic bullet. But there is a clear path forward — and a group of people who have your back. ✌️ Alex

**UPDATE** Thank you everyone! The response to this has been awesome and I now have my first set of volunteers and can’t wait to get started. I hope this will just be the start of the journey though, so if my community idea looks like it may be of interest to you, do not hesitate to reach out and I can keep you in the loop with updates! Thanks again everyone! Hi All! I'm looking to start building a composer community aimed at people in the early stages of writing trailer music - especially those struggling to finish their first few tracks. To kick things off, I'm looking for a few volunteers who are just starting out in trailer music, and would be open to having some 1:1 Zoom calls with me over the next few weeks. The idea is to: - Talk through your biggest challenges - Help you progress with your first cue All I would ask in return is your honest feedback about what’s helpful (and what’s not), and perhaps a testimonial if I was able to help you out. Feel free to drop a comment below if you, or someone you know, would be interested! And thanks to @Alex Pfeffer for your blessing as I try this out!

Hi, I've been using some of the Soundpaint library stuff, and I now wanted to ask if anyone has been using any of their Hybrid libraries, such as Hybrid Cinema, Hybrid Foundations or Hybrid Tools Apex? And if so, do you like them? Which one would you recommend? Thanks for reading :)