Urska Jaksa
Nov 20, 2019
Confessions of a Music Lover Gone Pro
Confessions of a Music Lover Gone Pro
Editing Metallica's profile and making sure the local music scene in Nicaragua is well-represented are just two of the things on Camilo Bernheim’s to-do list. He's been a contributor to Viberate.com for over a year. We asked him why he decided to join the cause and got quite a story.
“It's great to edit big names like Metallica,” says Camilo, one of 20,000+ true music fans in pursuit of building the biggest music community, “On the other hand, if we take the local scene in Nicaragua, pretty much all the musicians are now on Viberate. At first there were only three or four, so I started adding them and adding them. Now there are almost 200 artists. That feels awesome.”
Check what we’re talking about here.
Since Camilo Bernheim became a regular contributor, he's climbed to the “master” level and has been promoted to one of the heads of the external team for Latin America. He explains: “It's cool to get to know what's happening behind the scenes. When I started, I did it without any intention of getting rewarded. Money was never a real drive for contributing. Gradually I've become a bridge between Viberate and external contributors. I review the work of other contributors, which is very interesting. For example, I keep a record of the weirdest names I've ever seen in my life.”
“I love adding underrated musicians to the global music map for everyone to discover.”
Camilo contemplating life and thinking about all the artists that still have to be added to the database.
Somewhere in between the contributing, keeping a vigilant eye on other contributors' work, and collecting names which make his day, he took the time to share his point of view.
How do you see the role of Viberate in the global music industry?
Camilo: "The biggest talents I've ever encountered are those little guys that don't get the recognition and exposure they deserve – even though they work hard. That's why the industry often appears non-inclusive and unjust. For me, Viberate is where talent meets fairness. I see it as a tool that will level the playing field and fix all kinds of troubles, pains and issues.
"I've seen many other platforms that try to disrupt the music industry, but after working for a year and a half at Viberate, it’s the only one with real potential. There's a sincere intent to get things done, and that's why we still work side by side. It's great to contribute and include talent, regardless if an artist is my cup of tea or not, following the notion that everybody has the right to be represented. The main aim is to reconstruct the live music industry, and that's where Viberate nailed it from the start.”
“I tell artists to claim their profile because this is the future.”
5,000 datapoints are added to the platform daily. Here's Camilo making sure the contributions from the Latin American team are in order 👀.
How did you get into the game?
Camilo: "I've always been a musician, playing drums. Music is a universal language. It means a lot of things: communication, connection, business, language, therapy, all kinds of things. It's my life. Music is at the center of the whole thing and I make it my own passion. This gave me an advantage, as I know the difference between Metal and Punk. There have been many contributors who, for instance, didn't know anything about the difference between Nouveau Folk and Pop but, got to learn that.
"I was amazed when I discovered that some festivals have over 300 artists on their lineup. Wow, that's a huge event, it takes a lot of planning. I think it's a good way to understand the dimensions and magnitude and what it takes to make such a festival happen. It gives you a sort of starting point of awareness, knowledge or perspective of what it takes to make things happen.”
Representing the colors of Viberate at Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Who can become a contributor and what does it take?
Camilo: "You don't have to be an artist per se, but if you are, it can help. It's a mix between passion and a little bit of knowledge about music. The best candidates for contributors are artists who are trying to make it, or people in the music industry who want to contribute to a bigger cause – not for the immediate reward.
"I've gotten utterly obsessed (but in a good way, worry not) about what's going on and what's been done. I believe in Viberate, and that's where the passion comes in. Having a profile claimed is a great feeling and helps the company as a whole. I tell artists to claim their profile because this is the future, it's the Airbnb of music.”
“Being a contributor is a mix of passion and music knowledge,” says Camilo. Besides being a drummer, he's also confident behind a mixing board.
Viberate’s contributors such as Camilo are the troopers fighting to bring a little bit of order to the music universe. A noble fight indeed. Since Camilo started, the platform has morphed into what is now a network of over a million profiles of artists, music venues, festivals, and events. And Viberate's network of contributors really is global, as they come from 160+ countries around the world.
Camilo adds: “It's good to be part of the global music revolution. Whether you like it or not, it's happening. Join us to enjoy the product while it's still in the making.”
Read this next:
Five Reasons Why Music Contributors Are the Heroes Behind the Scenes
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Previous articleUrska Jaksa
Managing Editor at Viberate
Storyteller with a nerd eye for music data. Believes in the healing power of group singing, while her ultimate cure are live shows.