Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel sings a birthday tune for your loved one (Credit: MuZicCardZ)
Forget cake! Why not send a slice of local music to celebrate a special occasion? You can email anyone a video music card for holidays, as a love song or even an apology through Austin-based MuZicCardZ. For a few dollars, you go online, choose a favorite local musician and have their song sent straight to your loved one’s inbox.
Founder Tina Williamson knows Austin music and loves it every bit as much as we do. She started MuZicCardZ with a background in marketing and years of Austin life under her belt. She rued the fact that sending cards via snail mail was becoming less popular, but still loved making her friends feel special. The online card selection Williamson found was either too cheesy or too frilly for her taste. She knew she couldn’t be the only one.
In 2015, she decided to create a unique way to keep the cherished tradition of sending cards alive, while breathing a burst of Austin spirit into the venture. Austin’s music scene and the vibrant video format were her proverbial match made in heaven, and MuZicCardZ was born.
From Austin With Love
Gina Chavez sings songs in English and Spanish (Credit: MuZicCardZ)
Birthday cards, the most popular type of greeting cards, naturally led the pack. After scrambling to acquire licensing to use the “Happy Birthday” song, Williamson got lucky when the song entered the public domain. She hired a videographer, found a studio and recorded her first few artists in front of a green screen.
More Than Birthday Messages
Jackie Venson does your groveling for you with her “I’m Sorry” rendition (Credit: MuZicCardZ)
Williamson soon expanded into other types of cards. She now adds artists and songs regularly. What makes MuZicCardZ so unique is the personality and introduction from each talented musician. You may have heard “Happy Birthday” or Christmas carols hundreds of times, but I guarantee Dale Watson and Gina Chavez sound nothing alike on their respective versions. There are even “I’m Sorry” songs!
MuZicCardZ Artists
Dale Watson’s “Honky Tonk Christmas” remains the best-selling holiday card in the collection (Credit: MuZicCardZ)
Every MuZicCardZ musician gets a long-term contract guaranteeing royalties each time someone buys one of their songs. Artists who own the licensing for their songs or want to send in their own videos to specifications take home an even larger portion of each sale. Here are some of the artists who currently have videos on MuZicCardZ:
- Ray Benson
- Marcia Ball
- Julian Acosta
- Graham Wilkinson
- Jackie Venson
- Dale Watson
- Susan Arbuckle
- Gina Chavez
- Suzanna Choffel
- Sarah Hickman
Company With a Cause
Missed posting the photo for @grahamwilkinsonmusic new @muziccardz Portions of sales benefit @myhaam in ATX! pic.twitter.com/O8R0bXFySO
— MuZicCardZ (@MuZicCardZ) February 11, 2017
Typical of Austin’s “I Live Here, I Give Here” mindset, Williamson recently started working with HAAM artists, so she can donate part of her profits to this cherished local organization while still giving the artists their full royalty. With the cards so reasonably priced, she admits this amounts to a bit of mailbox money for them. As with all side hustles, though, that mailbox money adds up over time.
For musicians who want to participate, click here to apply. Williamson is passionate about her business and selective about her talent. A savvy businesswoman, she wants to ensure the relationship is mutually beneficial before jumping in. Williamson has tapped into something simultaneously true Austin, yet fresh. Learn more and order a card on the MuZicCardZ website.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Who would you like to see sing for MuZicCardZ?
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