New app helps musicians create artwork for digital music platforms

By: Curtis Sindrey –

TAD allows indie musicians to create high quality artwork, and is available for free in the App Store until Dec. 14th.

A new iPhone and iPad app called TAD enables musicians to create quick, high quality artwork to accompany their online releases.

The app, which launched earlier this month, allows musicians to start from scratch or choose from a selection of classic album cover design templates.

Inspiration came from, of all things, a new wave cover of Wham’s song “Last Christmas”, when co-founder Lee Jones’ Melbourne, Australia-based rock band recorded the track for inclusion on a Japanese compilation CD of power-pop bands doing festive cover versions.

The label requested a downloadable Soundcloud link from him, so he uploaded the track and then the dreaded ‘add artwork’ option popped up, like it does. Every. Damn. Time.

A lightbulb appeared above his head “There must be an app for knocking out a quick cover design”. He searched and searched and couldn’t find one. Then the lightbulb got brighter.

“All three of us know first hand what a struggle it is in the music industry,” said Jones. “The excitement of being part of something that is going to solve a massive problem for artists globally is what has made us work relentlessly to get it right.”

TAD is available on the App Store for free from December 1st to 14th, with the app being available for $1.99 thereafter.