Melodics
Melodics is a New Zealand-based music education software company that develops a gamified practice app for drums, MIDI keyboards, and finger drumming/pads, serving individual musicians and music students globally via real-time audio feedback and a subscription model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Melodics does
Melodics is a New Zealand-based music education software company founded in 2014 in Auckland by Sam Gribben, formerly CEO of Serato. The company develops a gamified practice application targeting drums, MIDI keyboards, and finger drumming/pads, with the platform providing real-time feedback on timing and accuracy via audio detection and MIDI input processing. The product is structured around a content library of 1,200+ lessons and 180+ song-based lessons covering multiple skill levels and instruments, with the 2022 Songs feature extending the curriculum into repertoire-driven practice.
Melodics serves individual musicians, hobbyists, and music students seeking structured practice routines, and operates a direct-to-consumer subscription model with two tiers: Standard at $10.99/month or $131.88/year and Premium at $14.99/month or $179.88/year. The platform is also distributed through hardware OEM bundling arrangements with Roland (Flagship partner since 2018), Arturia, Alesis, Novation, and Pearl, alongside retail distribution through Sweetwater in the United States — channels that embed the software into the instrument purchase experience rather than relying on standalone consumer marketing.
The company reports a user community of over 1 million and operates with a headcount of 11-50 employees. It is privately held and has raised approximately $3.74M in disclosed funding across rounds from 2015 through 2022, with investors including 500 Global, Ableton, Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, Tuhua Fund, Goodwater Capital, New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, and Callaghan Innovation.
Melodics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Melodics
- Legal name
- Melodics Limited
- Website
- https://melodics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Melodics is a New Zealand-based music education software company that develops a gamified practice app for drums, MIDI keyboards, and finger drumming/pads, serving individual musicians and music students globally via real-time audio feedback and a subscription model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Melodics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Education & Practice Software (Ear training, tutors, metronome tools) (MPAIAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Melodics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Melodics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Standard Subscription: Monthly or annual subscription providing full access to lesson library, guided paths, courses, and practice tools. Priced at $10.99/month or $131.88/year (billed annually).
- Premium Subscription: Higher tier subscription including all Standard features plus full song library with 180+ song lessons. Priced at $14.99/month or $179.88/year (billed annually).
- Freemium Access: Limited free access on desktop (7-day trial), iPad (20 lessons + 5 min/day), and iPhone (14 free drum lessons with unlimited playtime). Converts to paid subscription for full access.
- Hardware Bundling Revenue: Revenue generated through partnerships where Melodics lessons are bundled with hardware purchases from Roland, Arturia, Alesis, Novation, and Pearl. Users receive bundled lessons upon unboxing new instruments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Plan - Essential lesson access with all instruments |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Annual - Best value standard subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Plan - Full access including song library |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Annual - Best value premium subscription |
| Freemium | Monthly | Desktop Free Trial |
| Freemium | Monthly | iPad Free Access |
| Freemium | Monthly | iPhone Free Access |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Melodics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Melodics is a gamified music practice app that teaches drums, MIDI keyboard, and finger drumming (pad controllers) through interactive lessons with real-time feedback on timing and accuracy. It supports both electronic and acoustic instruments via MIDI device auto-recognition and microphone-based audio detection, and delivers structured learning paths, song-based lessons, and motivational mechanics across Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone platforms.
Product overview
Melodics is a single unified product—a gamified music practice app available across desktop (Mac/Windows) and mobile (iPad/iPhone) platforms. The core offering is structured around three instrument categories (drums, MIDI keyboard, and finger drumming/pads), with a unified subscription model covering all instruments. Key product components include the main app with real-time feedback, the Standard and Premium subscription tiers (differentiated by song lesson access), the Songs feature for learning popular tracks, the Guided Path for structured learning, Stages for skill challenges, and Practice Tools for targeted drilling. Users can access the platform on multiple devices with progress syncing, and the subscription unlocks the full library across all instrument types.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Melodics App Gamified music practice app for learning drums (electronic and acoustic), MIDI keyboard, and finger drumming on pad controllers through interactive lessons with real-time feedback on timing and accuracy. Available on Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone (drums only on iPhone).
- Songs Song-based learning offering pitch-perfect covers of popular tracks with step-by-step breakdowns at multiple difficulty levels, available exclusively to Premium subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Users are 6x more likely to stick with their instrument and reach their goals
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Melodics
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Melodics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
Melodics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- RolandflagshipFlagship partnership since 2018 including Melodics for V-Drums and the Beat Maker Sample Pack x Melodics Series for SP-404MKII. Roland is a leading electronic drum manufacturer, and this partnership provides deep integration and bundled content with their hardware.
- ArturiacorePartnership where Arturia MiniLab Mk3 and KeyLab mk3 include bundled Melodics lessons. New keyboard purchasers receive access codes to start learning immediately.
- AlesiscoreOfficial educational partner. Alesis electronic drum kits and keyboards come with Melodics bundled lessons for new buyers.
- NovationcoreOfficial educational partner. Novation Launchpad and LaunchKey products include Melodics bundled content for new purchasers.
- PearlcoreOfficial educational partner. Pearl drum products include Melodics access for new customers.
- SweetwatercoreDistribution partner and primary online retailer for bundled Melodics hardware packages. Sweetwater provides promotional placement and retail distribution for Melodics-enabled instruments.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Melodics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yousician: Direct competitor offering gamified subscription music lessons across guitar, piano, ukulele, and bass with real-time feedback. Closest comparable in product-led growth, freemium model, and target segment of hobbyist musicians learning contemporary repertoire.
- Simply (JoyTunes): Direct competitor in gamified music learning apps (Simply Piano, Simply Guitar, Simply Sing). Comparable freemium-to-subscription GTM and instrument-learning focus, though broader in scope (piano/guitar/vocals versus Melodics' keys/pads/drums).
- Fender Play: Subscription-based video lessons for guitar, bass, and ukulele from a leading instrument manufacturer. Comparable subscription model and OEM-style brand authority in instruments, though more video-based and less gamified/real-time feedback than Melodics.
- Drumeo: Online drum education platform with structured courses, artist instructors, and a strong community. Directly competes for the same "drummers wanting to improve" segment Melodics serves, primarily via video rather than interactive real-time feedback.
Emerging players
- Skoove: AI-powered piano learning app with real-time feedback and subscription pricing. Comparable gamified UX and self-serve PLG model, but narrower scope (piano only) than Melodics' three-instrument bundle.
- Mussila: Music education app targeting children and beginners with gamified learning. Comparable freemium game-mechanics-led learning approach, though focused on general musicianship rather than instrument-specific technique.
- Tonara: Music education platform oriented toward teachers and music academies, with progress tracking and practice tools. Comparable education-channel GTM (schools/universities) and subscription model, but focused on teacher workflow rather than instrument mastery.
Broad incumbents
- Ableton: Industry-leading DAW and music creation software company, and a lead investor in Melodics' 2017 round. Comparable overlap in serving beatmakers and electronic musicians, though Ableton is a broad production tool rather than a practice/learning platform.
- Native Instruments: Major music software and hardware manufacturer (MASCHINE, KOMPLETE) used by Melodics' target segment of beatmakers and producers. Adjacent category leader with overlapping customer base in electronic music creation.
Others
- Arturia: Hardware/software manufacturer of MIDI controllers (MiniLab, KeyLab) and software instruments. Both a Melodics OEM partner (bundled lessons) and adjacent ecosystem player in the same controller/instrument category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Melodics social profiles
Digital presenceMelodics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Melodics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Melodics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Melodics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Melodics
What does Melodics do?
Melodics is a gamified music practice app that teaches drums, MIDI keyboard, and finger drumming (pad controllers) through interactive lessons with real-time feedback on timing and accuracy. It supports both electronic and acoustic instruments via MIDI device auto-recognition and microphone-based audio detection, and delivers structured learning paths, song-based lessons, and motivational mechanics across Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone platforms.
Is Melodics a public or private company?
Melodics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Melodics founded?
Melodics was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Melodics based?
Melodics is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Melodics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Standard Subscription is the primary driver. The others are premium Subscription, freemium Access and hardware Bundling Revenue.
Who are Melodics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yousician, Simply (JoyTunes), Fender Play and Drumeo. Emerging players are Skoove, Mussila and Tonara. Broad incumbents are Ableton and Native Instruments. Arturia is listed as an others.
Does Melodics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Melodics.
What industry is Melodics in?
Melodics's product category is Music Education Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAJ, Music Education & Practice Software (Ear training, tutors, metronome tools).