TL;DR: I designed and launched CONTROL, a music app for our indie label. This post breaks down the real-world costs, the role of AI, the submission gauntlet, and how CONTROL might reshape artist-fan connections. If you're building something similar—or thinking about it—read this first.
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Developing and deploying my first iOS app, CONTROL, was a whirlwind of learning, frustration, and ultimate fulfillment. This post is an honest dive into the unexpected hurdles, hidden costs, and valuable insights gained through this journey, especially targeted toward indie musicians, labels, and fellow designers.
There’s a common perception that building an app—especially with today’s AI tools—should be quick and cheap. But even for vibe coders chasing exciting ideas, launching something like CONTROL requires more than enthusiasm and good intentions.
Quiet but critical costs include:
Don’t forget, because CONTROL features original music, I had to create license agreements for every track before submission.
App Store submission is a process, not a button. Privacy disclosures, user flow audits, and rejection cycles are part of the game. But going through it all made the final approval feel earned.
If you’re dreaming of launching your own app, especially in the music space: it’s completely possible. Just know that every idea needs infrastructure—and behind every launch is legwork.
AI tools like Claude and Cursor were part of my creative toolkit while building CONTROL. They accelerated development by generating boilerplate code and suggesting debugging ideas, which felt like having a second brain at times. But I quickly realized they can’t replace the deeper understanding required to make an app actually work—especially something as nuanced as a music app tied to a living label.
There’s a perception out there that you can just tell an AI "make a music app" and it’ll happen. The truth is, those tools are only as useful as your ability to guide them, spot their mistakes, and troubleshoot edge cases.
What worked:
What didn’t:
If you’re a vibe coder dreaming up bold ideas, just know: the journey is doable—but there’s more to it than copy/pasting from a chatbot.
Now that CONTROL is live, I'm shifting gears from development into growth—specifically how to promote the app, gather feedback, and position it within the broader music industry landscape.
My immediate focus is on connecting with real users:
CONTROL is a test case for something bigger. Can indie labels use tech to build direct, mutually beneficial relationships with their audiences in a streaming economy that often underrepresents artist value?
This isn’t theory. It’s practice. CONTROL is live, and it’s being shaped by every track added, every feature refined, and every user who hits play.
For artists, it’s a path toward better connection and possibly better compensation. For fans, it’s a curated space designed with intention—not algorithm.
Ultimately, building CONTROL was more than shipping an app—it was an immersive lesson in translating creative vision into product reality. Now, the mission continues: to serve our listeners better, to amplify artist voices louder, and to build a business that stays rooted in community, creativity, and care.
Are you an artist, builder, or label thinking about launching your own app? I’m putting together a guide for first-time music app creators.
