About MFT

Mission: To collect and make available quality independent/underground music in hopes of exposing it to a larger audience. We start with our friends in Indiana and see where they go.

Who: MusicalFamilyTree.com is run, paid for, created, obsessed over by Small Box, an Indianapolis, Indiana web design company owned by Jeb Banner and Joe Downey. Jeb Banner- founder, archivist. Joe Downey- web design and programming. PJ Christie- archivist, web master. Chris Menkhaus- live recordings. Jake Petroff- talent scout. Eric Cox- photography. Jeff Bedel- photography. And many, many friends who help out- thanks! Contact us at musicalfam@gmail.com

Where: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

History: Set up as a simple way for friends to share their music with each other. Started as a .org on 01/31/2004, acquired .com around 12/04. In 2005 Joe got involved and subsequently we switched to SQL and php format 07/05. Held the first annual Musical Family Tree Festival on 11/11-12/2005 at Locals Only, The Patio, The Church (Double Cross) and Second Story. Upgraded site again with new functionality including streaming music players and user functions 12/05. A new version of the site with an online community, powered by Ning, was launched in early Spring of 2008.

How does a band/artist/music get on the site? Mostly we look for stuff that is related to something already on the site preferably with an Indiana connection since that is where we are from. But really if we like it or if one of our friends really likes it then we tend to put it on the site. I never know how to answer that question. We encourage bands on the site to record their live shows. You can contact me about this stuff at jeb@musicalfamilytree.com