Tucked behind Square Victoria, in an office with a view of the Old Port, there’s a global music company that somehow still feels like Montreal’s best-kept secret.

LANDR started out more than a decade ago with an entirely new idea—AI mastering.

It was an algorithm that gave up-and-coming artists the same polish as the big studios. It ruffled feathers, but it also cracked open the gates for anyone with a laptop and a dream.

Fast forward to now: LANDR is less a “start-up experiment” and more a “toolbox for the entire music-making universe.”

It’s where samples, mastering, plugins, distribution, education and community are all folded into one space.

LANDR’s reach is global, but its roots are local

Before it was a platform with millions of users, LANDR was a little office in Montreal’s creative Mile End neighbourhood. Its founders—Pascal Pilon, Justin Evans and Scott Murray—came straight out of Montreal’s fertile mix of art and tech.

The company has always stayed true to its roots.

Walk through its halls and you’ll find local artists, DJs and musicians hard at work behind the code, the support chats and the marketing plans. If you’ve been in the Montreal scene long enough, chances are you’ve crossed paths with someone who’s worked with LANDR.

That’s not an accident. The company grew from the city’s intensely creative energy, while giving back too.

Montreal to everywhere

Montreal was the launchpad, but LANDR’s reach is global. The company is picking up steam in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Europe, and anywhere else you’ll find independent artists who are hungry for access.

Seven million users and counting. Dozens of new hires. A shiny new office downtown. The company is in a new chapter, one that’s reaching further than ever.

More than just mastering

Yes, mastering is and always will be the spark that started it all. Today, LANDR is so much more than just an AI-mastering company.

It offers distribution that gets your songs on every major platform, a sample library with millions of royalty-free samples, and fifty-plus plugins from pro-grade developers. LANDR even has its own learning hub. Pair LANDR Studio with Ableton, an audio interface and a MIDI controller and you’re set, without breaking the bank.

It’s got everything you need to write, mix, master and release your music, maybe even launch your career!

AI, but make it fair

AI's relationship with music production has always been complicated. When LANDR dropped its mastering tool, engineers worried about being replaced.

LANDR has always advocated for access, rather than replaceability. The company's mandate is about lowering the barrier for artists who can’t afford expensive studio hours.

And now, in a world where entire songs are being generated by AI, the stakes are different. LANDR is drawing a line: AI should assist, not replace. Most importantly, artists should always have a say.

Their FairTrade AI program is the first of its kind. It lets artists opt in (or out) of training datasets, and makes sure that anyone who contributes gets paid.

It’s an honest attempt to protect the craft, while still experimenting with the tech. If you’re curious about how it works, you can learn more on LANDR’s website.

What’s next for LANDR

So what comes after mastering, samples, distribution, plugins, and all the rest?

LANDR’s roadmap is already in motion. More plugins. More workflow tools. More ways to cut out the boring, repetitive stuff so artists can actually create.

The principle is simple: take away the friction, not the soul. LANDR’s artist-first AI philosophy is baked into everything.

Every feature is meant to be a layer that empowers, keeping musicians in control of their sound.

LANDR wants to handle the distracting, less creative parts of the music production process, so artists can stay locked in on the real work: expression, originality and connection.

Don’t sleep on LANDR

From a tiny lab in Montreal to a platform with millions of creators worldwide, LANDR has never lost its focus.

The mission hasn’t changed: make music creation more accessible, more practical, more possible.

Yes, the tools have evolved far beyond mastering, but the heart remains the same. It’s about musicians, and always has been.

As the needs of artists shift, LANDR plans to keep building, keep listening, and keep serving the people at the center of it all.

After all, at the end of the day, music isn’t just about perfect sound. It’s about giving more people the chance to be heard.

By the way, LANDR is hiring! If you’re interested in joining the fold and being part of the next phase, take a look at what positions are open right now!