New York, NY (Top40 Charts / TuneCore) TuneCore, the powerhouse independent digital music distribution and music publishing administration service, is stepping up its presence in Austin this year with the official launch of DropKloud, an innovative, free app that gives fans VIP access to exclusive artist-curated Kloud content. This unique platform allows fans at SXSW to pick up Klouds from their favorites artists, giving them pre-release tracks, exclusive videos and photos. DropKloud complements the slate of "on the ground" initiatives that TuneCore is providing artists to further connect with loyal followers, new fans and industry leaders. TuneCore Live, along with three more co-sponsored showcases, have lineups that feature some of the brightest, new independent artists. As in past years, one third of all of the artists performing at SXSW have distributed with TuneCore.
"Austin is the epicenter of music during SXSW and we are excited that Tunecore is providing artists with new and creative ways to increase their visibility while there." Scott Ackerman, TuneCore CEO, continued: "The real game changer is putting DropKloud into the hands of the fans, giving them a new way to get an up-close and personal connection with artists by linking the digital music world with the power of being there. A fan can walk into a venue or down 6th Street and discover music from world-class artists including Angelique Kidjo and ZZ Ward."
DropKloud: Gives Fans VIP
Access to their Favorite Artists
DropKloud will enable fans to get to know artists like never before. DropKloud uses geo-fencing technology, which lets artists drop "Klouds" of exclusive content for their fans to experience at designated locations. Artists performing at TuneCore showcases during SXSW will be curating special Austin-only content for fans, like never-before-heard tracks, behind the scenes video clips and exclusive photos. Fans will receive new Klouds every day in Austin during the SXSW music festival.
Angelique Kidjo ("the undisputed queen of African music") recognizes the potential power of this new app and will debut her remixed single "
Bomba" from the Grammy Award-winning album, Eve, exclusively through DropKloud to fans at SXSW. The single will go live around the world later this month (through TuneCore) and all participating artists will donate 100% of their royalties to humanitarian aid programs in Kenya. Kidjo explains "We are excited to premiere our new single "
Bomba" at SXSW in partnership with DropKloud. This provides a platform for us to tell our story and bring attention to the song to raise money for a worthy cause."
Also during SXSW, DropKloud will release the debut episodes of Convenience Store Sessions, a new web series TuneCore created in partnership with Swisher Sweets that provides an up-close and personal look at TuneCore Artists and their music. The initial episodes feature FMLYBND and Olivver the Kid.
Fans can download the free DropKloud app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.
TuneCore Live: Austin and Other Showcase Events
Providing exposure opportunities for our artists to get more music heard by more people is fundamental to TuneCore. "Bringing our successful TuneCore Live showcase to Austin gives our line-up of exciting, up-and-coming musicians a whole new level of visibility to both fans and industry insiders." Joe Cuello, Chief Creative Officer, continues, "And adding the DropKloud app to the mix gives artists another innovative way to connect with fans and grow those relationships."
Brand partners Swisher Sweets, Mirrored Media, CraveOnline and LANDR join TuneCore in co-sponsoring TuneCore Live: Austin.
TuneCore Live: Austin will take place on March 20, 2015 at the Vulcan Gas Company, 418 E 6th St., from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All the performers will be sharing exclusive content on DropKloud. Fans who have downloaded the DropKloud app will gain access into the show.
TuneCore Live: Austin Schedule and Line-up (subject to change):
12:00 p.m: Prinze George
12:40: Ultimate Painting
1:20: Sam Outlaw
1:50: Dear Boy
2:30: Nova Rockafeller
3:10: Devon Baldwin
3:50: Olivver the Kid
4:30: Derek Minor
The full list of TuneCore sponsored showcases include:
CraveOnline Presents @ Vulcan Gas Company
March 21, 2015 from 12:00pm - 5:00 pm
Sponsored by TuneCore, DropKloud, Swisher Sweets, Mirrored Media
About TuneCore
TuneCore brings more music to more people, while helping musicians and songwriters increase money-earning opportunities and take charge of their own careers. The company has one of the highest artist revenue-generating music catalogs in the world, earning TuneCore Artists $504 million on over 12 billion streams and downloads since inception. TuneCore
Music Distribution services help artists, labels and managers sell their music through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, and other major download and streaming sites while retaining 100% of their sales revenue and rights for a low annual flat fee. TuneCore
Music Publishing Administration assists songwriters by administering their compositions through licensing, registration and worldwide royalty collection. The TuneCore Artist Services portal offers a suite of tools and services that enable artists to promote their craft, connect with fans, and get their music heard. The new DropKloud app from TuneCore gives music fans VIP access to artist-curated exclusive content based on location. TuneCore is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY with offices in Burbank, CA, Nashville, TN and Boston, MA, and is backed by Opus Capital and Guitar Center. For more information, visit www.tunecore.com.
