New York, NY (Top40 Charts) SupaPass, a UK start-up that allows music artists to run their own subscription-based fan clubs, is the only European contender to be shortlisted for SXSW HATCH pitch, a global competition that covers all tech industries.
Having been selected from a long list of early stage tech start-ups from 14 countries, SupaPass CEO Juliana Meyer will have four minutes to pitch to a panel of leading VC investors including Microsoft Ventures and Google at the 2014 HATCH pitch final on 10th March at SXSW Interactive, before being grilled by the judges. One of only two music-based finalists, the team, based in Norwich, is also the only European service.
SupaPass is a music artist's subscription fan club, providing an alternate crowdfunding model based on continual patronage rather than a finite campaign. The service is aimed at creating an income stream for artists that they control directly and can fully understand, as opposed to relying on mass consumption subscription platforms where fractions of fans' pennies reach artists. It enables a direct artistic and financial connection between fans and artists, without the need to invest thousands in developing bespoke web solutions.
The service is free for artists to use, with SupaPass taking a cut of fan subscriptions. For a monthly fee ranging from 99p to £1.99 (or annually from £9.99 - £19.99), fans can subscribe to Bronze,
Silver or Gold packages which variously include SupaDownload (pre-release new tracks), SupaStreaming (browser-based access to back catalogue), SupaBackstage (behind-the-scenes audio, video, photo and blog archives) and SupaStage (exclusive live video conference Q+As and performances).
Based in Norwich, SupaPass launched as an open beta in July 2013, and was co-founded by independent artist and label owner Juliana Meyer in 2011. In January 2013, the service was the only UK start-up to be included among the finalists of the Midemlab competition.
Summer 2014 will see the launch of a new brand initiative.
SupaPass CEO and co-founder Juliana Meyer said: "As an artist I was frustrated that there was a key set of tools missing from the existing digital platforms. Only artists such as
Lady Gaga or
Linkin Park could afford the exorbitant cost of custom-built subscription fan club platforms. We wanted any artist to have those powerful fan club tools at their fingertips. Now with SupaPass an artist can set one up in just an afternoon with no team or tech expertise needed, for free. Beyond that, we also want artists to get paid and to give them reliable, regular income."
