By: Matt Wright
Today we’re starting a series of interviews with some of the awesome people behind the best-of-breed marketing tools and services that make up our recently launched Partner Program. This program is available to all IODA rightsholders via their label dashboard, allowing them to connect with a hand-selected mix of next-generation music marketing tools.
First up we’ve got MobBase President and CEO Charles Feinn. MobBase enables artists to easily build and maintain their own iPhone apps, so it’s not surprising that our conversation centered on the emerging app market, and how artists can best make use of it. You can learn more about MobBase by checking out their most recent press release here. OK then, let’s get things started…
Thanks for taking to time to talk with us. Can you give us a little background on you and the MobBase team?
We’re focused on just one thing: creating tools for musicians to help them engage with fans, and in the process convert casual fans into loyal fans, and loyal fans into paying customers.
MobBase is our latest expression of this idea. Mobile apps offer a fantastic opportunity for artists to connect with their fans. The challenge was to make it super easy to build, launch and manage an app, and super inexpensive so every musician can have one. Based on the response we’re getting to MobBase, it looks like we’re making musicians happy on every count.
One of the other things I want to mention is that both my co-founder, Alan Khalfin, and I, are independent musicians. We started out building products to solve our own needs, and we haven’t strayed from those roots.
Where do you think the value is for artists in creating apps? Is there a certain kind of artist that’s more suited to the app platform?
Fans want to be connected and involved with artists. iPhone apps are a fantastic way to deliver on that interest.
iPhone apps are the best way to stay connected with the content hungry, modern music fan. A MobBase iPhone app gives artists a mobile, interactive fan club, storefront, and merchandise table, and more. Through real-time interaction, artists can keep their fans up to date with all of their music, photos, videos, news, and tweets and can sell their show tickets, music and merch. This kind of constant connectivity allows artists to create meaningful relationships with their fans in order to succeed in today’s music industry.
Because of this, the MobBase platform is well suited for artists of all genres, and because artists can create a MobBase app for as little as 50 cents a day, it’s the perfect solution for any sized artist.
Charles takin' it easy
Are there any best practices you would advise artists to keep in mind when creating an app?
More than 50 MobBase apps have been launched already and there are a bunch more in the pipeline. There’s been a lot of creativity and imagination and as a result, a lot of different and amazing looks and feels. However we are also seeing a trend that the best received apps tend to be the ones with the most and richest content. Meaning great apps are featuring music and video of course, but also lyrics, album artwork, out takes, info about gigs and merch….and especially ‘insider” information that helps fans feel like they are participating in something special. That the band is just on the other side of the phone, close enough to connect.
Another thing we’re observing about the most successful apps is that there is new content added regularly. The MobBase dashboard gives artists the power to create a dynamic app that can updated frequently.
We encourage artists to maximize the effectiveness of their app by keeping feeds (twitter, news, blog, etc.) fresh and the content coming. If there is a new video out, add it to the app. When a new album is released, incorporate the artwork into the app’s design. The more new stuff fans get, the more they will feel connected.
For more tips and ideas on how to get the most out of your MobBase app, read our blog post here.
Do you have any plans to move beyond the iPhone platform? In general, do you see apps as a movement that will gain traction elsewhere, or will Apple always run the show?
Right now, the iPhone accounts for more than 75% of app usage across all mobile platforms, so that is our focus.
We’re also looking at other platforms and over time expect to provide MobBase for them as well.
I know it’s early days, but do you have any thoughts on the iPad? I’m thinking specifically from a music perspective.
We think that it’s great that Apple keeps pushing the envelope and MobBase apps are iPad ready. I think the iPad is positioned to become the go-to device for studying and use around campus. And, what better way to take a little break from your studies, than to check out what your favorite artist is up to, and see when they’ll be in town next. The larger screen is definitely going to add to the experience, as artists will be able to deliver higher quality photos and videos, and will be able to create new offerings, like digital box sets, and other special releases that can be purchased and accessed through the apps.
Thanks to Charles for the thoughtful answers, and stay tuned for more partner interviews coming soon!
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Tags: apps, Interview, iPad, iPhone, Mobbase, Partner Program
