Stereofame Game Rocks Cyber Space by Combining New, Energetic Independent
Music with Social Networking
NEW YORK, June 2 -- "It's all about music, fame, and the
game!" That's the message behind http://www.Stereofame.com -- an exciting new
social network web site where music lovers are in charge of their own
record labels and independent musical artists from around the world provide
their music. Stereofame combines the social networking aspects of the
popular MySpace and Facebook web sites with the auction functions of eBay
and creates a game where both listeners and artists compete for points that
can lead to valuable rewards ranging from mountain bikes to iPhones to
surfboards.
"Stereofame is part of the biggest thing to hit music since Thomas
Edison invented the phonograph," said Florida Internet entrepreneur Ken
Underwood -- the founder and driving force behind Stereofame. Underwood
says that the music industry is going through a revolution that he compares
to the collapse of the Soviet Union. "The future of music is now and it's
online, where free-market capitalism is rapidly destroying barriers to
entry that were established by traditional record label companies."
Underwood, a former Navy pilot who served during the Cold War, likens these
labels to the Soviet Union and characterizes artists and listeners as the
oppressed people living under the Soviet regime. "For the labels, it's like
1989 in East Berlin. The walls are coming down and independent artists are
taking advantage of this new found freedom by providing their music and
merchandise directly to the consumer."
Underwood noted that, for years, traditional music labels held a
virtual monopoly on music by controlling distribution channels. Artists had
little chance of "getting discovered," and had a better chance,
statistically speaking, of becoming an astronaut.
"Stereofame is the world's anti-label," Underwood said. "Our mission is
to reshape the music industry by enabling a free-market, direct to consumer
solution for artists and listeners. We think artists and listeners should
be able to deal with each other directly -- one on one -- without the
middleman."
In the first few weeks of Stereofame's launch, over 150 acts registered
online -- 75 in the past week -- and uploaded nearly 500 tracks of music,
with most of the songs being made available for downloads at no charge.
This breakthrough model allows artists to gain recognition for great
songs through listener voting, while rewarding listeners for finding great
talent. The object of the Stereofame game is to get as many points as you
can and cash them in on great rewards. Listeners can establish their own
label by selecting the artists he or she thinks will be most successful.
Just like major record labels in the music industry, the goal is to
discover great talent early and "sign" these artists to his or her label.
The label then receives points based upon the success of these artists.
Artists get points for playing the game, too. The more popular the songs,
the more points they get. These points can then be cashed in at the
Stereofame auction house by bidding for valuable rewards. "It's the game
within the game," Underwood said of the eBay style reward process.
In addition to the Game, Stereofame features contests to give artists a
chance to get more exposure for their music. Currently, Stereofame is
running two contests:
-- After the Jump Fest Performance: The winner of this contest will
receive an opportunity to perform Center Stage at the After the Jump
Fest in New York City on June 21st.
-- Song Included in a Motion Picture: The winner of this contest will have
the opportunity for one of their songs to be included in an upcoming
Hollywood film featuring an Academy Award winning actress.
When asked how Stereofame differs from other social networks, Underwood
said, "MySpace is about lifestyle, Facebook is about communication, and
Stereofame is about music. We've come up with some great features to make
the site really engaging, and we have many more in the pipeline, but the
context that will compel people to hang out on our site is great music."
Underwood added, "If Stereofame had existed in 1964, I believe the
Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Supremes would have been on the site
competing for points, rewards, and exposure. The music idols of the future
are uploading their music today on Stereofame."
CONTACT: Rhonda E. Kelley/Rainmaker Public Relations
(617) - 445-4383
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