Hungama Digital Media has launched ArtistAloud.com, a digital platform for artists that provides access to the consumer to unreleased music for sampling, sharing and purchase.
The site showcases and monetizes content from independent artists, who may not have albums with record labels, but want a platform for selling and promoting their music. The content will be promoted on Bsnl.hungama.com (but not Hungama’s own digital store Hungama.com?), at iTunes, Amazon, through domestic and international mobile operators, to Tata Sky customers and IPTV providers, in the form of MMC Cards and by bundling content onto handsets. The site also offers mobile ringtones, wallpapers and full song downloads for the mobile at m.ArtistAloud.com.
Given the number of talent shows and talented singers in India, and the reticence of labels in India to promote independent artists, this platform has potential for aggregating music; promotion is necessary, else it will die, so tie-ups with talent shows would be a good idea. The artists are handpicked, though: Hungama has signed on 30 independent artists, some of them fairly well known: Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Shibani Kashyap, Hema Sardesai, Suneeta Rao, Jatin Pandit, Himani Kapoor (from Saregamapa). Among the rock artists: Dhwani (Hindi), Dream Out Loud (English), Ek (Hindi), regular gig players Soul Fusion and Thermal And A Quarter, as well as the golden oldies of Indian Rock, Parikarama.
This is an initiative from Hungama that is independent of its relationships with record labels, and, according to a Hungama spokesperson, a direct digital distribution arrangement between Hungama and the artists. Hungama appears to be keen on stretching its mandate beyond its label partnerships to direct arrangements and ownership of content: earlier it signed a co-ownership agreement with BIG Music and T-Series, though the company never responded to MediaNama’s request for an explanation of how this co-ownership has been established, and whether a joint venture has been inked. I wonder if either ArtistAloud or Hungama has future aspirations of becoming a label.
Radio
On the desktop front, there’s a 3.3 MB downloadable radio, for live streaming music from ArtistAloud.com. I quite liked the desktop radio, but it only streams songs from ArtistAloud, and I can’t integrate other sources of music, something like, say, Radio Paradise or Radio Verve (also for independent Indian artists); not really my type of music.
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14 Comments until now.
Very similar to Mobile Traffik aka Riff Mobile (http://www.mobiletraffik.com/) launched by OnMobile earlier.
Very similar to Mobile Traffik aka Riff Mobile (http://www.mobiletraffik.com/) launched by OnMobile earlier.
How is it different from what Onmobile Riff…..
Hungama looks to be copying the innovation than creating something on their ownself….
I think to be fair.. this is very different.. This is in complete favour of artists.. its not just about ring tones business.. its about the MUSIC.. this will help the artist build community & also showcase their talents directly.. & maybe make some money as well.. its not dependant on the company..
Hmm…. Riff vs OnMobile. So I'm wondering if the contracts for digital distribution with either Riff or OnMobile are exclusive in nature. Otherwise, the more the distribution available to the artists, the better it is for them.
Thanks…then the difference is that Hungama.com is subscription based, and this is not.
Thanks…then the difference is that Hungama.com is subscription based, and this is not.
Thanks…then the difference is that Hungama.com is subscription based, and this is not.
Nikhil, the rev share offered to the artists is a new low of 35% of what Hungama earns. So, what does the artist get? less than 10% of the MRP? And knowing the revenue sharing ethics at Hungama, can we artists hope to make anything? Basically, we give our tracks to make Hungama richer. The Big 30 artists they have launched may be sitting on MGs, but clearly, no hope for small guys like me.
Nikhil, the rev share offered to the artists is a new low of 35% of what Hungama earns. So, what does the artist get? less than 10% of the MRP? And knowing the revenue sharing ethics at Hungama, can we artists hope to make anything? Basically, we give our tracks to make Hungama richer. The Big 30 artists they have launched may be sitting on MGs, but clearly, no hope for small guys like me.
I would genuinely like to know the name of 1 artist who is making that kind of money on Riff. i dont believe it.
@nikhil: you can check out the standard agreement draft which you can download from mobiletraffik site
The Riff experience has been quite good till date. Its now over 2 years old and some of the new artistes are taking home over a 50K a month. These guys had no hope of every reaching out to a label in the current system. Riff should increase its scale of operations based on its initial success.
Its good or the artiste world as a new distribution channel has opened up. I prefer the only RBT approach today as the money lies in RBT. Have not made too much money on other things on Mobile. The VA S industry experts can comment on it.