SoundCloud, the Berlin-based open platform for audio sharing on the web and mobile devices keeps making noise. During the past six months it’s grown from 1 Million to 2 Million users, having attracted both Snoop Dog and Justin Bieber as customers. To keep up with its fast growth in order to become the leader in audio hosting and sharing, as to establish its US presence and the San Francisco office, it needs more fuel to execute. The rumors of raising new funding ($10 Million) were confirmed today, and we can congratulateUnion Square Ventures with Fred Wilson and Index Ventures with Mike Volpi for joining the SoundCloud journey together with its prior investor Doughty Hanson Ventures.
I’ve been a fangirl of Soundcloud since its private beta, and long before Spotify Social came along, SoundCloud had been my home for music discovery. Citysounds.fm is still one of my favourite apps, perfect to discover new music from different cities. And now, with the new updated iPhone app, I finally get access to my SoundCloud favourite tracks list streaming nicely on the background. What. A. Relief.
Something tells me that my perfect world scenario, where I can check-in and discover the best food, music and places recommendations all in one isn’t that far away in the future…
What for a year ago started with This Week In Startups, a live podcast by Jason Calacanis to embrace entrepreneurship and help out startups, has now turned into a web television network ThisWeekIn, covering a wide range of topics from tech to entertainment. Together with co-founders Kevin Pollak and Mark Jeffrey, Jason is now airing 12 weekly shows from their Santa Monica studio. Whether you want to catch up with funny YouTube moments, Twitter trends, coolest Android and iPad apps, or get the latest Internet industry deals and juicy insights, there’s a show for that.
The latest edition to the schedule is This Week In Social Media with the highs and lows of the social web, hosted by Alana Joy and Sean Percival. The very first guest on the show was none other than Brian Solis himself, who got to give his view on the all time trending topic Internet privacy, as to reflect on the impact social media and social networking have on our very own behaviour.
Catch up with the entire interview and social media blunders of the week.
Broadcasting 2.0 – turn your audience into fans and co-producers
The statistics on the two-screen experience keep showing an increasing trend, at the same time more devices are being connected to the Internet. As Justin Kan of Justin.tv already pointed out at the LeWeb conference last year, two-screen experience also counts for 15% of the revenues of the traditional TV.
So, now that services like Justin.tv, Ustream, Bambuser, Qik and soon YouTube (?) are democratizing live broadcasting, and together with social networks making it possible for almost anyone to reach an audience, what is it that makes ones audience to turn into fans?
Include and Engage. I talk based on my own experience: This Week In Startups has managed to keep me engaged since the very first episode, because it stays relevant to its audience by refusing to become an echo chamber and a megaphone for marketing messages. It’s a show built together with its audience using all the interactive tools and possibilities of social media, both before, during, and after a show. The audience becomes the co-producer in choosing guests, topics and participating in the show in a sincere way.
I think Scooter Braun, manager of Justin Bieber, summarized it well in his advice regarding Justin’s engagement with his fans across social media:
“The moment you think you’re too big for your fans, they’re gonna abandon you”.
Paula is online strategist and startup evangelist. She blogs at paulamarttila.com and here at Bub.blicio.us. Follow her on Twitter: @paulamarttila Drop her email at paula.marttila[at]gmail[dot]com
Microsoft Corp. has just opened its first retail store in the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall in Scottsdale, AZ and Bubblicious had a chance to visit the store, speak with customers and get a tour from Michael Forrest, senior director of customer experience at Microsoft. Forrest left Apple, Inc. earlier this year to join Microsoft and help them launch their first two retail stores and likely others next year.
Most of the talk, at least in tech circles, about the new Microsoft store was focused on how the store design is almost identical to Apple’s retail stores, minus the 120 47-inch HD screens that line the walls inside the Microsoft store. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with Microsoft bringing on Apple’s former real estate chief George Blankenship as a consultant, and wooing former Apple employees such as Forrest to jump ship and join Microsoft.
When asked how do you not plagiarize yourself in terms of store concept design and developing the Microsoft customer experience for the retail stores, Forrest didn’t exactly answer the question and instead shared how his 22 years of retail experience extends far beyond Apple and that it’s about creating direct connections with customers. He said that Apple and Microsoft are two very different companies. Forrest wrapped up that question with “I had a great time at Apple, and feel very, very fortunate and feel honored to be a part of this project.”
What will be interesting to see is if Apple decides to up the ante and make significant changes to its stores, especially the ones that will be located in the same mall with Microsoft stores. According to the Orange County Register, the Apple Store in The Shops in Mission Viejo, where Microsoft’s second store opens later this week, closed on September 13 for renovations. Apple as not set a date for that store’s re-opening.
Be There, Be Excited, Be Entertained, Be Early That was the theme and words in an advertisement printed in Sunday’s October 18 issue of The Arizona Republic, Phoenix’s main regional newspaper. And people did exactly that for Thursday’s grand opening. They came out by the thousands with hundreds arriving early; some camped out overnight and waited 12 hours before doors opened. The first 1,000 people received a gift bag and tickets to an evening performance by Ashley Tisdale. The store opening coincided with the launch of Windows 7, which has been well received by customers and industry insiders. For the software giant, it’s a welcome change after the struggles it had with its previous operating system Windows Vista.
Microsoft is set to open its second store this Thursday, October 29 at 10:00 a.m. in Orange County at The Shops in Mission Viejo. Canadian singer Justin Bieber will perform. Tickets for the 5:00 p.m. performance will be given out at 10:00 a.m. Thursday.
Check out highlights of our interview with Forrest and the store tour he gave Bubblicious.
SoundCloud, the Berlin-based open platform for audio sharing on the web and mobile devices keeps making noise. During the past six months it’s grown from 1 Million to 2 Million users, having attracted both Snoop Dog and Justin Bieber as customers. To keep up with its fast growth in order to become the leader in audio hosting and sharing, as to establish its US presence and the San Francisco office, it needs more fuel to execute. The rumors of raising new funding ($10 Million) were confirmed today, and we can congratulate Union Square Ventures with Fred Wilson and Index Ventures with Mike Volpi for joining the SoundCloud journey together with its prior investor Doughty Hanson Ventures.
