Paris based Awdio will announce today a first round table of 1.5 million euros (about 2 million dollars) closed with Ventech. Awdio offers a unique music service that connects the best clubs around the world to the internet and allow them to broadcast live their music online.
When we first covered Awdio they were planning a per subscription service but the company is now moving to a new model where live access to music will be free and potentially monetized via advertising.
The company will progressively release premium services like access to recorded live sessions (one of my personal requests) which could be great if they could be included in iTunes and other music stores (without DRM of course). Their business model is built on revenue sharing with the clubs they partnered with.
Although the company does not show up yet on Google trends, Gilles Babinet (a board member and previous founder of Musiwave sold to Microsoft) tells me the service is very sticky. When we first mentionned them they had 50 clubs signed in and brought another 50 broadcasting totally a thousand shows.
The company recently appointed Julien Ulrich as CEO. Julien was previously the general manager for Virgin music download service in France
A big chunk of the music business is driven by what the hypest clubs and DJs are broadcasting. In some cases some clubs even created their own label and music series (you may be familiar with the Costes or Buddah Bar). Awdio is surfing on that trend and makes this available to everyone, everywhere. The content is pretty unique and could find its place among club music lovers.
Not sure they will go this direction but i would love to see this music being distributed in multiple music platforms (iTunes, Mobile services and others…) but also extend to different music styles (jazz, classical..)
More on the Awdio Blog
Their setup looks fun to use.
Interesting concept. I monetize via amazon links on my project site. http://NowScene.com thats where the biz model is today. Live music videos shot on location locally or in other venues across the USA. I will be adding international clubs once I can monetize on amazon. One day Amazon will open access to MP3 downloads to internationals.
-Randy
with all the cocaine and extasy in clubs. who cares about the music? show some hot chicks getting high as a kite.
Acquisition-required company name? Check.
Reflecto-fade buttons? Check.
Design-by-committee interface? Check.
The question is, who’s gonna be their savior?
first round table?
It seems to play some music but where is it coming from? What a terrible userinterface. The fading of the music is nice but can I really just listen to 20 sec of music?
Dont see the appeal and certainly dont see any subscription fees flowing from the public. The clubs might do some nice advertising there but do I really need to know what is playing at a club I never go to?
Sounds like a great idea since you can listen to music playing in clubs on the other side of the world that you wouldn’t get the hear otherwise. I couldn’t get anything to play though and it seems like the user interface could do with some work. I will definitely be back though.
on top of all that good stuff, awdio also spams me even though i’ve unsubscribed from their mailings.
Been an awdio subscriber for 4 months. I love it, I’m hooked. I was paying €10 a month and very happy to hear they’re going free.
If you like top shelf electronic, dance, and even some rock… this is your disneyland. You just can’t find this great music in iTunes and Podcast.
Being able to download mixes to my iPod would be a treat! I’d pay extra for that.
awdio… i love their name !!
It’s Buddha Bar, not Buddah.