Forget about ringtones and Rhapsody; these apps let you subscribe to artists. Unlike the Presidents of the United States of America app we discovered last week, Kyte's iPhone apps for Universal Music Group artists don't give you full tracks, but they do keep fans updated with new information through exclusive videos -- mostly filmed on cellphone, of course - - a chat room, and a Twitter-style news feed.
Yes, we totally called this, but that's not the point, of course. With Kyte now creating iPhone artist apps for both Sony Music and Universal Music Group, the idea of letting people subscribe to bands through their cellphones has already hit the mainstream. As of today, the Apple App store contains Kyte apps for (iTunes links) Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Keri Hilson, The Pussycat Dolls, The All American Rejects and Lady Gaga.
“Kyte allows us to easily deliver iPhone and iPod touch apps that connect our artists with their fans in a fully immersive, interactive experience," stated Interscope Geffen (part of UMG) executive vice president Ted Mico. “Fans will be able to watch exclusive, behind the scenes content, chat in real-time, and purchase artist content, all from their iPhone and iPod touch."
It took Apple to convince the labels to sell music on the internet. Now, the company's transformation of the phone into something resembling a computer, onto which just about anything can be installed, has set the stage for the next phase of music distribution.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
