RTG Ventures & Aderra Announce ‘JV’ on Fan App

Posted by Reggie James | January 3rd, 2012 | Filed under Music Technology

LONDON, UK–(Jan 3rd, 2012) – Last February, RTG Ventures, Inc. and Aderra Media Technologies announced a partnership to exploit concert digital technology for the benefit of the artists who would retain control of their content. The relationship has now identified another dimension, for the two companies to pursue, that of a joint venture for the specific purpose of developing a fan application (app) which will leverage the global diversity to the fan base. A Letter of Intent has been agreed by both parties.

The announcement sees the fruition of a series of long awaited concepts that will be shaped to combine leading edge technology that address the needs of fans, artists and management alike. The app will encompass gig-goers, social location services as well as unique content and engagement that are potentially habit-changing for music fans.

Describing the genesis of the JV, Aderra CEO, Ed Donnelly commented:  ”Having met with RTG Ventures in Los Angeles in November we were impressed by the technology that RTG Ventures digital and development agency, Digital Clarity were developing. It was then that we explored using some elements of their technology platform to encompass in an app.”

Steve Baughman, who is spearheading the app’s development, “Capturing that chemistry between an artist and his or her fan base is indescribable. There is a real desire of fans for a full experience which creatively goes beyond the music. When done right, the app will capture the essence of the artist and link it to the audience in whatever form it takes. And it crosses geography, demographics and expectations to meld the experience. To combine Aderra’s rich history in music, now combined with a technology development and marketing partner in RTG/Digital Clarity, we are all looking forward to 2012.”

Reggie James, Digital Clarity MD and SVP of Marketing & Communications at RTG Ventures said, “The ability to work closely with Aderra and have access to their wide range of diverse and major artists including; Metallica, Zac Brown Band, Smashing Pumpkins, Mark Ronson and Deadmau5″. The JV marks a major step forward in the growth plans for RTG Ventures with the ability to scale the business and avail these artists to the other major business focussed technology platform being built in addition to the app.

ABOUT RTG VENTURES

RTG Ventures offers Music & Entertainment Technology Solutions and Digital Marketing Services. Harnessing the strength of its digital marketing agency, that has a trusted reputation over the last 8 years, the company has applied its knowledge process in developing cutting edge technology platforms for web, mobile and tablet devices.

Using Digital Clarity’s application in the Marketing and Social arena, RTG Ventures offers a unique value proposition of intelligent, analytics based technology solutions with the support of an experienced digital marketing team. RTG Ventures, Inc. is an OTC:QB company. Symbol RTGV.

ABOUT ADERRA

Aderra is a state-of-the-art capture and content delivery firm for both entertainment and corporate live events. With its patent-pending technology, Aderra records any live event, concert or performance, duplicates thousands in minutes, which are then available for sale on custom branded flash drives before the audience has left the venue. Aderra’s turn-key operation provides everything from on the spot recording & editing to music licensing clearances, giving you an additional revenue stream from every live performance.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS

The foregoing contains certain predictive statements that relate to future events or future business and financial performance. Such statements can only be predictions, and the actual events or results may differ from those discussed due to, among other things, those risks described in RTGV’s reports filed with the SEC. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This document is published solely for information purposes, and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any state. Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Additional information is available upon request.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Read more | Comments (0)

US Trip – A Focus Toward the Future

Posted by Reggie James | December 7th, 2011 | Filed under Music Marketing, RTG Ventures

As you are all probably aware by now, I returned about 2 weeks ago from a trip to the US that saw me take-in Los Angeles and New York.

I wanted to take this opportunity to share some the experience with you and more importantly outline the exciting new opportunities arising from some of the meetings.

Why the trip?

In my audio I talked about learning from the last 12 months and our 1st year. My last two blogs looked at everything leading toward the new technology and positioning our company in a brave new world.

The blog today, is looking at my trip to the US and how it would truly test the new concept from people in the music and entertainment business, as well as seasoned technology pros and investors who had held on to the coat tails of the silicon valley dragon.

For me, New York is a given. It is the historical soul of the advertising industry and as such, was core in the agenda. Meeting those that share an entrepreneurial vision of what we are looking to achieve is crucial. Also, re-establishing links with people who we had approached tentatively a few months back was also important in outlining the RTG roadmap for future growth.

So with meetings and schedules prior to Thanksgiving, it transpired that the first leg of the journey would be Los Angeles.

So why LA? Simple. To meet with like-minded people and give the technology platform an airing with the most prolific individuals within the entertainment industry, it was an opportunity too good to pass.

On top of this, we have deep relationships in LA. Meeting Aderra for the first time was such a powerful event that it will no doubt prove pivotal as we move forward and I will dedicate more time on this particular aspect of the trip in my next blog – very exciting.

Again, though the reasons for the trip may be obvious, It was key to capture the hearts and minds on both coasts to make the trip worthwhile.

Testing Concepts

The whole purpose of the trip was multifarious. I had been (and still am) running the agency Digital Clarity, for the best part of 2011 until recent months where I had taken the helm of the technology, to review and bring into a modern arena.

I have spoken in detail already about two things:

  • Major changes in the music and technology arena – commoditization, engagement and scale.
  • The shift in our technology offering and the need to address the changing market ahead of the curve.

On top of having to re-position RTG’s proposition, the trip to LA and NY would be the litmus test that was required to see whether the prototype, concepts and ideas for our new platform would fly or be shot down in flames.

Los Angeles

Linda Perry had made significant in-roads over the last 12 months to not only (re)establish relationships with major investors but also major names in music and technology. On top of this, it was these major heavyweights we were to meet alongside some people we had already spoken with tentatively and who had been kept warm waiting for – you know what.

If New York is where the money is and the San Francisco/Bay area is where the technology was being built, then Los Angeles was the meat in this musical sandwich.

To keep this short and to the point, we met with several major, successful names, and with all, I outlined and described the expanded technology offering to the industry which would allow us to be First Mover. The First Mover position is not said lightly. It is a position that is both coveted and difficult to achieve. Yet that observation was made by one of the toughest guys in the sector.The dots were connected.”

After crossfire questioning, it was apparent that what I was describing to them was not only something that was needed but would also allow the music business to look at data to make business decisions. This was no longer social media, but social business.

After a gruelling session with one of the savviest technology, music and social investors in town, I was greeted with the words, “Tell me more, this is genuinely investable…!”

Without question, the idea of streamlining our offering and focussing on revenues was unequivocally accepted by all, as well as the wholehearted acceptance of our view on the future. The confidence of knowing what we have in development, augmented with a digital marketing agency both working in harmony, was proving a potent value proposition.

With these thoughts firmly embedded in my mind, I was soon leaving the sunshine of LA and heading for more seasonal climes in the Big Apple.

New York

New York in all its glory with the holiday season round the corner is quite a site. The buy-in in Los Angeles was key to the next leg of the tour.

In New York, my first meeting was with a dynamic duo that runs one the most successful ambient media companies which feeds directly into the leisure and luxury brand arena. Former high level music men, they immediately saw the value in our repositioning and approached us with a likely scenario of how we could work together. As they outlined, finding ‘data value’ against their offering was now becoming crucial to their business as well as giving them an edge, not just in the US but in the important emerging markets of China, India and South America.

Another meeting in New York was with a wonderful and charming individual who heads one of the most enterprising private hedge funds based out of New York, that has its eye on application of technology on a global basis. The discussions centred around intelligent debate about the global, political climate and its effects on technology and infrastructure. This led to how technology with a human face is the right approach in a more socially connected planet.

Partnering for Success

Expanding Digital Clarity’s brand is one of the most important discussions that we had whilst in New York. Digital Clarity’s DNA runs deep in the evolution of digital marketing. Emulating this to the next level, without diluting its offering led to a discussion in a meeting that is currently being explored. Though still in its infancy,  it has the possibility of helping the company take a big leap forward in establishing a footprint in the US for the Digital Clarity brand.

The Missing Link

The learning over the year and the rapid development of digital technologies in the past decade or so has radically changed the way in which we can interact with the music industry. Likewise, the impact of social media upon the music industry has also made it much easier for musicians to interact with their fans.  Having the ability to have all your music, video, imagery and data managed, and reported in one interface is not unique. Having reports that makes sense of data from over 30 social and music platforms is powerful. But having an algorithm that gives you the ability to model forecast and make sense of engagement & sentiment that in turn, indexes against commercial return – suddenly becomes very exciting.

In a recent report looking at key findings of their fifth annual survey, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, found that there was a large rise in adoption rates of social technologies. They also noted that levels of reported benefits remain high when organizations use social tools for internal purposes but have also increased among those that use them for communicating with customers or for integration with partners and suppliers.

This report and the level of investment that is being ploughed into the types of technology our company is engaged in, is not only a testament to our vision but paint a bright future, endorsed by the meetings in Los Angeles and New York.

The Future is Bright

Unlike before, it transpired that everyone I met and who I’ve have highlighted above, could see the need for this new platform.  It also became rapidly clear that if we were serious about our business, RTG would need to position itself as the pulse at the heart of this conurbation where decisions were made.

Next Steps

We are busy. Tablet based interfaces alongside an app are in the offing alongside a website platform that will give users a login into the powerful pulse gateway. Where possible, I  will keep everyone updated to the progress, partners and opportunities that continue to arise as we build toward 2012. We are moving forward with reinforcing support and will have some great news later this month. Thank you for sticking with us.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Read more | Comments (0)