Paid-for online album club promises exclusive music previews from trusted editorial team
20/07/09 – Reader’s of Future’s fast-growing Classic Rock magazine can now read reviews online of the newest album releases selected by Classic Rock’s trusted editorial team, while simultaneously listening to the album ahead of launch, through the new Classic Rock Album Club.
The premium, subscription-based online service is launched by Future, in partnership with online content specialists, Jack Brand and gives rock music fans a chance to get upfront previews of full albums before release. Albums and musicians will be chosen by the Classic Rock team and recommendations will be delivered straight to subscriber’s desktops – where they can listen to it in full as many times as they want in a week.
Powered by Jack Brand’s proprietary TellJack software, subscribers to the service will be sent albums in full, with a link to either buy a download or CD version. Recommending between four and six albums each month, the Classic Rock Album Club will offer world exclusive first plays of the latest albums from many Classic Rock championed acts. During its beta preview, early subscribers got an exclusive 10-day pre-release opportunity to listen to the eagerly-anticipated Disguster album, ‘Not So Sweet’
Bands like Disguster, successful musician largely ignored by the mainstream are at the core of Classic Rock’s continued growth. Print sales have now increased to 70,188 copies, growing its sales lead on titles like Kerrang! and NME.
The Classic Rock Album Club marks one of Future’s first moves in charging for premium online content – with plans to develop and extend the service in partnership with Jack Brand as subscription numbers flourish.
Scott Rowley, Editor-in-Chief of Classic Rock, said:
“We know that Classic Rock readers are hungry to hear new music. They’re not going to discover new bands via the radio or TV, so this is the perfect way to complement the magazine. Now readers don’t just have to take our word for it – or make judgements based on 30 second samples – we bring the album straight to their desktops and they can live with it for a week.”
John Hazell, Commercial Director, Jack Brand added:
“Our belief is that passionate consumers are happy to pay a little to have albums recommended by editors they trust delivered directly to then to. They don’t want access to the whole sweet shop – they want some-one they respect guiding them with a few carefully selected choices. The club successfully promotes the music encouraging purchase, so every-one benefits”
Sample the Classic Rock Album Club now – visit http://classicrock.telljack.com for a free one month trial of the premium service, then just £3 per month for the very best music delivered directly to your desktop.
ENDS
About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong market positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Digital Camera, Fast Car, Classic Rock, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, and musicradar.com. Future produces over 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 18 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 25 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.
For more information
Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, Future UK, 01225 822517
About Jack Brand
Incorporated in 2002, Jack Brand specialises in delivering content for brands. Over the years they have worked with clients including BT, Future, Haymarket, Heineken, and Tesco. The founders have extensive entertainment and internet experience – Commercial Director, John Hazell, was Trade Marketing director at EMI and MD of HMV in Australia, whilst Creative Director,Jay Nicklin was instrumental in developing the UK operations for US web development agency KPE. Their proprietary software as a service products include ‘TellJack’ , a desk top application for pushing content to subscribers and ‘Netcopy’ the digital archive delivery platform for magazines and newspapers.
For more information
John Hazell, Commercial Director – 02070093156/07748931966 john@jackbrand.co.uk
