StarMaker Launches "Music Video Selfies" With Auditions For "The Voice"

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today StarMaker Interactive, a leading global music entertainment platform which has on boarded over 20 million users worldwide, launched StarMaker 3.0 featuring video capture and share. With significant investments from television, tech and distribution partners, the new offering moves StarMaker to the forefront of next-generation talent discovery and empowerment.  Already a studio-quality mobile recording suite with today's top hits, StarMaker now enables the creation and sharing of high-quality music videos recorded with onboard cameras. These "music video selfies" are uploaded to YouTube, which worked closely with StarMaker to help fans easily share their music with the world.

To leverage the power and potential of this new platform, StarMaker built on its existing partnership with The Voice to create an exciting opportunity for users to create music videos and have a chance at a callback audition to appear on the #1 vocal talent show.

With this product enhancement and the ear of The Voice casting producers, StarMaker 3.0 provides aspiring stars everywhere the tools they need to showcase their gifts, entree to the world's largest audience via YouTube, and a direct line to talent and producers at the very top of the music industry.

"We're giving the next generation of stars immediate access to music-loving fans around the world; a hand-held studio that can accelerate their industry exposure, fan base, and ultimately their career using something we all carry around in our pockets," said Nathan Sedlander, president and co-founder of StarMaker. "We believe every person should have the tools to determine his or her own fame, and not have their destiny decided by a select few gatekeepers."

Real Time Music Video Creation

By using the front-facing camera on iOS and Android devices, users can now see and record video of themselves performing their favorite songs. StarMaker provides an in-app singing guide with a game-like interface, and the company's proprietary algorithm creates an objective score based on the performance. Highly shareable video and synchronized best-of-breed audio, with or without audio effects like the wildly popular Auto-Tune, can then be uploaded to YouTube and shared across social platforms.  

Audio-only StarMaker 2.0's combination of proprietary quantitative scoring, crowdsourcing and in-house A&R tastemakers began the disruption of the talent discovery paradigm. The injection of video for StarMaker 3.0, along with the scale and amplification offered by YouTube, promise a new level of excitement and disruption.

"StarMaker is an amazing tool for artists to share their voices, and bringing these videos to YouTube helps them easily connect with even more fans all over the world," said Isaac Bess, music partnerships manager, YouTube.

The Voice Season 8 Mobile Audition

StarMaker's ability to produce and curate a massive quantity of user-generated content made it a compelling partner for The Voice audition process.  Already an official partner of The Voice entertainment franchise worldwide, StarMaker and the hit show have teamed up to offer users the chance to compete for a one-on-one audition with The Voice casting producers for Season 8 of the show, effectively skipping the lines at The Voice calls nationwide. The audition runs June 24 to July 6, 2014 alongside The Voice summer tour.

To enter, aspiring stars can use the app to make their own music video from a selection of songs featured during the official The Voice Tour, and upload their audition video to YouTube. StarMaker will employ its proprietary discovery engine in addition to its talent team to place the best talent on stage at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live stop of The Voice Tour and the chance for a one-on-one audition with the hit show's producers.

Company Hires Glasgow Phillips to Expand Platform

The company has hired Glasgow Phillips to help build its new video business.  Phillips joins StarMaker from Maker Studios, a next generation media company and multi-channel network recently acquired by The Walt Disney Company in May 2014. A member of Maker's founding team, Phillips was the architect of key initiatives including owned IP development, animation, and children's programming. He was also Maker's most prolific producer, delivering more than half of Maker's owned and operated views from 2009 through acquisition. In 2013 he moved from programming to a full time strategic and business role focused on premium rights, developing the company's integrated practice facing traditional media.  

"Joining this team and this company is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Phillips. "StarMaker is uniquely positioned to leverage unparalleled expertise, great technology and millions of passionate users into a rich and diversified media business."

About StarMaker Interactive

StarMaker Interactive is the leading mobile talent platform with two apps available on the iOS and Android platforms: StarMaker: Sing + Video + Auto-Tune and The Voice: On Stage. Both titles are free to download, enabling consumers to create videos of themselves singing the biggest hits, share videos online and compete with friends. StarMaker has partnered with The Voice, American Idol, Disney, Universal Pictures and Philips Electronics to provide consumers with the most authentic and engaging music experiences. The company is headquartered in San Francisco.

CONTACT:
Charli Sharp / Jamie Foley
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213-486-6560

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOTmm5sACmU&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE StarMaker Interactive