Better Know a FlashFWD Nominee: V Squared Labs

SoundCtrl May 02, 2013

By Kareem Clarke

V Squared Labs, started by Vello Virkhaus, is a visual art production studio located in Los Angeles California. The V Squared Labs team is composed of VJ’s, visual artists, animators, programmers, and architects that together create amazing visuals for a concerts, festivals, commercials, and lots more. Through collaborations with other production teams and weeks of preparation, the V Squared Labs team has been responsible for the visuals of the Ultra Music Festival, the visuals and performance booths for the tours of Skrillex, Datsik, and Infected Mushroom, a Grammy after party for Hyundai, and a notable tour for Brazilian electronic musician Amon Tobin.

Below is our interview with Vello Virkhaus the CEO & Creative Director of V Squared Labs:

SoundCtrl: How did V Squared Labs get started?

Vello Virkhaus: By a love for created visual art. Initially we did a lot of experimental work.

SC: What was your first big project?

VV: Our first big project was with Korn. They helped us establish ourselves in LA and in entertainment in general. The project involved lots of collaboration with different directors which was great. Then we were able to create an interactive DVD with Korn that landed on Billboard and led to more work with Korn and meeting people all around the world.

SC: What has been your biggest project/what project took the longest amount of prep time?

VV: Ultra Music Festival was the biggest project this year. That took about 2 and a half weeks of prep work. Also The Hyundai Grammy after party was a pretty big deal. We created a reflective room for them and that took about 3 weeks. On average, it takes about a month or so to prepare unless there is any kind of content creation involved. Then it takes a lot longer.

Better Know a FlashFWD Nominee: NPR Music

SoundCtrl May 02, 2013

By Kira Grunenberg

Teenagers or early 20-somethings might say that upon hearing “NPR” come up in conversation, thoughts of people much older than them with jump to the front of their minds; as well as thoughts of content that cannot possibly be relevant to anyone their own age. Well, if there was ever a time to ditch the demographic stereotypes surrounding NPR and its programming, now is it. While NPR offers coverage on an array of different content that breaches everything from international politics to science, sports, and art, (the first of which might not be at the top of a teen’s priority list), NPR Music, dedicated exclusively to just that, has moved forward leaps and bounds in their quest to widen appeal toward people of all ages and interests when it comes to which artists and genres are featured.

Nearly everything about NPR Music has stepped into the 21^st century. Its availability spans terrestrial radio, digital streaming via the official NPR Music website, an app exclusively for NPR music’s content and of course, accounts on many of the major social media platforms, including: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram.

There are 11 specific programs hosted through NPR Music, individual pages for seven genres (Rock, Jazz, Classical, Hip-Hop / R&B, Folk, World and Electronic / Dance) and four regularly updated blogs that often provide perspective that is much more raw than that of a typical Top 40 radio station.

Announcing the 2013 FlashFWD Nominees – Vote For Your Favorites Now

SoundCtrl May 02, 2013

SoundCtrl is proud to announce our nominees for the 4th Annual FlashFWD Awards – honoring excellence and innovation in music technology.

Every year, we’re excited by the steady and explosive growth of technology that is changing the ways we create, perform, discover and listen to music. Since the inception of FlashFWD in 2010, we’ve seen the industry shift, adjust and evolve many times over.

This year, there are simply too many companies and individuals we wanted to recognize. We feel compelled open up the conversation to you – the artist, the fan, the influencer – who do you think deserves a 2013 FlashFWD Award?

Submit your vote for each of our six categories through our 2013 ballot hosted right HERE on SoundCtrl!

Best in Discovery | Best in Live | Best in Mobile & Tablet

Best in Artist Support | Best in Gaming | SoundWAV Influencer Award

See if your favorites make the cut on Wednesday, May 22nd at the Gramercy Theatre where we will welcome nominees, artists, entrepreneurs, and industry elite to celebrate our 2013 honorees, with special performances by guests TBA.

The voting period ends in two weeks and honorees will be announced in May. Congratulations to all our nominees and looking forward to another amazing FlashFWD season!

To check out what went down in 2012, visit our recap HERE and check out what past winners think about FlashFWD HERE.

If you’d like to receive a press pass and/or interview the SoundCtrl board about the event, please email flashfwd@soundctrl.com.

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Best in Discovery: Past honorees include Spotify (2012), The Echo Nest (2011), Hype Machine (2010)

Recognizing a product or service that has most significantly impacted and improved the way fans discover and share recorded music

1) Songza 2) NPR Music 3) YouTube 4) Mixify 5) Rap Genius

Best in Live: Past honorees include Square (2012), The Creator’s Project (2011)

Recognizing a product, service or organization that has most significantly improved the live concert experience from either a fan or artist perspective

1) Boiler Room 2) V Squared Labs 3) Superfly Presents 4) ID&T

Best in Mobile & Tablet: Past honorees include Snibbe Interactive for Biophilia (2012), SoundTracking (2011)

Recognizing a product or service that is breaking new ground in mobile technology and expanding upon traditional fan engagement

1) Pheed 2) Groovebug 3) Biobeats 4) Instagram

Best in Artist Support: Past honorees include BandPage (2012), SoundCloud (2011), Indaba Music (2010)

Recognizing a product or service that focuses on giving artists more options in creating and promoting their music independently

1) Tumblr 2) Jamplify 3) PledgeMusic 4) (New) Myspace

Best in Gaming: A Brand New Category

Recognizing a game, creator or organization that demonstrates innovation in music integration with a gaming platform, be it through soundtrack, virtual marketplace, or unique partnership.

1) Video Star App 2) SoundPlay by Pitchfork 3) Kinect for XBOX 360 4) Virgin Gaming

SoundWAV Influencer Award: Past honorees include Scooter Braun (2012), Troy Carter (2011)

Recognizing an individual who has significantly impacted digital music culture through the early adoption or creation of new technology and is seen as a visionary and voice in the music tech industry

1) Bill Werde 2) Jimmy Iovine 3) Amanda Palmer 4) Guy Oseary 5) Questlove

Songza releases iOS update

SoundCtrl May 02, 2013

2013 FlashFWD nominee Songza has released version 3.0 of their much-beloved iOS streaming app. The company also announced they have surpassed 6 million app installs.

To vote for Songza (or anyone else) for a FlashFWD award, visit our voting page. Voting closes end of day tomorrow, so don’t wait!

For the full story, visit Billboard.biz

At Disrupt NY, Troy Carter Talks Evolving Tech, Investment Philosophy & Celebrity Investors

SoundCtrl May 01, 2013

By Dana Sedgwick, @danasedgwick

As part of our continuing coverage of Disrupt NY, I headed over to the HQ yesterday to catch TechCrunch’s Josh Constine in conversation with Troy Carter, CEO & founder of Atom Factory and co-founder of Backplane.

In general, I was disappointed by TechCrunch’s line of questioning that trended towards a mistrust of the convergence of technology and music – that somehow these two industries were bound to always be at odds.

The opening question was very telling, “Has tech screwed the music industry?”

But Carter’s response was genuinely hopeful rather than apocalyptic, citing that technology has always driven music sales (the creation of the CD anyone?), and that although recent innovation has forced change within the industry, technology will eventually help it scale.

Later in the conversation, he also recognized the music industry’s molasses-like adaption to the changing landscape, calling in particular for a new generation of music publishers who can see the value in lowering the barriers for young tech companies to obtain and license music.

When asked where the holes are in the music tech space, Carter mentioned the continuing battle for in-car entertainment, no doubt a space we’ll continue to watch evolve as terrestrial radio struggles and satellite radio competes with internet music subscription services.

He also pointed out the need for better solutions in tour routing and coordination.

“It’s a waste the way we route tours now… It’s not based off of real data, for the most part its just guesswork. We need a better system and cleaner data to really understand how to maximize revenue.”

But for me, the biggest takeaways were found in how Carter discussed his personal investments (Spotify, DropBox, Uber), and the areas he’s looking to invest in next which include health and education.

Carter described his investment philosophy as mirroring the methods he uses to find excellent artists.

“We look for dynamic founders… And we treat the founders the same way we treat artists. Most of the guys who come to us have come through trusted filters… whether it’s Menlo, Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, we invest alongside of some smart guys. And in the music industry I stay close to people with really good ears. It’s the same filter, same process.”

Also interesting was Carters’s opinion on celebrity investment, which he seemed hesitant to give despite Constine’s insistance that earlier he’d called it “just a fad.”

Carter has worked closely with Ashton Kutcher and Will.i.am, describing them both as some of “the smartest guys I’ve ever met with a clear understanding of product.”

But in general, he preached not to “use celebrity for the sake of celebrity.”

“Celebrities can’t add rocket fuel to a bad product… but when you have a great product and you marry that to a celebrity fan base where the fans get value and the celebrity gets value, and they’re incentivised by investment or getting value share, then that’s the perfect marriage.”

Troy carter is the CEO and Founder of Atom Factory and is a past FlashFWD SoundWAV Honoree (2011).