Popkomm-IMEA 2007
In 2007 the coveted award for the most innovative project in the music and entertainment business went to the Clipgenerator from Trivid GmbH, a company from Tübingen.
“This project confirmed our opinion that it is an ideal way to involve the consumer”, said chairman of the jury and IMEA host Paul Brindley, MD, MusicAlly Ltd. Rapper Samy Deluxe from Hamburg, patron of this year’s IMEA, presented Trivid managing director Angelika Hänssler, and head of systems and development Simon Meyborg with the award. CEO of Yavido and Gold Sponsor Uwe Bernhard Wache presented the winners with a cheque for 5,000 euros.
Samy Deluxe explained why the jury chose the Clipgenerator. “In our view this is the product that has the best chance of commercial success, even if the innovation factor is not so high. This is what kids want, and in terms of viability it is spot-on.“
Jury member Gerd Leonhard: “At present user-generated content is mushrooming, and there is a huge demand here. Trivid’s solution comes closest to meeting this demand. For us the Clipgenerator’s ability to combine music, video and imaging was decisive.“
Prize-winner Angelika Hänssler was overjoyed at receiving the coveted award and explained some of the advantages that this solution offers. “Our system not only works on the web but also directly on mobile phones. It also takes us away from banner advertising and popups.“ Trivid’s Clipgenerator lets consumers quickly generate music videos and incorporate professional video and TV effects.
Popkomm-IMEA 2006
At the Popkomm IMEA Finalists Screening Session on the afternoon of 19 September eight companies had presented their innovative projects to the jury and the audience. The companies were from Australia, Israel, Luxembourg, Spain, the USA and Germany. Jury members included industry experts, investors and venture capitalists, as well as trade journalists from around the world. In the category ”Digital Music & Marketing Innovations, B2B Solutions“ this coveted prize has been won by the US company Royalty Share. Play Music Magazine from Norway received special praise for their outstanding project work in this category. Unique Interactive from London were awarded the Popkomm IMEA in the “Mobile Music & Entertainment“ category.
Paul van Dyk, patron of the Innovations in Music & Entertainment Award, which this year was being held for the third time, presented the winners with certificates from Messe Berlin. The official prize-giving ceremony takes place at E-Werk on Thursday evening at the EMMN (European Music & Media Night).
Jury member Ralph Simon (Mobilium Group) stressed that the run-in had been tight. For the jury the deciding factors influencing the decision were the respective innovation’s significance for the music market, its future prospects and the audiences’ needs. Gerd Leonhard, founder of the Popkomm IMEA and jury member: “The Popkomm IMEA has proved its worth and represents a big challenge to its entrants. The fact that the award will now figure at an official EMMN prize-giving ceremony adds to its attraction.“
Prize-winner Bob Kohn, Chairman and CEO of Royality Share, was delighted at his company’s achievement. ”The Popkomm IMEA is highly prized in music and entertainment circles. I am delighted at this result.“ Royalty Share has developed a system enabling artists and companies to gain a quick and accurate overview of licences and royalties. “We will be opening a branch of the company in the UK in spring, and after that in a major European country,“ said Kohn.
Pascal Grierson of the UK company Unique Interactive explained how his product DABradio (UBC) digitally streams music broadcast to radio onto a mobile phone. “We are operating in a highly competitive market, possibly tomorrow’s most competitive“, he said. “Our technology is DAB-based, but can use any platform, so that we will shortly be represented in every major European country.“
Popkomm-IMEA 2005
The New York-based KSolo received the 1st price by 1impressing the panel of judges with its interactive internet karaoke service which was considered a break-through in the karaoke business. Also from the USA, online talent market Sonic Bids (Boston) and digital entertainment technology leader Gracenote (San Francisco Bay Area) came in second and third. A total of 14 finalists presented their ideas to the audience and panel.
KSolo.com (www.ksolo.com) is the world’s first internet-based karaoke service that, in addition to offering a vast library of sing-along tracks - lets users sing and record, and share their favourite songs (via email or ecards). KSolo’s innovations work with any computer, only a broadband internet connection and microphone are needed. Sonic Bids (www.sonicbids.com) is a fast growing online talent market and community that already comprises 1000s of members from 107 countries. Gracenote (www.gracenote.com) is one of the leading providers of music-related technologies and data services, worldwide, and has created a new, voice-controlled playlist program which manages a database containing 48 million tracks. In addition to ongoing publicity and media coverage, the 1st prize will receive a free booth at Popkomm 2006, and the 2nd and 3rd prizes will receive free registrations.
Foto on the right: Meytal Muallem (singer kSolo), Panos Panay (Sonicbids) and Nimrod Lev (kSolo)
In addition to IMEA founder and Chairman Gerd Leonhard and Patron Herbert Grönemeyer this year’s also included Jim Griffin, Cherry Lane Digital CEO; Rupert Perry, Tim Renner, MD of Motor Music in Berlin / Germany; David Pakman, Managing Director, Dimensional Associates; Peter Vesterbacka, Founder, Global Leader Business Enablement, HP Mobile E-Services Bazaar, Hewlett-Packard Company; Ralph Simon, Owner of the Mobilium Group and Chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum; Alison Wenham, Association of Independent Music Chairman & CEO, Kelli Richards, President of the All Access Group; Horst Weidenmueller CEO of !K7 and Chief of VUT Digital, and Dave Goldberg, Head of Music at Yahoo!. Popkomm IMEA 2005 media-partners include Billboard, Der Musikmarkt, Musically, Digital Media Wire and European Tech Wire.
Popkomm-IMEA 2005 - Program and List of Finalists [PDF]
Popkomm-IMEA 2004
IMEA 2004 premiered in Berlin on October 1, 2004 and by all accounts was of to a very successful start, with a quite sizeable crowd of professionals, media and trade show visitors attending the event and 11 companies from 4 countries presenting their 'next big thing'. Prior to the final event, more than 500 companies from around the world showed interest, and a shortlist of 11 promising contestants was selected by the jury to present in Berlin. The finalists spanned many sectors of the industry, including Mobile Music and Marketing Services, Online Radio, Online Distribution, business-to-business solutions and New Music Devices. The IMEA event featured presentations by the finalists, with everyone receiving immediate ratings from the audience which used thumbs-up / down cards, and UK Mobile Marketing outfit www.kodime.com and their www.startxt.com service clearly receiving the highest audience rating prompting the jury to consider it for one of the top 3 slots. While the audience enjoyed a few drinks, the jury went to work and finally selected Kodime for the 3rd place, Berlin-based Online Dance Music Promotion and Review Service www.jukecharts.com for the 2nd, and www.playloudermsp.com (London) for the IMEA 2004 winner. As the winner, PlaylouderMSP has received, among other things, a free booth at Popkomm 2005, extensive post-award promotions via Popkomm and Popkomm's media partners, free advisory services provided by ThinkAndLink, as well as suitable introductions to investors and other financing opportunities. For further media coverage on the winner, following IMEA 2004, please consult their website.
The IMEA 2004 jury was composed of many well-known industry veterans and experts: Tim Renner (former CEO Universal Music Germany, now Motor Music and MotorFM), Rupert Perry (former President EMI Europe, and former Chairman, IFPI), Jeremy Silver (Sibelius Software, and former CEO of Uplister), Peter Jenner (International Music Managers Foundation, London), Jim Griffin (CEO, Cherry Lane Digital, and well-known Digital Music Visionary), John Schuch (formerly of Sub-Pop Records, Gracenote), and Gerd Leonhard (CEO, Thinkandlink.biz, former CEO of LicenseMusic.com, Inc, Music Futurist and Author), who chaired the jury.