If you like karaoke, then when it comes to Just Sing It, you’ll just love it. “Just Sing It takes karaoke to the next level”, explains Lindsay Lohan, Just Sing It advisor and personal fan-turned-investor. “You can literally bring the party in your pocket. I love spontaneous sing-offs with friends and family and discovering new talent.”
This free iOS app innovates within a virtually untapped social frontier: voice. For the first time, US-based users – from amateur shower singers and open mic fans to serious talent show participants – can earn rewards for their talents by turning virtual gifts in the app into real-life incentives, such as iTunes credits. Not only that, but says Alec Andronikov, Just Sing It CEO. “Singers wanted to perform to big groups, not just peer-to-peer. They also wanted to sing any song as well as their own original content; while the listeners wanted to sit back, enjoy songs and interact more openly with the singer. So, we effectively brought singers to the audience – and then planted the audience on stage for them to hang out with the singers!” A big round of applause as he tells us more…
Tell us about the product.
Just Sing It is a completely revamped karaoke mobile iOS app that innovates within the most untapped social frontier: voice. Called “Instagram for Karaoke” by users, Just Sing It provides a wide audience an opportunity to stand out in overcrowded social channels by using their voice to create connections and even find fame.
How is it different?
For the first time ever, US-based users – from amateur shower singers and open mic fans to serious talent show participants – can earn rewards for their talents by turning virtual gifts in the app into real-life incentives, such as iTunes credits. It is also the first time karaoke singing becomes a truly social phenomenon- singers can share their songs and cover albums on Facebook, Twitter and via text messages. Additionally, unlike other karaoke apps out there, we are giving those shy audiences who do not want to sing an opportunity to be just as engaged, inviting listeners to sit back, enjoy songs and interact more openly with the singer by guessing songs, chatting, sharing or liking their music.
How did you hook up with Lindsay Lohan and how did she become one of your investors?
Lindsay was initially a huge fan of the app and over time has become a more official advisor to the company as we started/collaborating with her more closely.
What market are you attacking and how big is it?
We are evolving the way the world combines voice and audio-based entertainment to connect on mobile devices. Our core premise is that the ‘voice’ has been largely overlooked as a great micro-content sharing medium, and there is a huge opportunity to attack that market. In Asia, we are already seeing voice and singing content produce $2.5+ Billion market cap public companies.
What is the business model?
The business generates revenue from virtual currency bought within the app.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within 6 months?
Within 6 months, we plan to launch an Android app and heavily expand into countries where singing is a very popular pastime, including South Korea, Japan and Brazil.
If you could be put in touch with one investor in the New York community who would it be and why?
Fred Wilson at Union Square Ventures. He really understands the virality of microcontent sharing and quickly sees true painpoints/emerging trends in the mobile consumer market.
Why are you launching in New York?
New York is a very unique epicenter that brings together innovation; popular culture and music – a truly international language, just as international as New York itself.
