Social audio platform Stationhead is launching a new tier called All-Access, aiming to identify and reward superfans.
According to Stationhead, over 150,000 users unlocked All-Access during a beta test with artists including Billie Eilish, Zayn, and Nicki Minaj.
The company said its All-Access Membership tier goes beyond extracting value from fans as it also focuses on creating a “more engaging and rewarding” experience.
“It’s easy to toss around the idea of superfandom, to say that we need focus on superfans, but it’s hard to create something that really serves fans and gives them what they want,” said Stationhead founder and CEO Ryan Star.
“We’ve done that at Stationhead by focusing on the fun and rewarding side of online events, instead of merely trying to extract value from passionate music lovers. All-Access builds on this and makes fandom feel even more engaging and rewarding, by highlighting the most enthusiastic people in an artists’ community.”
“It’s easy to toss around the idea of superfandom, to say that we need focus on superfans, but it’s hard to create something that really serves fans and gives them what they want.”
Ryan Star, Stationhead
Stationhead says that All-Access is a data-driven system that recognizes fans for their active participation on its platform. This includes activities like maintaining listening streaks, attending live streams, and participating in release parties. After a seven-day streak of active engagement, fans unlock All-Access for 30 days. Maintaining the streak extends the membership.
For superfans, earning an All-Access status comes with a number of perks including a badge displayed on a user’s profile, the ability to create posts in their fandom’s threads, priority guest calls during live events, and access to exclusive chat rooms.
Following the beta, fan community hosts have already used the feature for exclusive benefits like ticket giveaways. Artists like Zayn Malik used All-Access to create a VIP experience with an exclusive chat during his release party for his new song called Where I Am, Stationhead said.
“In the ocean of online fandom, Stationhead empowers the best fans. With All-Access, Stationhead identifies and rewards artist’s super fans and turns fandoms into fan armies.”
Murray Levison, Stationhead
Other artists like K-Pop group aespa have used this strategy to launch their incentivized Better Things (RAYE Remix) Challenge.
Stationhead Co-Founder and COO Murray Levison said: “In the ocean of online fandom, Stationhead empowers the best fans. With All-Access, Stationhead identifies and rewards artist’s super fans and turns fandoms into fan armies.”
Stationhead counts DJ, songwriter and music producer, Diplo among its backers. In July 2022, the company raised $12 million from its Series A financing round led by Buttonwood Group Advisors, with participation from Diplo, Red Light Management, TMWRK, Round Hill Publishing, Avex Entertainment, Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald of Atlantic Records, Kevin Liles of 300 Entertainment, and Jason Flom of Lava Records.
Prior to that fundraising, Stationhead launched what it described as “an entirely new medium of shareable, on-demand, binge-able audio content.”The platform, powered by Stationhead’s ONcast technology, lets anyone create their own radio station and connect over interactive audio content with live talk, guest callers and messaging.
Now, the company describes itself as a “fan engagement platform where artists and fans can connect, stream, and host global release parties.”
“Just like twitch did with gaming, Stationhead has evolved music streaming into a global community with over 20 million users. Artists like Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, & Zayn use Stationhead to engage with their fans, drive streams, sales, and build global communities,” it said.
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