TheHub.fm Tops Digital Trends List of Favorite Apps for South By Southwest 2013

NEW YORK, NY, March 13, 2013 (Press-News.org) TheHub.fm solves a conundrum that's plagued concert-goers since the dawn of time: You love the music, but you also want to support the artist by picking up a t-shirt ... just not enough to wait an hour in line after the show. So what do you do? Just in time for SXSW music week, there's an app for that. TheHub.fm is an e-commerce mobile platform for bands to sell their merchandise, with a perk: Fans can use the app to browse and buy merch during a live concert and pick up their purchase during or after the show.

While picking up the merchandise in person is a choice, what if the size, color, or design that you're looking for has sold out, or what if you want to go out after the show and don't want to carry around your new shirt? Even if this is the case, there's no reason to fret. Out of stock items can be shipped out straight to your front door.

TheHub.fm also doubles as an e-commerce platform. This one though is optimized for mobile devices in more ways than the one we've already mentioned. It's not all about sales — some of it is about data — helping bands, their management and record companies understand fans and their spending habits.

TheHub.fm founder and 32 year music industry veteran Jonathan Block is also experimenting with bridging the gap between how bands interact with fans beyond this e-commerce model. "As our community loses value for culture in a free download digital era, this new platform is focused on uniting the elements of merchandising, music sales and live shows for bands and their fans in a new way. The music business has needed a tool that improves the direct band-to-fan relationship for a long time," Block says.

"TheHub.fm is a really easy means for bands to administrate, sell and stay engaged with their fan bases," says Block. TheHub.fm is full of features for fans to get a chance to know and meet the bands. Free digital downloads, exclusive tracks, and direct interaction with bands are available, as are a host of other tools. Bands can also customize the easy-to-setup digital storefronts. "Bands engage audiences with smarter technology that simplifies administration, collects their fan data, and empowers them to sustain a happier, more loyal fan base," says Block.

The app will use "geo-fencing" technology, browser redirect, short codes and QR codes to let you know if TheHub.fm is available at the particular show you're at. Also, look for on-ticket notifications and venue signage to know when it's in effect. Of course, bands will probably let you know if they're using it, too, although instead of "Hey, we have our new album on sale in the back," they can simply tell you to use the app to buy their wares.

At its inception bands are the primary focus of TheHub.fm and fans the users, but music venues, retail stores, and restaurants will also be able to use it to sell stuff (bars this means you). Jonathan Block will be meeting with bands and managers at SXSW who wish to find out more or participate in the beta phase of TheHub.fm's development. He'll be there for the whole thing, March 12 through 17th, and if you wish to connect you can email: aloha@thehub.fm

You can also connect with Block at OnMedia NYC 2013 and at Canadian Music Week where he will join the Mobile & Social Media Strategies panel moderated by TAG Strategic's Ted Cohen.

TheHub.fm will officially launch in early June; interested parties can enter their email addresses in order to use it later.

About TheHub.fm

TheHub.fm is an early-stage music and mobile technology focused startup based in New York City, NY and Kansas City, MO that provides an easy means for all bands, including club, theatre and arena acts to administrate their stock and sell more music and merchandise in-venue while simultaneously improving the band-to-fan relationship and the overall fan experience. Fans can easily browse and purchase merchandise on their phones from anywhere in the venue and chose to pick up their items without having to wait in long lines; or elect to have their purchases shipped. To learn more about TheHub.fm, please visit http://www.TheHub.fm