Popular SXSW Mobile App TheHub.fm Debuts in Canada at Canadian Music Week

TORONTO, CANADA, March 22, 2013

After taking The South By Southwest Interactive and Music Festivals in Austin, Texas by storm; TheHub.fm, the new mobile startup which is powered by Kansas City's Google Fiber and offers e-commerce websites a 'plug and play' code rendering a customizable mobile-enhanced solution, is set to launch in Toronto, Canada on Friday March 22, 2013.

TheHub.fm is the latest project for New York City and Kansas City based entrepreneur and 32 year music business veteran, Jonathan Block who is also a partner at Adva Mobile. He made the interesting decision to join the Think Big Partners Accelerator in Kansas City to develop TheHub.fm taking advantage of both Think Big's entrepreneurial and technology resources as well as Google Fiber's recently launched low cost gigabit internet service.

At the outset, TheHub.fm's merchandise sales, management and fan data collection features will be available. These will be followed in early May by direct sales to fans who will be able to browse and buy merchandise items on their phones from anywhere in the venue before, during or after a live show.

Jonathan Block will be meeting with bands, labels and managers at Canadian Music Week where he will join the Mobile & Social Media Strategies panel moderated by TAG Strategic's Ted Cohen.

"TheHub.fm is a really easy means for bands to administrate, sell and stay engaged with their fan bases," says Block. It's primarily for selling physical "merch" like T-shirts, records, and the like, but bands can also use TheHub.fm to offer CD's, exclusive digital downloads, VIP access and communications directly from the band.

It's not all about sales — some of it is about data — helping bands and their managers and record companies understand fans and their spending habits.

"Bands engage audiences with smarter technology that simplifies administration, collects their fan data, and empowers them to sustain a happier, more loyal fan base. The bands make more money and the fans are happier." says Block.

Origin Magazine Spotlights Jonathan Block and TheHub.fm in "The Nation's Top Creatives" section in the March Issue on stands now . "I found myself wanting to create an innovation that solves obvious inconsistencies in the music industry".

TheHub.fm topped Digital Trends Favorite Mobile Apps for SXSW. "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."

Evolver.fm writes: "This sounds like a great solution for fans who don't want to worry about merchandise being out of stock or having to carry around their loot during the show. Bands can also lighten their loads since they can schlep fewer boxes into the venue without worrying about missing sales. The app will use "geo-fencing" technology, shortcodes 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. Bands are the primary pushers of this thing, and fans the users, but music venues, retail stores, bars and restaurants will also be able to use it to sell stuff."

Hypebot adds: "However the most interesting aspect is the ability to offer fans the option of buying merch at a live show using the app which can then be picked up at the show via an expedited process or delivered to a physical address."

Social Times writes: "TheHub.fm gives bands a way to sell their merchandise at concerts without asking their fans to leave their show to stand in line. Customers can use their phones to browse the selection from anywhere in the venue and either pick it up at the counter or have it shipped. The bands or event speakers will learn a little more about what their audiences like and will also be able to send them future offers and updates."

Bloomberg Business Week "Bands can use the app to manage their merch inventory and create an ecommerce store for both web and mobile sales."

Tech Investor News adds - "Just in time for SXSW, TheHub.fm lets you skip the lines and grab the merch".

If you wish to connect with TheHub.fm or sign up to receive the beta, you can email: aloha@thehub.fm.