New social network site for music industry

MUMBAI: Social networking company, Zorpia Co. Ltd., has announced the beta-launch of Zorpia Music (http://www.zorpia.com/music). The new feature allows aspiring artists to post MP3 music files, lyrics, videos, and to interact with fans around the world.

Through a partnership with Nettwerk Music Group, Canada‘s privately owned record label and artist management company, the band The Submarines will be the first to showcase music on the portal. The Submarines will be releasing exclusive remixes of their songs that will only be available on Zorpia Music (http://www.zorpia.com/thesubmarines).

“We’re looking forward to integrating Nettwerk’s bands into the Zorpia community and giving them a platform to share their music with a new audience,” said Nettwerk director of online marketing Megan Healy.

In addition to the band The Submarines, artists including Sarah Mclachlan and Avril Lavigne have also joined Zorpia to promote their new albums.

Within three days of release, one of its featured artists, The Submarines, received over 10,000 plays. Leigh Nash’s music received over 6,000 plays in two days, and she is not even a featured artist.

Promoting emerging and established artists is another example of how Zorpia.com is leveraging its technology to generate new revenue streams. This new music promotion component of the social networking model allows music groups, whether they are signed or unsigned, to build a fan base, offer video and audio clips of performances, show behind the scenes antics, publish interviews and more.

“When music labels partner with Zorpia, we promote the featured artists with special events on our home page, and throughout the site – driving thousands of new fans to the band’s Zorpia page. Zorpia Music is about more than bands simply signing up for a free homepage,” said Zorpia Co. Ltd CEO Jeffrey Ng.

“What’s really appealing to me is the international vibe. Having grown up in Dubai it’s refreshing to see the profiles of folks from the Middle East and Asia. It’ll be cool to reach out beyond the indie rock solar system,” said The Submarines’ John Dragonetti.

“Zorpia is signing exclusive partnerships with labels around the world. Several labels in the US and Australia are already using the site to promote their bands,” Ng said.

“Social networking sites provide global access for band/fan interaction; and it is a great way to attract loyal fans who will promote the group’s music by word-of-mouth blogging, swapping play lists, site cross-linking and online fan clubs. The artists can upload concert schedules, sound files and biographical information. The new Zorpia Music feature allows musicians who dream of making it without backing from major labels to start building a core base of fans online by playing their music as if they already have major radio airplay,” Ng added.