MUMBAI: Just weeks before celebrated Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and producer, Akon begins his India tour with performances in Gurgaon and Bengaluru, HITLAB INC has announced the launch of HITLAB.COM in India. This alliance will be between the single largest poultry brand in Asia, Venkateshwara Hatcheries (Venky’s) and Akon.
As a birthday gift to his fans, Akon and Hitlab.com will be running an online contest to select two unknown artists from India to perform at the opening acts of the concerts in Gurgaon and Bengaluru. Artists can submit their songs at no charge on www.hitlab.com/india and the final selected artists will be announced on 13 April, 2011.
HITLAB is a media company that reinvents the way music is discovered, produced, marketed and sold where upcoming artists get discovered by having their music analyzed on the company’s website. Akon’s HITLAB uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze songs for hit potential, offering a unique tool for craft development and career enhancement. As an online music company, HITLAB has a unique business model that caters to independent artists using proprietary and innovative tools that stretch to conventional media such as radio and television.
Akon said, "Hitlab provides the opportunity for artists to get discovered, to perform live in Hitlab showcases in front of Industry professionals including myself and to get played on my radio show; Hitlab connects artists with fans all over the world…I strongly encourage you to create a profile on Hitlab, have your music analyzed and rated and be part of this new movement in the music business."
Venky’s (India) managing director B Balaji Rao added, "Venky’s London, a 100% subsidiary of Venkateshwara Hatcheries, is pleased to have become a strategic investor with Akon and Hitlab.com. This new strategic alliance will focus on offering Indian artists and international artist the opportunity to get discovered by Akon and new fans to hear their song on Akon’s Hitlab radio show. Artist and fans will also be able to profit form a soon to be launched innovative distribution network."
The Indian edition of Venky’s Akon Live In Concert is being brought to the country by Netsurf Entertainment, Thrive Entertainment USA, IVNO Events and Productions and in association with S. Raj Entertainment. This is the very first time that an international Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist whose worldwide sales top 7 million units will be celebrating his birthday on home grounds apart from putting up full scale concerts for the very first time in India.
