The Orchard Opens API To Select Artist Services

Digital distributor and marketer The Orchard is launching a groundbreaking platform, using an API, to provide its artist and label clients access to third party business solutions within their client Workstation.

These companies are confirmed as Orchard API launch partners:

• ArtistData automates the updating of information to artist websites, social network profiles, concert databases, Twitter feeds and more
• Band Metrics provides comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analytics for the music industry with in-depth geographical reporting on social, radio, fan trends and more;
• TheBizmo is a 360 degree e-commerce direct-to-consumer widget that can sell digital music, merchandise, gig tickets and more from any website, blog or social networking page;
• BMAT specializes in data analytics across terrestrial broadcast and digital streams worldwide;
• FanBridge is the leading provider of email and mobile fan list management solutions

• Mediaguide monitors music on college, non-commercial, commercial radio stations and offers information on internet radio stations in the US, which are tracked by its partner, Radiowave;
• Mobile Roadie launched an iPhone App creation tool with The Orchard in February, and will now integrate into the Orchard’s marketplace for an improved label experience;
• New Reach Technologies provides ‘smart’ widgets that increase signup and commerce conversion, an integrated social media and web tracking dashboard and a multi channel direct to consumer communication platform;
• Peekok is a simple to use, fully customizable, direct-to-fan retail and social marketing platform, including an array of analytical data and reporting services;
• Topspin is a technology platform for direct-to-fan marketing, management and distribution;
• Trendrr provides automated data tracking and visual reporting for consumption, engagement and buzz levels from over 40 of the Web’s most popular social and  e-commerce destinations;
• uPlaya ranks songs with patented Hit Song Science platform and promotes music globally through Music Universe marketing applications.

Over time, Orchard will include additional qualified partners and continue to build out and manage the largest and most robust platform of third-party developers in the industry.

At launch, the applications include various forms of sales and analytic tools, marketing vehicles, email and mobile services, widget creation, iPhone App creation, and data tracking. Orchard clients will receive a discounted rate for the services. 

When clients opt in to a third party tool, the application will draw information (e.g. metadata, audio and video files, art work) from The Orchard’s secure interface to power customized marketing tools. To close the loop, clients can choose a data solution, which uses The Orchard’s metadata, to track their online exposure.

From the press release:

Dan Pifer, Executive Vice President of Technology for The Orchard, commented, “Rather than predict successful models and invest capital in developing tools to support them, we have instead chosen to create a scalable platform where our clients can select their preferred state-of-the-art marketing and sales solutions.”  Pifer added, “Technology is rapidly shifting.  We are pleased to be in a unique position where by utilizing our in house state-of-the-art content delivery system, V.E.C.T.O.R., we are able to connect independent artists and labels with ‘best in class’ developers, therefore fostering an ecosystem of cutting edge tools and services.” 

Josh Rosenfeld, President of prominent Orchard client label Barsuk Records, noted “The Orchard has always offered us tremendous staffing and technology support, consistently providing easy ways to make our business more efficient and allowing us to focus on helping our bands rather than on researching and administering lots of speculative direct vendor and sales relationships.” Rosenfeld continued, “When our veteran head of online promotion left the music business 18 months ago, we were able to move forward without filling the high-salary vacancy and without any reduction in service to our bands, based solely on The Orchard’s staff and technology solutions. This new initiative continues the trends that we’ve seen during our entire time in business with The Orchard.”