Screenburn’s $500k Angel Investment To Grow Streaming Music Film Rentals On Facebook
Screenburn Media today announced a $500k angel investment to continue developing its Screenburn Facebook streaming media rentals service and app. Screenburn basically allows you to rent streaming media, primarily film and tv on video, via Facebook for a specific period of time. Viewers can then login to Facebook via any device to view the film or streaming media content. Though Screenburn has powered documentary films from LCD Soundsystem and The Rolling Stones, one has to wonder if Facebook is the best platform for such initiatives.
Screenburn's Facebook VOD player is a nice concept that is apparently coming through on its promise.
The Paul McCartney and Wings "Rockshow" concert film is currently available as are films from The Rolling Stones, The Libertines and LCD Soundsystem. Screenburn was also a Midemlab Music Tech Startup Finalist for 2014.
Screenburn VOD Player for "Rockshow"
Screenburn reached another important landmark today with the announcement of a $500k angel round and new board members:
"Andrew Weisz of Lean Investments LP led the funding round, which saw many senior angels joining the raise such as Tom Singh and Michael and Simon Blakey from Avonmore Investments. Zodiak Rights Chief Executive and former BBC Worldwide sales chief Steve Macallister has also joined the board of directors advising the company during its expansion, along with Howard Kiedaisch, CEO of Arts Alliance Media."
Though focused on film and tv content, not just music-related, Screenburn's homepage also mentions music. Clearly anything that can be streamed for rental has potential but the VOD formula is one that typically attracts consumers of complete films or tv shows and of live events.
Is Facebook Still A Good Platform For Such Things?
With the organic reach of Facebook fan pages being officially reduced by Facebook, does it even make sense to keep using Facebook as a destination?
While I advocate always building with a focus on one's own emai list and one's own official website, Screenburn could offer a way to increase awareness of one's presence on Facebook while drawing new fans into your world.
Screenburn has social tools built-in so that, for example, when fans watch your film automatic notices are posted on the newsfeed.
But if you really want to monetize your fans and have been growing your email list properly, you might want to skip the Facebook advertising and use your organic channels to spread the word to fans and find ways to get them to enlarge the message.
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Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (Twitter/Facebook) is currently relaunching All World Dance. To suggest topics about music tech, DIY music biz or music marketing for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
