As we have all noticed, the number of digital live streams has skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic. That said, some initiatives stand out, and it is the case of the live stream app called AKIUS. Created entirely around what they call the “superfan” experience, the app allows artists to record and broadcast live concerts, meet-and-greets and exclusive music video broadcasts on the app. What’s more, they can even interact with them live by highlighting their fans on screen for a few seconds.
AKIUS also did everything in order for the artists to monetize their live streams on the platform. The app has signed an agreement with Sacem (the French equivalent of PRS in the UK or BMI in the US) on November 5 in this regard, shortly after Twitch signed an agreement as well. Now, in order to promote the quality of their services to new users, AKIUS is taking it to the next level by broadcasting the live shows of 4 different artists in the iconic Salle de Billard of the Olympia. Artists and timetable to discover below !
Emma Hoet, Sidoine, Alvin Chris and Bomel in an iconic venue : Akius’ recipe for unique live shows.
The artists that have been hand-picked by AKIUS’ team for these exclusive concerts are Emma Hoet (French electro pop), Sidoine (French pop), Alvin Chris (French rap) and Bomel (electronic). All four of them are emerging artists, although they each have a fan base of several thousand or even tens of thousands of listeners, which is enough to bring together a large audience on to the app and to pay the artists for the efforts they’ve put in their live shows. So far, each concert has gathered an average of 400 spectators on the app.
The AKIUS formula is the same for every artist involved and for any show they set up : after 10 minutes of meet and greet which will allow the artists to get in touch with their fans, they will each perform for twenty minutes in this exceptional venue, which today still remains closed due to sanitary restrictions.
Timetable (timezone CET / GMT +1) :
- Bomel – 1:30pm
- Alvin Chris – 2:45pm
- Emma Hoet – 4pm
- Sidoine – 5:15pm
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AKIUS : exclusive live shows in unique venues for both emerging and well-known artists.
AKIUS was made by Jean-David Rombi. Created in 2019, the app became a lot more important during the pandemic, a health crisis to which Jean-David Rombi reacts : “Under these conditions, […] the livestream experience must support the indoor event itself, promote interaction [and] make the public want to take part in privileged, rare and temporary events. At AKIUS, our mission is clear : put the artist and the ecosystem that surround him back at the forefront, in order to focus on quality over quantity, while ensuring a fair and equitable income for the artists involved”.
AKIUS’ launch : press release
AKIUS, the ‘Direct To Fan’ interactive livestream app that adds to the live performance.
Today, AKIUS’s goal is to take part in the artists’ ecosystem and those who support them. Because of unforeseen circumstances, the way we attend live show has changed and livestreams quickly became the only way for the artists to connect with their fans. For those artists, they have lost on average 75% of their income due to venues’ closings and festivals cancellations. The industry is now fragile and it therefore forced us to find new ways to maintain the link between fans and artists, and this is why AKIUS wishes to become a real addition to performing arts.A true alternative now ! And a lasting addition after the crisis.
AKIUS is an opportunity for artists and their entourage to diversify their sources of income and thus benefit from more equitable ways of getting paid. Because AKIUS is committed, we pay attention copyright and neighboring rights issues. AKIUS wishes to join forces with all the companies that take care of copyright management (SACEM, SACD, SCPP, SPPF, GAM in France) in order to build a positive and lasting dynamic around livestream events. We offer an real way to promote artists and the French scene in the long term : 70% of the income generated by AKIUS’ tickets will be redistributed to the artist, after deduction of associated taxes and copyright payments.Une Room Virtuelle ‘Direct to fan’
Remettre l’interactivité au centre de l’expérience, voici le défi que souhaite relever AKIUS.
Grâce aux différentes fonctionnalités de l’application, il est par exemple possible pour les fans d’être surpris par leur artiste préféré dans une « room » virtuelle tel un véritable “Meet & Greet”. Aussi, lors du live, l’algorithme sélectionne deux fans de manière totalement aléatoire et les fait apparaître durant 15 secondes exceptionnelles auprès de leur artiste. Une fois le temps écoulé, deux nouveaux fans apparaîtront et ainsi de suite, tout le long du live. Une fois terminés et si les fans l’ont autorisé au préalable, ces moments privilégiés seront enregistrés dans leur smartphone et partagés auprès de leur communauté.A Virtual Room for a ‘Direct to fan’ experience
Putting interactivity at the core of the live experience is the challenge AKIUS wants to take up. Thanks to the different functionalities of the app, it is possible for fans to meet their favorite artist in a virtual “room”, just like in a real “Meet & Greet”. In addition to this, during the livestream, the algorithm implemented in AKIUS selects two fans at random and makes them appear for 15 seconds on screen. Once the time is up, two new fans will appear and so on, throughout the entire live show. Once the live is over, and if the fans have authorized it beforehand, these privileged moments will be recorded in their smartphone and shared with their community.
AKIUS is an app you can find on Google Play and the App Store. You can also get to know more about them on their website.
