Punk legend Richie Ramone backs new Edinburgh music streaming launch
Rockifi offers the only dedicated streaming platform for hard rock and heavy metal fans and artists - enabling devotees to stream live events, discover and rate new artists and donate funds to help new bands get into the recording studio.
As well as targeting the estimated 530 million strong hard rock and heavy metal global fan base, Rockifi, which will provide a focused platform for artists to make a living from live music events and merchandise sales.
The service went live last week at www.rockifi.com with the backing of Richie Ramone, former drummer of legendary New York punk band The Ramones, who is an official Rockifi brand ambassador. Apps to access the service via IoS and Android are set to follow in 2021.
The company’s founders had initially developed the service around live music events but successfully pivoted their business model following the Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year to enable fans and artists to connect at a time of social restrictions and beyond.
To mark Rockifi’s launch, Manchester metal band Ingested will perform two live streamed concerts from one of the city’s iconic venues, one for a UK and European audience, and the other for their fans in North America.
Rockifi was founded by Ruaridh Currie and Felicitas Betzl. Ruaridh is a hugely experienced creative having worked for almost 18 years for several of Scotland's leading digital agencies, and has been creative director on projects for the likes of Channel 4, Tottenham Hotspur and Standard Life.
Felicitas runs award-winning digital marketing agency Serps Invaders, which focuses on multilingual digital marketing campaigns. She is also an ambassador for Women’s Enterprise Scotland.
Along with brand ambassador Ramone, Rockifi’s advisers include former executives from US record labels and senior figures from the UK radio and publishing industries.
Co-founder Ruaridh said: “The appetite for hard rock and heavy metal, particularly outside of the UK, is truly staggering with research* showing fans will spend an average of four times more per month on music compared to those of other genres.
“Our new service will engage with this global community by enabling fans to experience live stream concerts, purchase merchandise, show appreciation for artists’ content and interact with other like-minded people across the planet.
"Rockifi is a two way platform which also supports in getting their music out to an international community, including during this present time of pandemic-related challenges.”
Felicitas added: “While we are based in the UK, Rockifi will have a strong focus on Brazilian, North American and Scandinavian markets which contain the highest concentration of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal enthusiasts. This audience has, until now, been underserved by music streaming services.
“We are searching for further investment to help us roll out our longer term global strategy which includes reaching fans and artists in their native languages within every key market. We also have plans to further develop the Rockifi technology across other music genres where we’re exploring options to provide white labelling and licensing options for record labels, artist management agencies and festivals.”