iPad Apps Offer New Music Possibilities

With the ever-growing popularity of the iPad, music companies are finding new ways to share music and extras with fans through the device.
EMI has released an iPad edition of an album by Swedish House Mafia which includes the music, video, photo gallery, notes from the band, and links to social media pages. It has a $9.99 price point on iTunes or the App Store. The label group has said other app album packages like this are in the works.
Meanwhile, UMG teamed up with Eagle Rock Entertainment to create iPad apps to revisit classic albums through video content, interviews and social networking content. Included are Nirvana’s Nevermind, Rush’s 2112 and Moving Pictures, and Ladies and Gentleman: The Roliing Stones.
Today (3/28) industry stalwarts  Larry Rosen, Larry Miller, Phil Ramone, and Leslie José Zigel announced a new company which will build apps such as these. ROBA Interactive develops multi-media Music Apps for the iPad and Android tablets. The apps will include music, videos, interviews, and lyrics. They also have an option that allow fans to hear each of the separate vocal, guitar, and drum audio tracks for songs, as well as gaming components to remix the tracks and upload the new versions to share.
Wi-Fi connectivity will let the app link to current news such as tour dates and TV appearances, and if desired, these ROBA Apps can be updated to add in new content. The company says there will be ecommerce options, for purchasing additional music, concert tickets, and merch.
Apps are being released in addition to the regular albums. For example, the first ROBA Interactive release will be An Evening with Dave Grusin, coming April 26, the same day as his CD and Blu-ray release of this concert event.
More from the NY Times.