California-based mobile technology and marketing company Friendable is doubling down on its livestream and music distribution service offerings with Fan Pass, billing itself as the “only 360, all-inclusive platform for music artists who wish to maintain control yet need a support system to develop, launch and monetize their careers.”
The company offers an a la carte menu that includes digital music distribution, access to a customized list of curators and tools to grow an artist’s fanbase, livestreaming and virtual events, playlisting, ticket sales and merchandise development with money going directly to the creators. After acquiring digital distribution company Artist Republik, next up for the company is an expansion into metaverse and NFT opportunities.
Friendable was founded by brothers Robert A. Rositano Jr. and Dean Rositano, who have worked together for over 27 years on technology-related ventures. The company focuses on developing and identifying products, services and brand opportunities with mass market potential, providing an individual dashboard for all artists to track their earnings and revenue across the board.
With Bandcamp acquired by Epic Games, owner of the popular Fortnite, Fan Pass CEO Robert Rositano is eyeing a $50 million infusion of capitol to expand, an exclusive partnership or an acquisition by a major music company.
Rositano points to Snoop Dogg’s purchase of Death Row Records, along with his release of NFTs and plans for a metaverse, as an example that Fan Pass, which now numbers more than 100,000 bands and continues to expand its own offerings, is moving in the right direction.
“There’s an opportunity for someone in this space looking for what we have,” noted Rositano about pivoting from a dating site to a music space. “We’re a one-stop shop for musicians, doing all the things to promote artists the major record labels used to do, but are no longer able to."
Friendable published its first app in 2014 in the social networking and dating category, garnering more than 1.5 million downloads, leading to celebrity-related marketing opportunities and various relationships with well-known music artists as well as up-and-coming independent musicians
The company pivoted at the height of the pandemic in July 2020 to Fan Pass, a livestream artist platform that helped artists during the pandemic, when performances went from live on stage to livestreams on computer screens.
Added Rositano, “When Covid first hit, we immediately realized we needed to become the virtual stage, and wrap that with all the products, services and merchandise an artist needs to launch and maintain its career. Every artist who books a tour now will include some element of livestreaming, extending the live stage to virtual.”
Users can visit the Fan Pass website or download the app on their mobile device to access a seven-day free trial. After the free trial, the service is $2.99 per month, of which artists receive up to 40% as revenue sharing on a recurring monthly basis.
“What better way is there to support an indie artist community,” asks Rositano, "than for the major labels to cherry-pick musicians from this platform who come with built-in fan bases? I believe we’re in a unique position with everything we offer to take advantage of the current moment in a big way. We still need major labels, but major labels need what we have.”