Jeeni reaches £100K funding target in 6 days

Jeeni Blog

Helping the next generation of talent to build a global fanbase

Jeeni reaches £100K funding target in 6 days

Day 6: Jeeni announces they have reached their funding target in 6 days and now aim to overfund. If you want to see our pitch click HERE.

Jeeni, the social music platform that brings artists closer to their fans and shares revenue ethically, has successfully raised over £340K on Crowdcube across three rounds.

With 350million streamed music subscribers and market growth up by 39% this year, Jeeni is likely to ride the wave and be a huge success, not only with unsigned musicians and performers but with their superfans.

“We set a target to raise £100,000 for 2.4% with a pre-market valuation of £4M,” says Jeeni founder Shena Mitchell. “And while we have the support of several major investors, the beauty of Crowdcube is that artists themselves can actually own a stake in the company for as little as £10.”

Shena continues, “Jeeni’s mission is to support unsigned music and performers, by helping them build a fanbase. We aim to fast-track careers in the music business, and make sure they take the lion’s share of the revenue that’s raised.

Jeeni is needed more than ever in this Covid-19 New Normal, and we have proved that the demand is high. Currently we can only support 100,000 videos, so we must now move up a gear as we head for global roll-out. This Round Three investment will be used to scale up again and launch our next-generation platform. It will also be used to develop our iOS and Android apps.

With the financial backing secured, we’ll be creating new jobs in the area, which is great for the local economy. When you consider the wealth of music talent in Portsmouth – hosting over 2,000 music events a year with Victorious, The Guildhall, Band Stand, Wedgewood Rooms, and all the Portsmouth Festivities and pubs – we’re alive to the opportunities of our local music culture, creativity and talent. But with live venues locked down for now, the online opportunity of Jeeni is greatly increased.

It’s so cool to think someone reading this might choose to invest in Jeeni now with just £10, and then use Jeeni to build their own fanbase for fame and success! We’re going to try hard to make sure that happens.”

JEENI is currently inviting investment on Crowdcube. To find out how to get involved please join our mailing list for updates or check out our fundraising pitch. If you want to see our pitch click HERE.

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01
Aug

4 reasons why the current music-streaming model is not working.

The global pandemic has exposed major problems in streamed music. Musicians couldn't tour or give live performances, so they have become reliant on revenue from their recorded music. Now, a shocking inquiry by the UK Government shows that even successful, critically acclaimed artists cannot live off their streaming revenue. But there is an alternative. Jeeni is a platform that puts control back into the artist's hands. On Jeeni, performers and creatives keep 100% of everything they earn, and thousands of artists are already on board, with an audience outreach that has grown to over two million. In fact Jeeni's growth has been so successful that they have turned to crowdfunding to expand their capacity to meet demand, and raised over £61,000 in a few days. The Government report reveals 4 reasons why the current music streaming model is not working: 1. Even successful artists get pitiful returns from streaming Fair reward is a performer's right to share in the recording revenues of a song by law, regardless of their royalty rates and their outstanding debts. However, streaming means that performers are paid according to the terms of their record deal. Depending on when they started out in their careers, their royalties can fall to as low as 2%. At Jeeni the artists get to keep 100% of everything they make, no limits. 2. Pay disparity between song and record rightsholders The current revenue share from streaming gives the record label the majority of a track's revenue. This comes from a model that applied to physical sales, where labels had overheads such as manufacturing, storing and transporting CDs, cassettes and vinyl. This leaves songwriters and publishers with the smallest share of revenue, even though they are vital to the creative process. Music creators and publishers are furious with this model. It's outdated and unfair because these overheads don't apply to digital music production. 3. Just three major music companies control the majority of the market Digital piracy and new technologies like streaming have disrupted the traditional music industry, and led to a state of play where three major labels now have a 75% share of the UK recording market. They also dominate music publishing, which is the part of the industry that deals with the rights to the words and music of a track. Jeeni's CEO & Founding Director Dr Shena Mitchell says, "Although technology has moved on, the approach is still the same as the bad old days, where streaming platforms act more like A&R agents and only select the music they like, dictating what listeners get to hear. At Jeeni we are very proud that our vision is based on democracy, where we give all artists the opportunity to post their videos and showcase their talent, for us to market them to a global audience". 4. 'Safe harbour' and copyright infringement 'Safe harbour' lets tech companies that host artist's content get away with being criminally and financially liable for copyright infringement. This allows users to consume music for free, and it creates a so-called 'value gap', because revenues for music from ad-funded services are significantly less than those from paid-for services. Here at Jeeni we refuse to take any advertising unless it's by an artist for their own tracks or services, and we make sure our artists retain all copyright and ownership of their own tracks. If you like the sound of what we do, then check out Jeeni's campaign HERE and join the list of supporters and celebrities who are flocking to the cause. You can invest from as little as £10 to claim your share, be part of the Jeeni success, and say NO to creative performers getting ripped off. *Capital At Risk

01
Mar

WesLi D - ‘Walk Of Life’ Single Review

WesLi D’s first single of this year is an inventive and ambitious hip house banger, sure to evoke warm summer memories from all. A new addition to Jeeni, ‘Walk Of Life’ is currently the only track on WesLi D’s showcase and yet, the track still paints a vivid and inspired image of his craft and creative capabilities. We can’t wait to add more of WesLi D’s older and future tracks to Jeeni’s database of talent. Check out WesLi D on Jeeni: https://jeeni.com/showcase/ctq6hi7bzb6e/?view=about WesLi’s versatile voice and production style means that he’s able to represent a host of sub-genres and influences. His album from last year, ‘Sunny Days Ahead’ covers UK jazz rap with ‘Time Flies’, garage with ‘Pressure’ and most relevant to his newest track, WesLi dabbles with house in the last two tracks, ‘Clear Mind’ and ‘Yours To Keep’. Featuring chopped-up piano chord stabs with intense, layered beats, WesLi does so well to incorporate old-school house elements into his sound without diluting either his or his muse’s style. WesLi’s entrance into hip house is a calculated and smart transition; the final tracks to his album acted as a hint at what he’s been experimenting with lately and then, chronologically, comes ‘Walk Of Life’. The introduction for 'Walk Of Life’ is brave and very unsubtle for such a chill single; instantly the majority of the beat is heard, except without the four-to-the-floor kick drums to act as its backbone. The result is frankly, a jarring and odd display of almost random drum hits. Which is why it’s so satisfying when the kick finally does enter after four bars. The payoff for that initially weird introduction is beyond worth it, because the perfect context and explanation for those eclectic drum beats is provided in the form of steady kick drums and a commanding bassline sitting under it all. A totally effective and brilliant introduction that catches the listener off-guard and lets them know that this single isn’t standard by any means. WesLi D’s particular step into hip house feels particularly reminiscent of Channel Tres and his approach to beats and rumbling basslines. However, something that WesLi can utilise that Channel Tres struggles with is an adaptable and flexible voice. Where Channel Tres mostly just speaks softly over his beats, WesLi can confidently speak, rap and sing on his tracks. On ‘Walk Of Life’, we mostly hear WesLi’s singing voice which is as velvety as the Rhoades-esque electric piano that warbles across the entire piece. A highlight for me on this single are the choruses which completely changes the vibe from the pre-chorus which is the most pessimistic and tonally dark section of the track. In fact, the lyrical sections of this single are so clever in that they each represent mood shifts in WesLi as he processes the passing of time and trying not to let his dreams pass him by: In the verses, we see a hopeful but concerned mind-set, “I don’t know where I’m going on this walk of life, But I’m hoping that everything will be alright”, then in the pre-choruses, WesLi is in a dark and gloomy place as he says, “I’ve been searching for some time now. Tryna take some time out. Feel like I’m running out of time now”. Finally, the choruses move from minor to major in an uplifting modulation to represent WesLi D at his most optimistic, “It’s all mine, walk of life. Ain’t no dream passing me by”. A deceptively simple track from WesLi D as he seemingly masters the hip house genre in one of his first attempts. Listen on Jeeni here: https://jeeni.com/walk-of-life-wesli-d/ How can Jeeni support artists like WesLi D? JEENI is a multi-channel platform for original entertainment on demand. We’re a direct service between creatives and the global audience. Album review album review album review • We give creatives, independent artists and performers a showcase for their talent and services. And they keep 100% of everything they make. • We empower our audience and reward them every step of the way. • We promise to treat our members ethically, fairly, honestly and with respect. • Access to artist liaison and a supportive marketing team.

11
Jun

One of the world’s top record executives has joined Team Jeeni

Heard of Roger Watson? You’ve certainly heard his work. Grammy Award record producer with 500 million record sales to his name (and the velvet voice of the Viagra ads!) Now Roger is lending his experience and knowledge to help a new generation of undiscovered music talent in the Jeeni project. Jeeni is a streamed music service based in Portsmouth, and the company is endorsed by Richard Branson’s Virgin Crowdboost programme. Listeners get to vote on who joins the next generation of stadium stars, and the young hopefuls are guided by experienced professionals. And they don’t come more experienced than Roger Watson. He was stage manager to The Beatles, and he went on to produce best-selling albums for superstars like Blondie and Tina Turner, as A&R Director of Chrysalis Records and Managing Director of Arista Records. Welcome aboard! Roger Watson (right) with Jeeni founder Mel Croucher

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