One Cool Free Idea

I am spellbound over today’s discovery: 3DiCD, a new company which Music Week referred to last week as “A new dimension in downloads.” Crunchbase called it “A new social media friendly music format for digital marketing.”

Each 3DiCD gives an artist or project fully viewable 3D rendered album packaging and audio streaming, with access to full booklet artwork and lyrics, plus share links and territory specific purchase points. It can be embedded on blogs, digital stores, Facebook tabs and anything inbetween.

The incredibly talented and Grammy Awarded artist, Imogen Heap, is the first to use it to build momentum for and sell the DVD, streamed and CD versions of her latest release, Ellipse. Take a spin below…

I am totally captivated by the whole concept - the 3DiCD platform itself and how it lets us have a virtual-physical interaction with the CD cover, photos, and content. Things I love?

1. Unbelievably cool fan experience - you get a 3D/new version of a previously released video for Ellipse

2. One click shareability to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, etc.

3. Embeddability of the 3D interface itself - hey I did that here!

4. Front and center links to buy via Amazon or Imogen’s site

5. Really great “watch the making of the video” trailer which makes you just want to jump on the Heap wagon and join the party.

Of course, Immi is no stranger to innovation. Remember when she crowd-sourced her official press bio using fan-submitted Twitter messages?  As one Twitter fan said “Amazingly accessible and down to earth for such a luminary, Imogen truly understands the relationship with her fans as a human one, rather than one married to business.” She raises money for charity. Gets folks to design her setlists.  And is running a capella singing contests to pick fans who’ll join her on stage to sing with her.

So this perpetual re-inventor charms us again with 3DiCD.

Here’s the sell copy on 3DiCD’s site, which I’m lifting directly, because I think they uncovered, tapped and articulate a core market opportunity:

Music has always been about more than just music.

The packaging of music has always added to the engagement and immersion of the listener, stimulating the senses on more levels than just sound, to create a whole listening experience.

Artwork sets an emotional context for music and creates a platform for the artist to engage directly with the listener about this album alone. As a globally celebrated artform in itself, album art has been responsible for some of the most memorable and iconic imagery of the last 50 years.

With a 3DiCD, listeners get the whole packaging experience;
engagement and immersion all within the online environment.

See full artwork in beautiful high-resolution detail. Read the lyrics, the credits and the thanks. Discover the people behind the music and trace the evolution of styles, skills and careers. Read the background notes to the album, discover what inspired the artist to create it and listen to the music totally immersed in the environment the artist intended. Share your discovery with friends. Great music deserves more than just music.

I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t gain traction real fast among musicians, filmmakers (are you listening?) and authors looking for a completely innovative way to showcase their content.  What do you think?

Links:

http://www.3DiCD.com/Imogen-Heap/Ellipse

Imogens Facebook profile here:

http://3Di.Co/FB