EPub: the digital jukebox revolution
The jukebox in Bradley¹s Spanish Bar is an institution in Soho, London. With stacks of vinyl arranged in the retro cabinet, it makes you think of leather-clad, bubblegum-chewing boys and girls queuing to pump their coins into the slots of jukeboxes in their 1950s heyday. In the present day, however, developments in digital entertainment are suggesting that many such traditional jukeboxes in pubs may have played their last encore.
The proliferation of broadband-enabled jukeboxes has been illustrated by a deal to grow the numbers of one of the most dominant digital jukebox brands, The Player, from 1,300 units installed across the UK to 3,300. A spokesman for Inspired and partner EUK Digital, the companies behind The Music, said the terminals would continue to be rolled out across Inspired¹s estate of pub groups.
In January, coin-op and amusement exhibition ATEI was abuzz with launches of digital jukeboxes, including NSM Music¹s Icon and a mark II version of Felix¹s Max Box. There is clearly a niche for the kind of kitsch contraption found in Bradley¹s Spanish Bar. However, there are strong reasons for pubs to switch to digital jukeboxes.
This 21st century style of jukebox stores huge numbers of tracks digitally, like an MP3 player, and is linked to the internet so tracks can be downloaded. Features on these models include a text messaging service, with which customers can text a number corresponding to their choice on the jukebox, and a link-up to TV screens for pubs to display the jukebox selection.
The software behind many of the jukeboxes, including Felix¹s, was created by technology company Broadchart. It explains that the selection of music available includes every single that has ever made it into the top 40 of the singles chart, which began in 1952, every top 40 album and the top 20 pre-release tracks not available in the shops. This collection is updated weekly and made available through broadband. The rental fee for Broadchart's service starts from £60 per week.
Broadchart chief executive Andy Hill says that the download function eliminates maintenance and delivery issues associated with traditional jukeboxes. "This is great news for the operators and retailers, as the sites¹ music solution requires virtually no maintenance as they will have no reason to visit the site with music updates."
NSM has taken orders from pubcos including Punch and Enterprise for its Icon jukebox. According to sales director Clive Collins: "Despite the advances made in portable downloading technology, there will always be a place in the local pub for an attractive looking music box. The Icon fits the bill with its great looks, it¹s simple to navigate and the sound is awesome."
Inspired and EUK Digital hailed The Music as a great success over its first three years of operation, with the consumer given access to an unprecedented 2.3 audio tracks.
Co-chief executive of EUK Digital Matthew Porter says it has "helped breathe new life into the jukebox market". "The Music is a great example of how technology is being used to deliver a more compelling consumer experience, driving new revenue streams,² he adds.
According to Inspired, the limitations of the traditional vinyl, followed by CD-filled jukeboxes, have led to a decline in popularity for several years.
This has resulted in a drop in jukebox incomes for pub retail groups, independent landlords and jukebox operators. Using the latest technology to link a nation of broadband enabled terminals, Inspired¹s objective was to increase revenues generated on jukeboxes in the UK, for all of the above parties.
Norman Crowley, co-chief executive of Inspired, added: "Many of the jukeboxes are regularly taking between £300 and £650, with one pub generating £890 in takings in a week. This is a huge increase on the traditional CD jukebox¹s average income of £45 per week.
