Mobile Backstage is an application developed by Steam Republic. It provides a fan club service and can be accessed on the web, Facebook or mobile devices.[1][2]
The Mobile Backstage platform allows music artists and their fans to interact and share experiences with each other more accessibly.[3] It includes a content management system, which enables artists or their production companies to post up-to-date information about a band's activities. These posts can include text, images, or video clips, while being able to integrate with Twitter, Facebook, and iTunes.[4] This app also provides the band with analytics on fan activities and events.[5][6]
In January 2007, two Finnish companies, Mobile Backstage and Geniem, won the FinNode Web-2-Mobile competition with their idea of creating a mobile app that could connect famous artists to their fans more easily.[7][8] Development of the app began after the founding of the company Steam Republic by Paavo Bäckman and Jussi Ruusila, which was officially registered in November 2009 in Tampere, Finland.[9] In early 2012, the company closed a bridge funding round of $1.3 million (€1 million).[10] Wired Magazine UK listed Steam Republic in their article titled "Europe’s 100 Hottest Startups of 2012."[11]
The Mobile Backstage app was originally developed for iOS. A Facebook version was announced in June 2011,[12] followed closely by an Android one in November 2011[13] and a web version in January 2012.[14] Nokia's MeeGo and QT platforms were also supported until June 2012, when Evanescence announced their Mobile Backstage, but most following artists have stopped offering this option.[15][16][17]
Some of the artists with their own Mobile Backstage in August 2012 include Evanescence,[18] Anthrax, Mumford & Sons, Slightly Stoopid, Nightwish, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Amorphis, The Kooks, Black Label Society, Lykke Li, Rusko, Rebelution, Ensiferum and Johnny Reid.[15][16][17] [19]