[1]The die-hard fan of a celebrity will go to any extent just to get an exclusive piece of news about his idol. Making the most of that kind of adulation is Upfront, a new premium platform that grants fans access to exclusive videos, text messages and other perks from influencers they follow.
Created by HopeMob founder Shaun King and Ray Lee, Upfront plans to sign deals with popular musicians, chefs, authors, brands and even religious leaders to have them share content to the social network just so users can enjoy different levels of access based on their subscription.
Fans will be able to access questions, thoughts, communications tools and photos, while premium subscription will include audio and video content, live webcasts and in-person events. Though musicians, bands and actors seem like the most obvious fit, the platforms influencers could basically be anyone with a devoted base of supporters and fans.
Upfront currently has 40 partners from a broad spectrum of genres signed up to start sharing, and is launching with Maxwell and Hillsong United, both of whom have over 3 million likes on Facebook. One of the platform’s main advantages would be that hate messages that artists often receive will considerably reduce since fake fans or haters most likely won’t pay for accessing them.
There is something in it for the celebrities who are signed up too, as it enables them to make use of unique features and tools that can be used to connect with their fans.
Upfront has built a communications system so that celebrities can send text messages, pre-recoded calls and emails to their followers.
While the initial few months is going to be very tough for Upfront, especially since getting used to the idea of paying a nominal amount monthly just to follow their favourite idols will take time, it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for. Upfront is launching with a Web version and iPhone and Android apps.
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[1] http://103.241.136.51/t12jpg-654