MusiKube

---

---

 

 

Company Overview

MusiKube was established in 2001 by senior executives from across the Music and Technology Industries, and has rapidly grown to be a driving force in the development of music and media solutions helping to make the Connected Music World™ a reality.

MusiKube believes that changes in the relationship between Consumers, Record Companies, Music Retailers and Wireless Carriers have only just begun, and a new media landscape is emerging. By providing access to music recognition, information, samples, recommendation tools and customer information, MusiKube allows the entire industry to maximize purchase intent by better supporting both planned and impulse purchases.

In this Connected Music World™, Record Companies, Music Retailers, Wireless Carriers and Consumers live in an information rich environment, supporting, informing and learning from each other's needs and tastes – all with the intent of converting as many consumer purchase opportunities as possible.

MusiKube is creating a new environment where Consumers, Retailers, Wireless Carriers and Content Owners can all live in a more Connected Music World™. We also provide services to Broadcasters, Performance Rights Organizations, and Rights Owners.

******

About MusiKube:

MusiKube is a leading developer of music recognition and discovery solutions. The company has developed a suite of mobile and web-based services that give consumers the tools to capture music that interests them wherever and whenever they come across it.

******

MusiKube's solutions include:

• iCapture turns mobile phones into music capture and discovery devices by allowing consumers to identify a piece of music whenever they hear it.

******

iCapture™Mobile Music Identification System Service for Mobile Operators

Have you ever been listening to the radio and heard a song you really liked, but you didn't know the song title or artist? Have you ever been in a club and heard music that really added to the moment, but left the club not knowing what you had heard? Have you ever come across a music ad in a magazine, or seen a posted ad for an upcoming concert, and wished you could easily find out what the band sounded like or buy tickets?
The MMID Service on cell phones allows consumers to quickly and easily identify music that they are listening to, or come across in print, using their cell phone. The system also provides for a mobile portal that allows the customer to reference their music collection from any internet-accessible mobile device.

For music that is playing on the radio in the car, in a local bar, or at the gym, all the consumer has to do is dial a number and hold the phone near the music for about 15 seconds. The consumer will the receive a message to the phone with the song title, artist, and a sample of the song that can be listened to. MMID also enables the consumer to immediately purchase the song/album via their cellular phone.

For users who have a cell phone with a digital camera attached, they can use their phone to scan a barcode or unique symbol in a store, at home, in a magazine, or on the street. Users can then access music information, reviews and samples and order the CD to be delivered to their home.

******

Personal Music Guide (PMG) Service for Music Retailers

Have you ever entered a music retailer, frustrated by the inability to sample and explore music as you roam through the store? Have you ever relaxed in a coffee shop, wishing you could have your own personalized background music to complement the moment?
The PMG retail solution solves these problems.
MusiKube has designed custom portable kiosks that are wirelessly connected to our EncycloMedia™. These customized kiosks allow consumers to:

• Freely roam the store and sample any CD by scanning 
  the barcode
• Discover music through personalized recommendations and reviews
• Maintain a personalized music library to help keep track of the music they like
• Check their personal music history to remind themselves about previous visits
• Search for products and check in-store product availability and pricing
• Access related product information (such as concert tickets)
• Receive targeted promotions based on their personal music profile

Customers who sign up for the PMG Service receive a personalized membership card, which allows them to log into the system. The system then remembers any user activity and allows future access to that information in the store or elsewhere via the web.

******

Media Track™ for Broadcasters

Services for Broadcasters, Performance Rights Organizations and Rights Owners.

MediaTrack™
The accurate tracking of broadcasted content has been recognized as a major issue for Broadcasters, Performance Rights Organizations and Rights Owners.
MusiKube has developed a solution called MediaTrack™, to address this problem. MediaTrack™ utilizes our patent-pending music fingerprinting technology, fPrint™, to provide the ability to automatically monitor media broadcasts. As automated reports of broadcasted media are generated by MediaTrack™, the rights reporting process can be made much more efficient and accurate.
A real time reporting system will enable Broadcasters to more flexibly alter content and playlists, and automatically generate reports to be distributed to Performance Rights Organizations. At the same time, MediaTrack™ can be utilized by Performance Rights Organizations to improve their auditing and reporting process. MediaTrack™ can also be used by Rights Owners to track and control the use of their assets across the internet, TV, radio, satellite and cell phones.

******

Musikube Press Releases

March 2004

Musikube Announces Partnership With Nextcode To Integrate Barcode Scanning With iCapture Music Service

Alanis Morissette To Perform At Launch Event.

Musikube Announces An Integrated Music Discovery Solution For Windows Mobile
February 2004

Musikube Announcrd Mobile Music Recognition And Discovery Solutions For Windows Mobile Software For Smartphones

Intel CEO Showcases MusiKube’S Music Recognition and Discovery Solutions at Intel Developer Forum Keynote

November 2003
It’s four in a row– MusiKube takes home top prize at mobile music conference.

October 2003
Musikube announces first multi-channel wireless music recognition and discovery solution.

MusiKube and Virgin Entertainment group to deploy wireless music kiosks in New York city megastore.

Musikube named best entertainment application in wireless competition.

 

******

Partners

In addition to its own management and technology team MusiKube has direct access to additional resources through its partnership network.

ePierce Solutions

ePierce Solutions is an advanced IT management consulting firm delivering successful business solutions to companies with highly complex enterprise environments. With a client list of Fortune 1000 clients, ePierce has a proven track record in the strategic planning, implementation and management of enterprise IT initiatives.
The ePierce team is comprised of former senior IT managers and Big 5 consultants who have unparalleled insight into the realities of the corporate IT environment. ePierce Solutions specializes in the management of complexities around the delivery and integration of emerging technologies, supporting IT organizations with the integration of new technologies and business applications into existing environments.       

 Nextcode

Nextcode's staff has deep experience in developing barcode technologies. We have a unique understanding of how to create optimal code formats for mobile use. For ten years, our staff has been working on digital camera based methods to encode and decode data in barcodes and visual symbols.
Our staff has developed high performance digital camera based solutions to read commonly used barcode symbologies, such as UPC/EAN, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, QR Codes, PDF 417 as well as others. We have worked closely with major imager, camera and camera phone manufacturers to create barcode-reading systems. As a result of this work, we have an extensive understanding of the key issues, challenges and requirements to deploy and read barcodes with mobile devices.          

Muze

Muze organizes and delivers entertainment product information to drive commerce, and serves retailers by helping their customers become informed, confident, motivated and passionate buyers.
Since 1991, Muze has been setting the pace for interactive entertainment commerce, having created the first in-store music information system. Now, Muze is the number one provider of online catalog information for entertainment product commerce.
In a world where entertainment choices are ever increasing, Muze’s depth and breadth of information and advanced multimedia technology help consumers discover the best music, books and videos.     

Microsoft

Over the last three decades, technology has transformed the way we work, play, and communicate. Today, we access information and people from around the world in an instant. Groundbreaking technologies have opened the door to innovations in every field of human endeavor, delivering new opportunity, convenience, and value to our lives.
Since its founding in 1975, Microsoft has been a leader in this transformation. As a reflection of that role—and to help us focus on the opportunities that lie ahead—we have established and embraced a new corporate mission. Microsoft's mission: To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.

Intel

Intel believes in innovation. We're driven by it. We live by it. And it's this principle that led us to create the world's first microprocessor back in 1971.
Today, Intel is behind everything from the fastest processor in the world to the cables that power high-speed Internet. We keep innovating because it's in our blood. Because it's part of our heritage. And because the technology we invent today will shape the world's future.         

Hewlett-Packard

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the fiscal year ending on Oct. 31, 2003, HP revenue totaled $73.1 billion.

 

---

---

 

More Background On MusiKube.com

 

Introduction: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of MusiKube

Launched in 2001, MusiKube.com quickly emerged as an innovator in the intersection of music recognition, mobile technology, and retail engagement. Founded by veterans of both the music and tech industries, MusiKube aimed to bridge the gap between consumers, retailers, wireless carriers, and record labels during a pivotal time in the digital transformation of music distribution.

Though the original MusiKube platform ceased operations sometime after 2005 and the domain expired, it was later revived by a Magento developer who recognized the site's historical and cultural value. This effort to reconstruct and preserve MusiKube’s archived content not only honors the original vision of its creators but also allows us to reflect on the early evolution of mobile music services and their lasting influence on today’s technology.

---

Founding Vision and Ownership

MusiKube was not just another startup in the early 2000s tech boom—it was the result of collaborative expertise from leaders across the music, technology, and wireless sectors. The company set out with a bold vision: to help make the "Connected Music World™" a reality, in which content flows seamlessly across platforms and between stakeholders—consumers, record labels, wireless providers, broadcasters, and music retailers.

While the current version of the website is a revival effort by a developer experienced in Magento eCommerce systems, the original venture had significant corporate backing and high-level partnerships (detailed below), suggesting a well-capitalized and ambitious foundation.

---

Goals and Core Philosophy

At its core, MusiKube was driven by the belief that a new media landscape was emerging—one where consumer behavior would be informed and empowered by real-time, mobile-enabled interactions with music content.

The company explicitly sought to address:

• The disconnect between hearing a song and knowing how to buy it

• The friction between physical music retailers and digital exploration

• The need for music rights tracking in broadcast environments

MusiKube's ultimate goal was to maximize consumer purchase intent by supporting both impulse and planned purchases through smart, tech-enabled tools.

---

Key Products and Innovations

1. iCapture™ – Mobile Music Identification (MMID)

Arguably the crown jewel of MusiKube’s offerings, iCapture™ was a pre-Shazam innovation that allowed mobile users to identify a song by holding their phone near a source of music—whether at a club, in a car, or on the radio.

How it worked:

• A user would dial a number and hold the phone near the song for 15 seconds.

• They would then receive an SMS containing the song title, artist, and even a sample.

• The service allowed instant purchase of the song or album directly via the user’s phone.

• Camera-equipped phones could also scan barcodes on posters or magazines for access to music samples and reviews.

This solution was revolutionary at the time, especially given the limitations of 2G/3G networks and non-smartphone handsets.

2. PMG – Personal Music Guide for Retail Environments

MusiKube also catered to brick-and-mortar music retailers through its PMG kiosks, wirelessly connected to a system called EncycloMedia™.

This solution allowed shoppers to:

• Scan any CD barcode and listen to a sample

• Receive personalized recommendations based on their preferences

• View product availability, pricing, and related events (like concerts)

• Log into a system using a membership card and retain access to music histories

PMG was a blend of loyalty program, music discovery, and e-commerce integration, way ahead of its time.

3. MediaTrack™ – Music Fingerprinting for Broadcasters and Rights Owners

Using its proprietary fPrint™ technology, MusiKube developed MediaTrack™, a system to accurately track broadcasted music across radio, TV, satellite, and internet.

Key features:

• Automated real-time tracking of audio content

• Accurate performance rights auditing

• Ability for broadcasters to generate reports automatically

• Rights owners could monitor how and where their assets were used

This addressed a major issue in royalty distribution and broadcast compliance at the time.

---

Partnerships and Corporate Collaborations

MusiKube’s ambitious tech offerings were bolstered by strategic alliances with several leading companies:

• Microsoft

As part of its digital transformation initiatives in the early 2000s, Microsoft partnered with MusiKube to support Windows Mobile integration of their music discovery solutions.

• Intel

At a 2004 Intel Developer Forum, the Intel CEO personally showcased MusiKube’s solutions, indicating endorsement at the highest level. Intel’s interest aligned with its vision of mobile computing and rich media experiences.

• Hewlett-Packard (HP)

HP, a leader in computing hardware and enterprise IT, partnered with MusiKube to help power its mobile and kiosk systems, including retail-facing technologies.

• Nextcode

Nextcode brought barcode scanning technology, allowing iCapture to work with physical world triggers like posters or CD packaging.

• Muze

An early leader in entertainment metadata and catalogs, Muze enabled MusiKube to deliver contextual, commerce-driven content, including samples, reviews, and product information.

• ePierce Solutions

This IT consulting firm helped manage the complex enterprise-level architecture behind MusiKube’s suite of services.

---

Publicity, Buzz, and Press Coverage

MusiKube received extensive attention from industry media and earned accolades at several tech conferences.

Highlighted Moments:

• March 2004: Announced partnership with Nextcode and a launch event featuring Alanis Morissette.

• February 2004: Featured at a Windows Mobile event; MusiKube’s services demonstrated by Intel’s CEO.

• October 2003: Entered a high-profile partnership with Virgin Entertainment to install kiosks in its New York City megastore.

• 2003–2004: MusiKube won four top prizes in a row at major mobile music competitions, including best entertainment application.

These events marked MusiKube as a trailblazer in music tech during the mobile revolution.

---

Audience and Cultural Impact

MusiKube’s services targeted a wide cross-section of the music ecosystem:

• Consumers wanting real-time music identification and purchase options

• Music retailers needing interactive discovery tools to stay competitive

• Wireless carriers seeking value-added services for their subscribers

• Broadcasters and rights holders requiring audit and compliance tools

Its innovations helped pave the way for future apps like Shazam and SoundHound, and its approach to in-store interaction anticipated the rise of omnichannel retail and personalized shopping experiences.

Even today, the site’s legacy is revisited by music tech historians, developers, and those who experienced the beta tests and launches in urban markets like NYC.

---

Technical Architecture and Influence

The original MusiKube platform likely relied on:

• Client-server architectures with early cloud-based databases

• Proprietary fingerprinting algorithms (fPrint™)

• Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) for mobile compatibility

• Barcode scanning libraries built for early camera phones

• Integration with music databases via Muze

The current owner of the domain, who now works in Magento eCommerce development, found renewed value in the platform’s foundational ideas: using technology to create seamless user experiences and support informed purchase behavior—goals that remain relevant in modern digital marketing.

---

Reasons for Decline and Expiration

Despite its innovation and praise, MusiKube's original platform quietly faded after 2005. Several factors may have contributed:

• Rapid smartphone evolution: iPhones and Android OS devices introduced new standards that may have outpaced MusiKube’s infrastructure.

• High operating costs: Maintaining real-time services with licensing and partnerships can be prohibitively expensive.

• Emergence of competitors: Apps like Shazam (founded in 2002) and SoundHound began to dominate the music ID space with better UX and mobile-first design.

• Industry consolidation: With larger platforms offering bundled discovery, purchase, and streaming (e.g., iTunes, Spotify), MusiKube’s segmented approach may have seemed outdated.

Nonetheless, the current revival of the website as a historic archive ensures that its vision isn’t lost to time.

---

Menu and Site Content (Current Rebuild)

While the original MusiKube.com had full service pages, the new site curated by the current owner focuses on:

• Archived descriptions of iCapture, PMG, and MediaTrack

• Reprints of press releases from 2003–2004

• Profiles of former partners and collaborators

• Historical commentary on technology trends

• Analysis of how and why the domain expired

It is less a commercial venture now and more a curated digital museum of early 2000s mobile music innovation.

---

Why MusiKube Still Matters

MusiKube.com was more than just a startup—it was a cultural and technological milestone in how music, commerce, and technology converged. From its pioneering mobile music identification to its personalized in-store experiences and rights management tools, MusiKube anticipated many of the features we now take for granted.

Its legacy lives on through today’s streaming platforms, mobile-first apps, and AI-driven music recommendation engines. And thanks to the efforts of its current curator, the site continues to inspire developers and music lovers with its vision of a truly Connected Music World™.

 

---

---