“The ad might read, ‘Percussionist wanted, preferably marimba player, for jazz-influenced band. Must be able to improvise, bob head and wear metal,” writes CNN Reporter Valerie Streit in her April 29, 2010 story. “And the perfect candidate? It may be Shimon, a marimba-playing robot that, despite having four arms, is remarkably human. It has a shiny aluminum-steel head that bobs with the music and acknowledges other people when they’re nearby.”
And, when the new ZOOZbeat app launched in October 2009, CNN Reporter John Sutter wrote: “The iPhone’s accelerometer, which allows users to control apps by titling the phone, makes the ZOOZbeat app possible, said [Dr.] Gil Weinberg, director of the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology and founder of ZOOZbeat.”
Austin, TX – SXSW Music Conference– March 19, 2010 – A-B-C. Easy as 1-2-3. Starting today, Jackson 5 fans can remix five multi-platinum Jackson 5 songs and win over $6,000 in prizes. Universal Music Enterprises and EMI Music Publishing teamed up with ZOOZ Mobile, Inc., developers of the first mobile music studio, to launchZOOZbeat Jackson 5Remix for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch users. ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix – the second in a series of custom branded ZOOZbeat music apps – features five Jackson 5 signature songs that helped sell more than 250 million albums worldwide in 40 years: Dancing Machine, ABC, I Want You Back,Mama’s Pearl and The Love You Save.ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix transforms the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch into a mobile music studio, enabling anyone – with or without music training – to remix and re-create their own tracks with beats and samples from pop sensation Jackson 5featuring Michael Jackson and brothers Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon.
“The Jackson 5 international phenomenon started with their first four major label singles on Motown all reaching #1 on the pop charts and the next three years every single they released made the Billboard Top 20,” said ZOOZ Mobile CEO & President Scott Geller. “Now, the Jackson 5 will help change how fans experience the Jackson 5 music; by enabling their fans to actively participate in remixing the Jackson 5 music.The new ZOOZbeat Jackson 5Remix app gives a whole new generation of fans a way to express themselves musically and connect with the Jackson 5 in a personal, interactive music experience.”
Jackson 5 in 1970
The ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix iPhone app works by shaking, tilting or tapping the iPhone screen to create and combine Michael Jackson’s amazing isolated vocals with funky rhythmic tracks, and soulful harmonies that can then be uploaded to the web for listening on ZOOZbeat.com and sharing with friends via Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix is accessible to the visually impaired using Apple’s VoiceOver feature (available on the iPhone 3GS).
“ZOOZbeat Jackson 5Remix iPhone app is also the next generation of ZOOZbeat,” says ZOOZ Mobile Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Gil Weinberg. “As easy as ZOOZbeat (4.1) already is for anyone to remix music regardless of musical ability, ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remixhas new ways to make learning how to remix music easier. First, we added a step by step tutorial to show different ways the Jackson 5 beats can be remixed;, we also made the music recreation experience more intuitive and richer – including adding more loops and longer samples from the original Jackson 5 songs as well as reverb, filters and other music remixing tools.”
Over $6,000 in Cash and Prizes Available to Contest Winners
ZOOZbeat Musicians will have until Saturday, May 1, 2010 to submit their contest entries, and voting will be open until Tuesday, June 1, 2010 on the ZOOZbeat.com website.Winners will be announced on or around Thursday, July 1, 2010.One Grand Prize Winner will receive a check for $1,500, a Jackson 5 “hoodie” sweatshirt, t-shirt and tote bag, and a premium 3-CD Michael Jackson Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection, three (3) Second Prize Winners will receive $250 checks and a Jackson 5 “hoodie” sweatshirt, t-shirt and tote bag; and thirty (30) Honorable Mention Prize Winners will receive a Jackson 5 “hoodie” sweatshirt, t-shirt and tote bag. Cash prizes courtesy of Zooz Mobile, apparel prizes courtesy of Swagger Like Us, and Michael Jackson CD collection courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises. Please see ZOOZbeat.comforOfficial Rules including eligibility.
Jackson 5 Prize Pack Tee
Featuring Five Jackson 5 Favorites:
I Want You Back – sold 6+ million copies worldwide; the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It wasnumber one on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 single chart for the week ending January 31, 1970. Motown Records historian Don Waller called the song, “probably the best pop record every made.”
Dancing Machine – sold 3+ million records and received a Grammy nomination in 1975 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The song popularized the physically complicated robot dance technique (devised by Charles Washington) and immortalized by Michael Jackson.
Mama’s Pearl – it was one of six consecutive top 5 singles for the Jackson 5; reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
The Love You Save – held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 single chart for two weeks in 1970; replacing The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles.
Remix Jackson 5 songs for your chance to win your share of $6,000 in cash and prizes.
ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix is the second strategic alliance between ZOOZ Mobile and a major entertainment brand since it launched the new ZOOZbeat app in October 2009.ZOOZbeat Jackson 5 Remix follows the December release of ZOOZbeat Sprite®: the first iPhone app to be offered through Sprite’s ongoing ‘Under the Cap’ promotion where people enter Sprite cap codes via text message to unlock Artist beats from Dallas Austin, Khayree, Alex Christie, Sy Scott, Novel, Sheed, Laron Brant and Spree Wilson.
ZOOZbeat (4.1) features Artist beats from: Too $hort, Easy Star All-Stars, Kutiman, Richard Devine, Street Lotto, and Cato. ZOOZ Mobile is in negotiations with major and indie labels to provide beats from more artists as well as exploring other potential ZOOZbeat custom branded apps.
To get free beats from these Artists, please follow these steps:
From your iPhone® (or iPod touch® device), go to the Apple iTunes App Store and download the free ZOOZbeat Sprite® app
Buy any specially bottle of Sprite® or Sprite Zero™
Twist off the Sprite® cap and look for your 12 digit ‘Under the Cap’ code
From your iPhone, text message to the Sprite® Short Code: 777483 (which spells S-P-R-I-T-E). In the body of your text message, type: ZOOZ immediately followed by the 12-digit ‘Under the Cap’ code (example: ZOOZ123456789123). Note: Message and data rates may apply).
S-P-R-I-T-E will text you back a unique six-digit code to enter within your free ZOOZbeat Sprite®app to unlock the Artist of your choice.
Enjoy your refreshing Sprite® while you reCreate music with ZOOZbeatSprite® and the Artist of your choice.
Unlock a new beat each time you purchase a specially marked Sprite® or Sprite Zero.™ Unlock all 8!
“ZOOZbeat Sprite® is one of the coolest apps for either the beginner or professional musician,” said ZOOZ Mobile CEO & President Scott Geller. “ZOOZbeat Sprite® Musicians have access to original downloadable beats and samples that are available nowhere else and ZOOZbeat Sprite® gives ZOOZbeat Sprite® Artists the opportunity to share their sound with a new audience.”You have until May 31, 2010, or while specially marked ‘Under the Cap’ bottles of Sprite® and Sprite Zero™ last, to be rewarded with a unique new ZOOZbeat Sprite® music reCreation experience. To learn more, please visit: Media Release, ZOOZbeat.com or SPRITE.com.
During the radio interview, Gil shows the WABE-FM Reporter how to ZOOZ with the beat to reCreate music. The interview — which took place at The Spruill Gallery; an historic house in Atlanta where ZOOZbeat is featured as part of the current On The Flip Side exhibit — “examines the influence of cell phone technology on art,” according to The Spruill Gallery Blog. “Technology has historically been a revolutionary catalyst in the growth and development of significant artistic movements. These advances impact the creative process, enabling artists to expand and explore their own artistic vocabulary. The cell phone is exactly this type of catalytic technology and its influence on society as a whole is widespread. On The Flip Side [exhibit] explores the impact of this burgeoning technology on art and presents a range of work that includes drawing, musical composition, photography and sculpture.”
it, On The Flip Side exhibitis now showing at The Spruill Gallery through Saturday, November 7, 2009. Map.
Gil appears on the Science Channel series Popular Science’s Future of: on the episode devoted to Pleasure which premieres 9 pm ET/PT Monday, November 2, 2009. This episode air again 1 pm ET/PT Saturday, January 26, 2010 on the Science Channel.
The segment was filmed in June at the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology. Gil introduces you to Haile: a robotic percussionist that can listen to live musicians, analyze their music in real-time and play back in an improvisational manner. (Really! You must see!)
Dr. Gil Weinberg (left) with Baratunde Thurston
Haile was developed by Gil; and Scott Driscoll (a GA Tech engineering student at the time) and now ZOOZbeat Musician Technologist. PopSci’s The Future of Pleasure Host Baratunde Thurston interviews Gil and Haile. (Okay; actually just Gil; just Haile another year or two …) Bonus video: The Discovery Channel — sister channel to the Science channel — previously featured Haile, Gil and Scott. Watch this 90 second clip (used by permission of Science Channel).
