Developer Dials Up Deal To Mobilize Tunes Game

0

Calabasas’ Music Mastermind is hoping the key to making music is on mobile.

The company announced last week that it has paired with U.K. app maker Chillingo to bring its game, Zya, to Apple Inc.’s iOS devices.

The mobile game is scheduled for release this summer.

Zya, originally launched by Music Mastermind in limited release for PCs, allows customers to create original music by mashing up sample tracks from professional artists and mixing in recorded audio. So, for example, the beat from a Lady Gaga song can be layered with a guitar lick by the Kinks and then topped with an original vocal.

Music Mastermind recently announced an $11.4 million series C round, led by Intel Capital, the venture arm of Santa Clara chip maker Intel Corp. Englewood, Colo., cable company Liberty Global also participated in the round, which brings Music Mastermind’s total raised to $27 million.

Company founder Matt Serletic said game play and creation in Zya is designed to be simple.

“It’s not skill based. It’s fun based and you’re getting a professional sounding output,” Serletic said. “We’re another step to breaking down the wall between people’s ability and their desire to create.”

Serletic has a background in the music industry, having once served as chief executive at Virgin Records.

The company partnered with major labels to build the catalog of professional tracks. Currently, the company has worked out licensing deals with Sony, Universal Music Group and EMI as well as a number of independent labels.

Zya initially launched for the PC at the 2012 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. But mobile was always the end game.

When the app is released, Zya will be free to download with limited features. Players wanting more music tracks can purchase expansion packs. Finalized songs will be available to share publicly, although for the time being they cannot be sold for profit.

Musical titles for game consoles such as “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” were once wildly popular but eventually plummeted in sales.

Nevertheless, Serletic said those games show the potential for Zya.

“‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band’ showed that people can engage in music in new and novel ways,” he said. “Making music is one of the most human impulses; we’re just trying to make that easier.”

No posts to display