Monday, October 11, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

THE ONLINE GUY: Jukebox changes its tune with e-Rock

At first glance, the jukebox sitting near the bar's back entrance looks a lot like its disc-spinning cousin of the malt shops, truck stops and bars of decades past. But this is no ordinary jukebox.

Instead of a turntable or compact disc player, the guts of this machine hold a personal computer and touch screen. The broadband-connected e-Rock machine is one of five models available through Ecast (www.ecastinc.com), and allows customers to choose from more than 150,000 selections.

"The old jukebox had about 100 CDs, or about 1,500 songs," said Bob Keck, owner of Skinny Dugan's, 4127 W. Charleston Blvd., one of the 82 Las Vegas locations where you can find the e-Rock machines. "This is like having 100 jukeboxes."

More than 2,700 bars and restaurants across the country haven't missed a beat, Ecast CEO Robbie Vann-Adibé said. "When you're playing with our jukebox, you can step through 300 albums on the local hard drive. The point of departure comes when you don't find what you're looking for," he said.

The music lover then searches about 150,000 titles and quickly downloads the tracks they want to hear to the jukebox. The machines accept credit cards or cash, with most songs costing two credits.

Each establishment sets pricing. Credits get cheaper if the listener buys in volume, starting at 50 cents each or three for a dollar at Keck's bar. Ten dollars buys 38 credits, for those planning to stick around for their self-programmed concert. The "Make Mine First" feature puts a song at the head of the playlist, costing customers a few extra credits. One club in Los Angeles gets an extra $2.50 for this feature.

"I think we're in the infant stages," Keck said. "It's only a matter of time before the jukebox will be attached to the big screens and you'll see the artist up there," he added, pointing to televisions hanging through the bar.

Keck isn't far off, Vann-Adibé said. He said music happens to be the first product his company delivers to its customers.

"We're a location-based broadband entertainment network. The jukebox is the mechanism by which we get to wire this venue up to broadband."

Ecast has already taken the next step, adding wi-fi connectivity to several locations in San Francisco, letting people connect laptops or other devices to the Internet for free. Vann-Adibé hopes to add the wi-fi hot spots to up to 20 percent of his locations by year's end.

The bar or restaurant owner will pay for the Ecast Unplugged wi-fi service, Vann-Adibé said.

"One extra drink a day by one patron has paid for the wi-fi service (in the locations that use it)," he said. "People will run the math and make the decision that free wi-fi makes sense."

Share your Internet story with me at: agibes@reviewjournal.com and be sure to visit The Online Guy Web site at: (www.reviewjournal.com/columnists/onlineguy)

Share your Internet story with me at: (agibes@reviewjournal.com).