Kid Cudi Co-Founded Interactive Live Performance App Encore Launches With $9 Million in Funding Raised

Kid Cudi's Encore app offers artists a platform to perform in augmented reality concerts for their fans with nothing more than their mobile phones.

Kid Cudi
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Image via Getty/Jason Koerner

Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is introducing a new way for artists to interact with their fans by launching his new Encore Studio App, which offers artists a platform to perform in augmented reality concerts for their fans with nothing more than their mobile phones.

Backed by $9 million funding led by Battery Ventures along with investments from 468 Capital, Parade Ventures, Nomad Ventures, Moving Capital, Kayak Ventures, and Gaingels, the Encore Studio App was co-founded by Kid Cudi, screenwriter Ian Edelman, and startup veteran Jonathan Gray.

It will give artists the tools and tech to “tell their story, release new music, and host conversations and interactive experiences with their fans,” according to a press release. Using “gamified microtransactions” like a ten-cent clapping feature, will also allow artists to monetize the unique experience. The private beta launch has seen artists like SSGKobe, The Cool Kids, Too $hort, and DC the Don performing for thousands of fans via the app.

When discussing the inspiration behind Encore, Cudi said his goal was to help fellow artists tell their stories in “meaningful” ways. 

“My number one priority has always been inspiring others and providing them the space to tell their own stories in an authentic and meaningful way,” Cudi said in a press release. “We created Encore as a space for artists to share their art, build community, while also being able to pay their rent.”

Cudi acts as CCO of the Encore company, while Gray is CEO and Edelman is president. Gray also said that he believes music artists have been forgotten by the creator economy, and how Encore hopes to fix that.

“Music artists are the original creators and they have been forgotten by the creator economy and overrun by memes and algorithms on social media,” the CEO said. “Our live AR technology empowers any artist to create personalized content and host experiences for their fans without a production budget or crew and make real cash with 100’s of engaged fans.”

The Encore Studio: Live Music AR is available to download in the App Store right now.

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