We had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Brees, the founder of un:hurd, a music promotion platform. Let’s dive into some questions about un:hurd’s achievements and highlights from last year!
What are some of un:hurd’s achievements and highlights of last year?
Well, we’ve had some incredible achievements and milestones at un:hurd over the past year. One of the biggest highlights for us was reaching 29,000 artists using our app – which is a significant milestone for us. Additionally, we expanded our two core services, offering music playlisting solutions and an effective advertising solution from a technological perspective.
Another notable achievement is that we successfully reached artists from 129 countries. It’s amazing to see the global reach and the strong appetite artists have for our products. It doesn’t matter if you’re an artist from Nigeria, the US, or Germany; there is a universal demand for what we’re doing. Interestingly, Nigeria has become our third-largest market without any significant marketing efforts, which was a pleasant surprise.
We also received recognition in various app stores, ranking in the top 200 apps in multiple markets. In Nigeria, we even secured a spot among the top five apps in the music category. These accomplishments were a result of our organic success and strategic app store optimization efforts. When users search for music marketing, we consistently appear at the top.
Moreover, we won the ADE and Antler startup competition, a prestigious recognition that validated our innovative approach. Additionally, we have been involved in Marathon Labs accelerator, Walliforna’s Accelerator Program, The London Mayor’s international business program and voted as one of Music Ally’s start-ups to watch. We also had the opportunity to participate in the Dragon’s Den pitch and took part in various industry panels. Furthermore, we successfully closed a significant fundraiser, raising a seven figure sum, which we recently announced.
That’s quite an impressive list of achievements! Can you tell us more about some of the notable individuals and companies that have supported un:hurd?
We’ve been fortunate to receive support from influential individuals and companies within the music industry. Willard Ahdritz, the chairman of Kobalt, who recently sold AWAL to Sony, has provided valuable investment and guidance.
In addition to these individuals, we have a range of strategic partnerships with companies such as Jägermeister, who have also invested in un:hurd. These partnerships and investments not only bring financial backing but also open doors to new opportunities and potential collaborations within the music industry.
It’s fantastic to see such support from industry leaders and renowned artists. Moving forward, what are you most looking forward to in the upcoming year?
For the upcoming year, one of the things I’m most excited about is not having to worry about financial constraints as last year was particularly challenging. However, it was all worth it, as we now have enough funding to sustain ourselves for the next 18 months. This financial stability allows us to focus on our work and invest in what we want to achieve.
I’m also looking forward to working with the talented individuals we’ve hired, such as Paul Truman, who previously served as the general manager at AWAL. As our team continues to grow, we now have fourteen full-time employees with whom I’m excited to collaborate and build upon our shared vision.
Moreover, being a part of the vibrant community at Tileyard has been fantastic. The opportunities and connections we’ve made through the community have been invaluable. I’m looking forward to strengthening those relationships and exploring new partnerships within Tileyard and the wider music industry.
That sounds like an exciting year ahead for un:hurd. Lastly, how would you summarize un:hurd and its mission?
In summary, un:hurd is on a mission to transform the future of music promotion. Our tagline is to empower independent artists and creators to make better marketing decisions. We achieve this by leveraging the power of data and algorithms to help artists understand their audience and make informed marketing choices. Our goal is to ensure that artists can focus more on their music while we take care of the entrepreneurial and marketing aspects. We aim to be like a dedicated marketing manager in their pocket, providing them with the tools and insights they need to succeed.
You can find out more about un:hurd here: https://www.unhurd.co.uk/
