Is 2014 the Return of the Home Stereo?
In the olden days, we had listening parties and enjoyed spinning vinyl on hi-fi stereo systems and booming speakers. Over the course of the digital revolution, the dedicated home stereo largely disappeared in favor of mobile listening. In 2014, there are new entrants focused on devices dedicated to music in the living room, and each of these companies are betting big on the importance of music. Discuss the importance of bringing music back into the most natural listening environment, the home.
Presenters
Vickie Nauman
Pres 7digital US
7digital
Vickie Nauman specializes in music, technology and international business development. Nauman is President-North America for 7digital, the innovative London-based music platform. Through its API, 7digital delivers millions of licensed tracks from all major/indie labels for streaming and download models for global partners including T-Mobile USA, BlackBerry, HP, Samsung, Shazam and many innovative start-ups.
Prior to joining 7digital, Nauman had key roles with Sonos, Seattle station KEXP, RealNetworks, National Public Radio and Procter and Gamble, ran consultancy CrossBorderWorks with clients in China and Europe, and earned a 2006 MBA through the London School of Economics, NYU, and HEC-Paris. Nauman loves music.
Tim Grimsditch
Mktg Dir
Spotify
Tim is a Marketing Director at Spotify where he leads marketing for home listening & Spotify Connect. Spotify is the world's leading music streaming service, with over 24m active users in 55 markets.
Spotify Connect is a feature that allows people to use their smartphones and tablets to seamlessly control Spotify devices, including receivers, wireless speakers and other devices. Spotify Connect hardware partners include Bang & Olufsen, Marantz, Pioneer, Yamaha and many more.
Previously Tim was founder/CEO at Six3, an award winning video messaging service backed by Telefonica and Cisco. Prior to that he was Global Head Product Marketing for Nokia Music, Strategy Director at FRUKT Communications and Analyst at Forrester Research.
Noam Meppen
GM- Pure
Imagination Technologies
Noam has over a dozen years of sales and retail marketing experience in both the consumer electronics and home entertainment industries, with positions held at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Most recently, Noam directed nationwide sales activity for Sony's tablet and eReader businesses, successfully launching Sony's first generation tablet business in the US. Noam has developed successful retail programs and actively managed sales teams at retailers such as Target, Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy.
Noam oversees all sales activities in North America for Pure’s expanding range of products, including the award winning Jongo multiroom music system and on-demand music service, Pure Connect.
Meppen holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and MBA from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He is based in San Diego, CA.