LONDON, August 27th, 2010 – GEAR4 (www.GEAR4.com ) the UK’s leading audio brand, is today announcing that it has entered an exclusive partnership with premium karaoke company Lucky Voice and FremantleMedia Enterprises, to produce and distribute the new limited edition ‘The X Factor Party Box’. The deal includes access to Lucky Voice’s online karaoke player for The X Factor, the rights for which have been acquired from FremantleMedia Enterprises, who hold the worldwide licensing rights for The X Factor brand.
‘The X Factor Party Box’ is the ultimate in-home karaoke solution, with access to over 7,500 songs, and brings together three modern brands that are each leaders within the entertainment market to form the basis for a strong and prolific three-way partnership. The powerful collaboration is a signal of GEAR4’s continued growth and expansion into both the audio and consumer products market, with the new generation The X Factor karaoke system forecast to achieve sales and a market presence that traditional karaoke systems strive to accomplish.
Having exceeded ITV1’s prime time average across all demographics, in particular young adults aged 16-34, the hit TV series is watched by up to 44m viewers -75 per cent of the UK population. Eager to continue driving the brand’s phenomenal success, a union with GEAR4, one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative audio companies became the clear partner of choice.
The limited edition ‘The X Factor Party Box’ combines GEAR4 and Lucky Voice’s unrivalled market expertise with FremantleMedia Enterprise’s proficiency in brand extension to further boost the reach of the globally-recognised brand. Offering customers the opportunity to bring The X Factor experience into their own living room, this unique entertainment product presents the next generation in interactive home karaoke systems.
Tom Dudderidge, founder of GEAR4 comments: “We’re thrilled to be entering this elite partnership with two of the UK’s most exciting entertainment brands – the leading karaoke company and one of the most successful TV programmes recognised brands in the UK, if not the world.
Our experience in creating innovative and quality audio equipment, partnered with Lucky Voice’s established and well-respected lead in the karaoke market, will help to drive significant sales of this popular product for our retailers.
The X Factor Party Box is a fantastic consumer product that aims to bring The X Factor show alive in people’s livings room across the country, offering them the chance to feel like a star – without having to face the wrath of Simon Cowell! Saturday nights start here, with the product launch perfectly timed for the start of the 2010 TV series as well as the Christmas season.”
Available at HMV, John Lewis and Argos, The X Factor Party Box retails at £69.99 and offers consumers the ultimate in-home karaoke solution. Users simply connect the Party Box mixer to any internet-enabled computer or laptop, plug in some speakers and The X Factor red chrome microphone and log onto www.xfactorkaraoke.com. At the core of the site is a sleek, full screen karaoke player – powered by Lucky Voice – that streams all the songs from The X Factor and thousands more directly into the user’s home.
Dominic Burns, SVP Licensing UK, FremantleMedia Enterprises comments: “The X Factor continues to be one of our most successful entertainment brands. We are continually evaluating new opportunities to grow the brand and build on its value; a key part of this is finding new ways to connect with fans, and developing how they can immerse themselves in the show. This partnership with Lucky Voice and Gear4 is a perfect fit for the brand, as the enjoyment of music is such a key element of the show. Lucky Voice are the premium karaoke brand and Gear4 are creators of fantastic hardware, and our deal with them will enable fans of The X Factor to take to the microphone themselves and will bring their enjoyment of The X factor brand into living rooms around the UK.”
Nick Thistleton, Managing Director of Lucky Voice said: “As the UK’s leading provider of high-quality karaoke entertainment, Lucky Voice is delighted to be entering into a partnership with GEAR4 and FremantleMedia Enterprises“.
“Lucky Voice is experiencing increased demand to license its karaoke solution to third parties across the hospitality and entertainment spectrum. Forging a partnership with GEAR4 will position our Lucky Voice Home web service on-shelf nationwide. GEAR4’s ability to produce and distribute on a mass scale will amplify Lucky Voice’s product visibility and availability and allows us to capitalise on the emerging online singing market trend“.
