Emstream's MUSICbox advanced interactive background music and marketing system

Servicing premium venue groups throughout Australia, Emstream has upgraded its music and video entertainment systems by offering a global software platform that provides an enhanced approach to music and video management.

According to Emstream CEO, Mark Schroeder, this is only the third management platform that has been offered in the company's 10-year history. "It takes us years of searching and testing before we release a new system and we won't do so until we're sure it's the best," he said.

"Developed in Canada and constantly refined over the past 10 years, the new system is used in over 6,000 North American venues. With so many users, it has to be easy to operate, with the capability to meet any need. Plus it's the most stable, reliable platform we've seen anywhere.

"Emstream will continue to hand-craft the content programming for its clients as it has always done, but the system also allows venues direct online access to an international music and video library where they can supplement their content anytime by downloading files, a little like iTunes.

"Another nice option is that it's available as 'software and content-only' meaning venues can install it on existing PCs, even re-using their existing music computer, so they don't need to throw away the investment in the hardware. Emstream is really happy to offer a greener alternative resulting in less computer landfill."

According to Schroeder, Emstream can also set the system up to be managed from an iPad, plus a chain of venues can be centrally managed from one computer via the web.

"Some of the other key features include creating unlimited playlists and one-click scheduling these in advance; running up to 24 different sound zones simultaneously of a single machine as a combination of music and video zones if desired; multi-level password access with automatic reset to default so for example a night manager can load playlists but can't permanently delete or alter precious settings; volume scheduling to automatically raise or lower the volume; a promotions tool that schedules voice or video ads and messages to play automatically at set times, volumes and frequencies; and automatic cloud backup of all playlists and schedules so in the event of hardware failure everything is retained for instant restoration.

"It's a truly remarkable piece of technology, but perhaps the key reason we've adopted it is that thanks to really efficient back-end global licensing and reporting smarts, it's possibly the cheapest comparable system out there. We're convinced it's got a big future among Australian venues".

Emstream