LISTENERS WORLDWIDE DISCOVER LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
SoVaMusic Mobile App Lets Them Listen While On The Go

In the first 48 hours of its release on the Apple iTunes store, 419 people throughout the world downloaded SoVaMusic, a mobile app that streams four local radio stations. Those downloaders in Brazil, the UK, Mexico, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Canada, Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and China can now listen to our local stations whether sitting at their desks or walking the dog.

Halifax-based Glerin Business Resources developed the SoVaMusic app that streams the Lakes Media Network stations serving the region: 953-HLF in South Boston, 1045 The Dan in Danville, Rewind 1019 in South Hill, and US983 in Oxford, North Carolina. The app is universal, which means that it can run on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. An Android version is currently under development.

Lakes Media Network station websites have been offering live streaming for over a year, but the new mobile app means that listeners on the go can quickly choose between all four of the stations without having to navigate to another site or app. Thomas Birch, President of Lakes Media Network said, “Glerin Business Resources has been an integral part of Lakes Media development of multi-platform outlets for our programming. We consider Glerin a partner in our success in making Lakes Media Network radio stations the leaders in Southside Virginia and Northern North Carolina.”

“Anything that makes it easier for customers to access your product is going to increase their use of it,” said Lisa Kipps-Brown, President of Glerin. “Being able to quickly choose between genres of music is very appealing to listeners and can lead to increased listenership for all of the stations. The apps available for other stations offer only one station each” she said, continuing that “there are other apps like Pandora that let users choose genres, but what makes SoVaMusic different is the local flavor of the content. It's fun for listeners abroad who dream of America, and it's useful for locals.”

Many area natives who now live elsewhere have already downloaded the SoVaMusic app to use as a way to help keep up with their hometowns. The first day it was available a native who now lives in Texas was listening to it from a cruise ship leaving Galveston, while one in Roanoke reported enjoying Peter Frampton courtesy of the app. As long as a user has an internet connection and an iPhone, iPad or iPod, they can listen at any time and any place – for free.

The app also includes SoVaLife's Twitter feed to help promote events in the community, and expanded features are under development for a unique app that will be even more useful to locals and visitors.

Glerin Business Resources is a web and emerging media design and development company based in Halifax, Virginia. Developing for the web since 1996, Glerin's goal is to help companies leverage the internet to merge their print and digital marketing.