NEW YORK, March 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EscapeX, the company whose powerful mobile app platform turns the social media reach of celebrities and other influencers into a potent fan engagement tool and revenue driver, announced today the appointment of Joe Cuello to the position of General Manager. In his new role, Mr. Cuello will oversee business development, strategic planning, and global partnerships for EscapeX, which has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Singapore, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro and Taiwan.
A veteran in the entertainment industry, Cuello comes to EscapeX from Tunecore, where he served as Chief Creative Officer. Prior to that he spent a decade at MTV Networks where he established the innovative Creative Music Integration Department and oversaw Music and Talent on the West Coast. Joe is also an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Masters in Entertainment Management program where he has taught "Music in Media" since 2012.
"Joe brings in strong relationships across every sector of the entertainment space which are already paying dividends in the short time he's been with us," said EscapeX Founder and CEO Sephi Shapira. "EscapeX is all about putting control back in the hands of the creators. As we continue to roll out our product to musicians, actors, sports stars, celebrities and influencers around the world, Joe will ensure our clients are able to super serve their most loyal fans and generate revenue from an area that has previously gone unmonetized."
Established just over a year ago, more than 70 influencers are already using custom EscapeX apps, including the Bob Marley and Janis Joplin estates, iTunes #1 charting Latin artist Prince Royce, movie star and model Amy Jackson, the world's largest EDM festival Sunburn, Bollywood's top choreographer Remo D'Souza, Brazil's Carnival winning dance group Portela No Ar and up-and-coming Interscope recording artist Alex Aiono. More than 13 million hard core fans from around the world have already downloaded the EscapeX custom apps, which have superior engagement rates compared to other social media platforms with each user spending 18 min in-app per day engaging with their favorite influencers in brand new ways. The apps provide creators with tools to monetize social media through advertising, subscriptions, and a patented virtual currency, all of which unlock brand new revenue streams.
"Sephi and the team have created a product that provides an exciting and empowering new way for artists, actors and other creatives to finally generate revenue from engaging with their own fans," said Mr. Cuello. "From my time at MTV to Tunecore, I have seen the world of social media rise to dominance and how global companies have been built on the backs of audiences creatives have built. At EscapeX, we make it possible for creatives to profit from what they've built by unlocking an entirely new revenue stream which is fully owned and controlled by the creatives themselves. Their audience, their business. I'm excited to be part of such a dynamic, growing enterprise."
Joe will be appearing on a panel at this year's SXSW Festival on March 17th at 3:30pm entitled "One Fan at a Time? Maximizing Fan Engagement." Badge holders are encouraged to attend.
About EscapeX
Headed by mobile technology experts and entertainment industry leaders, EscapeX develops advanced mobile solutions to provide celebrities and social influencers like athletes, actors, models, comedians, and other creators with a direct connection to their audiences, greater control over their content, and the monetization of social engagement through e-commerce and in-app advertising. For fans, the apps deliver streamlined access to content, including key social media feeds from Facebook, Instagram, and more. The platform also features a proprietary loyalty program that rewards users for spending time on the apps and interacting more closely with influencers.
SOURCE EscapeX