News & UK Play Chart

The EAG International Expo at Excel, London from 24th - 26th January 2012, provided an essential insight into the direction of jukebox and entertainment technology. At EAG, Soundnet launched a number of landmark music and audio visual packages designed to bring much-needed revenue boosting potential to the pub and hospitality industry.

The new 20,000 Track Audio Service breaks new ground as the most comprehensive, low-cost music package. Combining the most played tracks from over 15,000 jukeboxes, the most popular albums of the last five years and classic tracks from various decades and genres, the track list is compiled from Soundnet’s extensive play data and knowledge of what music customers will pay to hear.

Soundnet also launched its VHub AV package, an unrivalled low-cost music and music video offering for the popular VenueHub digital jukebox, providing 30,000 audio tracks and 7,000 music videos for £27.50 per month for the first year.

Speaking about the launches, Soundnet spokesperson Toby Hoyte said:

"The VHub jukebox has allowed us to make huge leaps in the provision of the UK’s most advanced and affordable music and music video packages. As well as the VHub’s reputation for providing the largest ever online jukebox offering, with access to over seven million songs and the latest tracks delivered twice weekly, our new products, combined with consumers’ familiarity with handheld digital music technology will continue to drive demand for Soundnet’s services."

Today, we're delighted to announce a ground-breaking venture, in conjunction with Sound Leisure, with global musical service Last.fm. The partnership will see VenueHub customers access their online profiles via an innovative new application on our digital jukeboxes.

The application, which was developed by our partners at Sound Leisure, gives consumers the opportunity to access their Last.fm profiles from any of the VHub jukeboxes in the United Kingdom. It enables customers to quickly and easily listen to their favourite music from the 30,000 song library, as well as receive recommendations and view the profiles and track selections of other VHub customers. Customers will also be able to arrange tracks into 'top artist', 'top tracks' and 'loved tracks categories'. The application is the first example of a V-App which takes licensed data from a third-party provider.

Speaking about the partnership, our friends at Sound Leisure said:

"The Last.fm app provides jukebox users with immediate access to the music they listen to at home and on their mobile devices. This is a great leap forward for the industry and shows our commitment to provide V-Apps that enhance the customer experience.

"Last.fm is a huge music brand with millions of followers worldwide; the new app will help to cement VHub’s standing as the most advanced digital jukebox available."

Last.fm is the free online music service, offering its 30 million plus users the opportunity to document their playlist history from a variety of different musical services. The application, developed by Sound Leisure, will be available on all VHub jukeboxes (free of charge) from February.

2011 was like an end-of-season finale for the music industry. There were thrills, spills and adventures. It was all a bit too exciting for us really.

Still, the start of January gives us the opportunity to review the year just passed and we've been eagerly combing through our digital jukebox data in order to make sense of it all. And, you have been busy. Over the past 12 months, Soundnet jukeboxes across the country have been playing your favourite tunes. And today, we'll reveal your background music of choice for 2011.

While she occasionally forgets her own name, Rihanna was the most popular artist in Soundnet's 2011. The 23-year-old singer released her sixth studio album, Talk The Talk, in November. The record, which contained hits like We Found Love' and 'You Da One' helped the singer to the cherished number one spot. It also didn't hurt that her fifth album ' Loud', released the previous year, contained such stonking hits like 'S&M' and 'California King Bed'.

Following up in second place is our very own Adele. The East London songstress had a fantastic year which began with the launch of her sophomore album '21'. The songs 'Someone Like You', 'Rolling In The Deep' and 'Set Fire To The Rain' all appear in the most-played tracks in the Soundnet chart. Well done her.

The third-most popular artist of 2011 was Bruno Mars. The Hawaii-born musician, who launched his debut album in 2010, enjoyed a year of success in the digital jukebox chart. Mars' singles 'Grenade', 'The Lazy Song' and 'Just The Way You Are' all featured in the most-played songs of 2011.

Elsewhere in the chart, it was a bit disappointing for Lady Gaga. The Little Monster came 11th in our list of most-popular artists, being kerplunked by the likes of David Guetta, Oasis and Elvis in our 2011 chart. Indeed, the drama queen of pop failed to feature in your top songs of the year. Better luck next year your ladyship.

For your delectation, here's your list of the most-played artists in 2011:

• Rihanna
• Adele
• Bruno Mars
• David Guetta
• Oasis
• Pitbull
• The Beatles
• Elvis Presley
• Jessie J
• Eminem

It's worth mentioning that thousands upon thousands of tracks were played in our digital jukeboxes in 2011. Consumers were more than happy to pile in the pounds for the opportunity to hear their favourite track of the moment. If you're not giving your patrons this opportunity then your missing out on a dedicated revenue stream.

And if you're music jukebox doesn't contain any of these artists, perhaps it's time you gave us a call.

Background music can encourage customers to spend more time shopping, according to a number of leading psychologists.

In an article published by American news network NBC, a variety of US psychologists discussed the role of music in consumer shopping behaviour, arguing that a bit of background sound is music to the ears of retailers hoping to increase sales.

"In department stores, shoppers who are exposed to music shop 18 per cent longer and make 17 per cent more purchases than (in) non-music stores," states Kurt Mortensen, a US author who has penned a number of books relating to subconscious purchasing behaviour.

Here at Soundnet, we're constantly aware of the power of background music and how different songs can shape a customer's experience or purchasing habits. A good tune has the power to influence emotions – for better and worse – and organisations need to be aware that background music can completely change how customers perceive a shopping or dining experience.

But don't take our word for it.

Speaking to NBC, Seth Rabinowitz, a partner at a Los Angeles consultancy firm, argues that a range of music can influence shoppers.

"Faster-pace music would logically tend to promote more impulsive purchases, while slower music fosters a more contemplative, planned, stay-a-while feeling."

Mortensen, who we mentioned earlier, agrees with the sentiment.

"There are even rhythms, pitches and styles of music that are best for different shoppers," he states.

"Grocery shoppers respond best to slow tempos. Fast-food restaurants need a higher number of beats per minute."

So there you have it. You can turn your attention here if you'd like to marvel at our fantastic range of background music playlists.

Well then. 2011 has been a year of musical twists and turns (but more on that in our yearly review next week) and, as we draw closer to the end of the month, it looks like there may be another shock tale in the final chapter.

News reached Soundnet Towers that Michael Buble, the sly, crooning fox, had pulled ahead in his quest to top the album charts this Christmas. The Buble record in question, 'Christmas', saw a 79 per cent week-on-week rise in sales, leapfrogging Amy Winehouse's posthumous album 'Lioness', to claim the top spot. At the close of play on Monday, the album had sold 78,227 copies, putting it 29,000 sales ahead of 'Lioness'.

Of course, all of this is X Factor's fault. Buble, who just hasn't met you yet, appeared on the final weekend show of the ITV monster, singing 'Christmas (Please Come Home)'. Incidentally, both Coldplay and Westlife, who also featured in the Simon Cowell cash generator, enjoyed a sales bump on their latest albums too. Xylo Myloto, the fifth studio album from Chris Martin and the boys, enjoyed a 142 per cent jump in sales, while Westlife's greatest hits saw its units rise to the tune of 49 per cent.

Still, with all the big quarter four albums already out, it seems unlikely that Mr. Buble will be usurped in his quest to be the king of Christmas. The handsome canuck has just a few more days to hang in at the top and, with no viable contender in sight, Buble's hands seem to be firmly grasping the chalice of festive triumph. If successful, he will join Take That, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis and Eminem in the Christmas album hall of fame. If there were such a place.

The race to the Christmas number one single got a little bit more interesting last week. While we'd resigned ourselves to another X Factor whitewash for Christmas number one, 2011 looks like it might be a little more unpredictable after we cottoned onto the fact that Gareth Malone's Military Wives' Choir would be releasing a single in time for the 25th. If you've not heard of the Military Wives' Choir, a 200-plus group of women who sung their hearts out on BBC2's The Choir in November, take a moment out of your day and cast your eyes over this. Try not to cry.

The above single, 'Wherever You Are', has been hotly tipped to peak at number one this month. After the song was televised on The Choir, Radio 2 breakfast jockey Chris Evans immediately began lobbying for its release in time for Christmas. Since then, the song has been tipped to get number one by us, HMV and William Hill (it's 8/13 to win, compared to X Factor's entry at 6/5). Here at Soundnet, we're very excited to see if it will win.

'Wherever You Are' is released to the general populace on the 19th December. What's more, all proceeds from the sale of the single goes to the Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help. It is the season of goodwill, after all.

Christmas is just 25 days away. In less than a month, we'll be toasting our marshmallows on an open fire, pulling open crackers with granny and basking in the warm feeling which comes from seeing the X-Factor miss out on the number one single courtesty of a choir of Military Wives. (But more on that next week).

Still, despite the fact that there's still some daylight between us and the 25th, the very first Christmas songs started sneaking into the best-selling chart this week. 20 years to the week after it made its debut in the world, The Pogues/Kirsty MacColl collaboration, Fairytale of New York, snuck into the top-selling singles. Incredibly, this makes it the seventh December in a row which has seen the record nip into the Top 75 chart. If you're interested, 7,034 sales of the song were made last week. 7,034 of you have put your Christmas tree up far too early.

But McGowan wasn't the only aging rock star to be celebrating the reappearance of their only successful contribution to the Christmas season. Mariah Carey joined in the premature festivities with her 1994 classic 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', seeing the record sell 5,200 units over the week.

Expect to get more than a few sightings of old Mariah over the next four weeks; you'll hear the song from the mouths of Michael Buble, Justin Bieber and the Cast of Glee in the run up to Christmas. All three release their own interpretation of the song as we edge closer to the 25th.

All we want for Christmas is a bit of imagination. And maybe a 'White Christmas'.

Last week, we celebrated the birthday of pop's greatest heroes as Freddie Mercury, the iconic Queen front man, turned 65 year's old. Or he would have done, had he not passed away in 1991.

Mercury is a hero to those of us who worship at the altar of pop music. He has been voted the greatest male singer of all time on several occasions and we've received more than three invites to Queen-themed parties this weekend. But, if you're thinking of celebrating one of music's leading men with a gathering, here's the Soundnet guide to hosting your very own Queen-themed shindig.

Fancy dress.

It's time to dig out that golden blazer and dress to impress. Celebrate the life of Freddie by dressing to excess; we're talking white vests, bright jackets and leather trousers. Don't worry if you don’t own any of those clothes. Your wardrobe from the 1970s should be able to help you out.

The moustache

Of course, the Mercury look wouldn't be complete without an impressive lip rat and you'll be expected to have cultivated an impressive nose warmer by the day of the party. If you're struggling to obtain the necessary facial hair though, it's perfectly acceptable to grab one from the fancy dress box. Or the nose of the nearest stranger.

The music

Naturally, all Queen parties need Queen songs. Thankfully, you'll be able to hear dozens of the band's iconic tracks on our digital jukeboxes, providing you're hosting the party in a venue which has sensibly decided to go with the Soundnet system. If they're really smart, the place will also have the music video package, so you'll be able to watch Freddie strut his stuff while you all sing along.

Tonight, I'm gonna' have a ball. Etc, etc.

It's September and we're well into the wedding season here in the United Kingdom. Across the land, blushing brides to be are making their final preparations for their big day; checking seating arrangements, making sure the placemats are all in order, ensuring the groom has got his trousers ironed.

Arguably though, the most important part of a wedding, aside from the exchanging of pleasantries at the altar, is the first dance; the opportunity for the newlyweds to take centre stage (again) and demonstrate their love in a room full of relatives, friends and co-workers. But, the choice of song for this first dance is often a difficult affair; selecting a track that represents the cherished love between the couple is, as you can imagine, quite difficult.

Thankfully, this is where we step in.

Now, we know a thing or two about music; we're listened to pretty much every song ever made (thanks to our Music Milestones package), and the team here are all well-versed in the music of romance. So, if you’re struggling to pick a song for your first dance, please humbly find our suggestions for the big day.

Joe Cocker – You are so beautiful

This is a tender, heartfelt track from the master of melancholy. Brings a tear to our eye, every time.

China Girl – David Bowie

An unusual choice for a first dance song, certainly. Still, its upbeat bass line and romantic lyrics make it an excellent choice for an unconventional wedding song.

Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars

"Those three words, are said too much. They're not enough." Just beautiful.

Book of Love – Peter Gabriel

A tender track, made even more beautiful by the gravely tones of Mr. Gabriel. Sobs all round.

Island in the Stream – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

A classic here from The Parton. There's a very good reason why this is a wedding song classic.

Let Soundnet choose your wedding song

If you're struggling to imagine the crowd dancing to your favourite hit, pop into your local and stick your favourite wedding song on our digital jukebox. If you get the grumpy regulars up from their seats, you're definitely onto a winner.

The festival season is drawing to a close and hasn't it been eventful? We've seen Beyoncé shake her booty, Bono natter with astronauts on the International Space Station and Lady Gaga mystify the crowds of Carlisle with a jazz set. It's truly been a memorable year.

Still, all good things must come to an end and this weekend sees the close of the traditional festival season with the Leeds and Reading Festivals. It's been a musical summer of rubbish weather, excessive television coverage on BBC3 and amazing acts. And it's all coming to a close.

So this weekend, we raise a jar to the indie heroes playing the festival season out. Elbow, The Strokes and Pulp have all made themselves available for the three day musical extravaganza and, while the weather may be worse that Muse's back-catalogue, at least the bands will be good.

Still, if you’ve not had the pleasure of camping in a damp, crowded field of Muse fans, we think we're able to offer you a solution. That is to say, a better solution than pulling your dad's tent from out the shed.

At Soundnet, we're especially proud of our extensive music collection; we have a knack for keeping on top of music trends, whether it's from emerging artists, old vanguards of the rock era or overrated bands that just keep on plugging away. Like Muse. But there's no accounting for taste.

Our digital jukeboxes ensure that we're able to offer a range of amazing tracks, regardless of musical sensibilities. It's one of the reasons why we're the leading provider of venue sound systems in the United Kingdom. So, even if you didn't get the chance to go to Leeds, Reading, Glastonbury, Carlisle this year, you can still listen to your favourite artists when you're in the dry comfort of your local. 

Those of you familiar with our Milestones in Music Video package will not need convincing about the power of the music video. Ever since Michael Jackson raises the bar with his music video for 'Thriller', bands have been attempting to create visual spectacles equal to the quality of their music. And music fans love them; our Milestones in Music video package is one of the most popular for venues across the UK. So, to celebrate the power of the music video, here are five of our favourite music videos:

Coldplay – The Scientist

This is a wonderfully shot video which never fails to bring a tear to the eye. The song perfectly matches the melancholy on screen; it's a guaranteed tear-jerker.

Weezer – Buddy Holly

Directed by Spike Jonze, this clever little video sees US band Weezer cameo in an episode of Happy Days. Despite being filmed in 1994, the video neatly ties in clips of The Fonz and the rest of the cast with the band playing on stage.

Blur – Coffee & TV

This excellent video won the best Video Award at the 2000 NME awards. The spectacle, which follows the quest of a milk carton searching for a missing Graham Cox, is a lovely bit of work.

Lady Gaga – Telephone

Racking up at an incredible nine minutes, this music video is a homage to product placement and Quentin Tarantino. A bizarre video which, if ever played, is guaranteed to get people turning their head towards the digital jukebox.

Ok Go – Any song

OK Go have a tendency to go a bit overboard with their videos. Whether it's the choreographed treadmill madness of 'Here it Goes Again' or the simple dancing moves of 'A Million Ways', the band are famous for producing videos which capture the imagination. This particular track, 'This Too Shall Pass" is quite a feat of ingenuity.

A few days ago, you lucky people were introduced to The Rock Box, our state-of-the-art rock monster of a music package. This beast, which contains 10,000 hand-picked punk, rock and indie tracks, got quite a few of you pretty excited.

Still, we're not the kind of people to pick favourites and, this week, we're going to highlight the more sugary-sweet side of Soundnet; namely, our pop packages. Indeed, you're all huge fans of the top chart hits and our Top 30 hosts more than a few pop princes and princesses.

This week, our top hits include appearances from Lady Gaga, Adele, Katy Perry, Tracy Chapman and Bruno Mars. We've also got pop cameos from Rihanna, Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas towards the bottom of the chart.

Now, you can find all of these artists, plus their various contemporaries, on several different Soundnet digital jukeboxes. Indeed, you'll be able to play the latest chart hits on the following systems (to be helpful, we've also included the number of different pop hits each package contains):

• Milestones in Music – 30,000 tracks
• Milestones in Music Unlimited – 30,000 tracks
• Milestones in Music Video - 30,000 tracksand 6,000 video tracks
• The Premium digital jukebox package – 10,000 tracks
• The value digital jukebox package – 5,000 tracks

Really, the package you choose is all dependant on how many pop hits your customers want to hear. Each digital jukebox package is slightly different; tailored to the needs and moods of patrons and clients.

Still, while you'll be able to listen to the leading pop hit, it's worth noting that, sometimes, your customers may want to relive the good old days of when Britney had pigtails and Gary Barlow could still do his shirt up at the middle.

Last week, we shared (for better or worse) our favourite tracks from the last few decades. The blog, which saw us quiz members of the Soundnet team about their perfect track, helped us to weed out which of us had a terrible taste in music. Suffice it to say, disciplinary action will probably be taken in more than one instance.

Anyway, aside from exposing the occasional Elvis fan, the blog also reminded us of one important lesson; that people have a huge variety in their musical tastes. Everyone likes different things.

For proof, you need look no further than the Soundnet digital jukebox chart; a veritable medley of tastes and genres. Currently, pop pianist Bruno Mars sits on top of Aloe Blacc in the top ten. Meanwhile, Calvin Harris shares the halfway mark with Snoop Dog, while Adele and Chris Brown vie for a place in the top five. It's an eclectic mix and just goes to show what a wide taste our listeners have. In any given evening, one of our digital jukeboxes can play anything from Elvis to Elbow.

But sometimes, you don't need a variety. Sometimes, you know exactly what your customers want to hear.

That's why we've created the Soundnet Rock Box. Especially designed for those venues with a bit of the guitar hero in them, this digital jukebox contains over 10,000 hand-picked rock, punk, metal, indie and alternative tracks. It's the perfect playlist for a rock bar, student hideout or music venue.

Here's what's in the box:

• Venue favourites
• Local bands
• Album of the month feature
• MIM technology
• A whole lot of rock

It is the perfect way to keep a very specific set of customer satisfied; give them more of what they like. Plus, the gods of rock demand it!

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We're coming up to awards season and, this month, speculation is rife regarding the upcoming shortlist for Barclaycard Mercury Prize. There's an intimidating collection of names vying for the nomination this year and PJ Harvey, Adele, Elbow, Radiohead, The Vaccines and Jessie J are all rumoured to be up for the award. On July 19, broadcaster Lauren Laverne will reveal the final 12 names in the posh surroundings of the Hospital Club in London. Nervous times.

The actual ceremony, which is hosted by Jools Holland on September 6, promises to be a lavish affair (naturally, we can only assume our invites are on their way), and, in a year with some very impressive albums, we're genuinely excited to see which artist will scoop the prize. For what it's worth, our money is on PJ Harvey.

In our experience, the Mercury Prize has always been a difficult competition to judge. It's an award ceremony which tends to favour the underdog, rather than the establish act. In 1994, M-People claimed the gong ahead of Blur, Pulp and Paul Weller, while in 2009, unknown act Speech Debelle nicked the award ahead of Florence and the Machine, La Roux and Glasvegas. In short, anyone could be in the running.

Still, the Mercury Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in UK music and, inevitably, each nominated act receives a boost in sales and radio-play before, during and after the ceremony. Which must be nice for them. More importantly though, each act nominated for the Mercury Prize also gets a bump up the Soundnet playlist. Which is much more important.

Anyway, regardless of which act scoops the prize at the end of the night, we'd like to wish the best of luck to all those hoping to be nominated later in the month. Bonne chance you music maestros.

We've been seeing a lot of Henry Winkler on our televisions recently. The actor, famed for appearing in the classic US sitcom Happy Days, has been doing the rounds on a number of chat shows in the UK in order to promote his new book. Still, no matter how many pantomimes the actor appears in, we can't help but still fondly remember the man from his stint as The Fonz.

Now, The Fonz was a cool chap. He drove a motorbike and, with a flick of his elbow, could get the old-fashioned jukebox in Arnold's Drive In to blast out the latest tune from the 1950s. Still, we can't help but wonder how our Fonzie would react when faced with Soundnet digital jukeboxes. Not well, we'd imagine.

For a start, our digital jukeboxes have thousands of songs in. While the music machines in 'Happy Days' were only capable of playing a few dozen hits, the Soundnet range features more tracks than you can shake a knickerbocker glory at. Indeed, our latest model includes all the hits from the 1950s to the present day. That's around 4.5 million songs.

Secondly, our digital jukeboxes are all touchscreen. There's none of the hassle of cycling through an album collection with a Soundnet machine. Simply type in the artist name or song and select your track. We can’t even begin to imagine how The Fonz would react to these magical touchscreens from the future.

And finally, our jukeboxes don't break. While The Fonz had to give the Happy Days machine a bit of a kick to get it into gear, our machines are reliable little things, always ready to offer your customers the latest and greatest songs.

So, if you're venue is in danger of 'jumping the shark', give us a call and ask about our excellent digital jukeboxes. Happy days, indeed.

As we type, thousands of revellers will be packing up their wellington boots and fetching their tents from the shed. We're well into festival season and this week sees the opening of that pot of mud soup and music; also affectionately known as Glastonbury.

While the festival doesn't officially kick off until Friday, thousands of eager attendees have begun to trudge through the muddy gates in order to get their hands of the prime tent-pitching spots. Although, judging by the weather report, it may have been wiser to have purchased a canoe.

Still, you can hardly blame them for braving the weather as the line-up for this year's festival looks rather fantastic. Indeed, over the next few days U2, Morrissey, Coldplay, Elbow and Beyonce will all grace the stage in deepest Somerset.

Here at Soundnet, we salute those who dare to brave the elements in the pursuit of live music. Past Glastonbury Festivals have often ended up looking like the pitch after a particularly frantic game of rugby and we can only imagine how much fun it must be to pour brown sludge from your wellington boots after a day of standing in the rain. Just imagine.

But, we can think of better places to listen to the biggest acts in music. Here are just some of the more desirable locations we can think of:

• In your favourite bar
• Sitting in your local pub
• Waiting to pick up your room keys in the lobby of a five-star hotel
• Having a relaxing weekend spa experience.

Indeed, we imagine all of these venues would be more comfortable than sitting in a pile of mud by The Pyramid Stage. Coincidentally, you can also find Soundnet jukeboxes in all of these locations across the United Kingdom.

So, if you've not managed to beg, borrow or steal Glastonbury tickets this year around, don't fret. Our digital jukeboxes feature thousands of songs from hundreds of artists; you can listen to U2, Morrissey, Coldplay, Elbow and Beyonce around the clock. You don't even have to buy new wellies.

We all know that music can be emotional. Great music can make an evening, while bad music can seriously hamper a good time. Music can make us dance, cry and, very occasionally, do the Macarena.

But, if you need any more proof about the emotional effect of music, take a look at this story from Australia. According to several news sources, imaginative tour operators down-under have been researching how music affects the behaviour of great white sharks. Don’t ask us why.

As it turns out, these particular types of sharks seem very partial to classic rock troupe AC/DC. Indeed, when speakers playing the aging Aussie band were lowered in the water, observers noticed a significant shift in behaviour from the fearsome creatures.

Matt Waller, the man responsible for the research, describes their reaction as 'more inquisitive and a lot less aggressive'.

"They actually came past in a couple of occasions when we had the speaker in the water and rubbed their face along the speaker which was really bizarre," he added.

Rather than being fans of the band though, scientists think the fish were reacting to the different frequencies and vibrations in the water (sharks don't have ears).

Now, while we have no real expertise in judging how music affects the behaviour of the world's most fearsome predator, we do know a thing about choosing music for people.

Here at Soundnet, we've provided jukeboxes for hundreds of different venues; bars, clubs, hotels and spars across the UK all have a Soundnet system humming in the corner. And we're experts in providing the right sort of music for any venue or occasion. Our jukeboxes have made people relax, unwind and get up and dance.

So when you need your customer in the right mood we’ll plunge the depths for the best tracks.

On June 8th, the Soundnet and Sound Leisure team will be heading to NW10 for the annual Park Avenue Open Day, an electronics fare celebrating the best in the leisure entertainment business. It's an event which sees the top minds of pub, club and hospitality entertainment proudly show off their latest toys and gadgets. And we can't wait.

But we won't be going just to oogle the pub games and pinball machines; we're planning to show off our latest creation in digital jukebox technology: the Venue Hub.

The Venue Hub (or VHub for short) is the latest in the Sound Leisure's digital jukebox range. This high-tech bit of kit offers an intuitive interface, full-screen portrait touch screen and more features than you can throw Bob Dylan's back catalogue at. It includes:

• Scrolling artist and track names browsing
• Track listings by release date, artist name, song title and popularity
• Drop and Drop artist search
• Playlist creator
• Customisable interface elements allowing venues to personalise its own machines
• Geo-location music listings
• Contactless payment
• Personalised adverts, including sporting event promotion

Some people are nuts about cars. We save our obsession for digital jukeboxes.

But, there's more. The VHub contains our mind-blowing 'Milestones' music package; a collection of every track featured in the UK Top 40 since 1952. You could spend hours counting them all up, but we'd advise your time better spent listening to them.

And trust us. Your customers are going to be just as excited about the VHub as we are.

Glasgow: famous for its architecture, cultural legacy and inappropriate fried food. But, did you know that it’s also a city with a global reputation for good music?

Indeed, Scotland’s second city has a lot of music muscle; Franz Ferdinand, Travis, Snow Patrol and office-favourites Belle and Sebastian all call Glasgow home and, way back in 2004, the bastion of American journalism Time claimed that Glasgow was the ‘secret capital’ of pop music. We quote:

“Glasgow is a rock of the north with an embarrassment of (musical) riches. In musical terms, think Detroit in the Sixties and Seattle in the early Nineties; that’s Glasgow.”

Strong praise indeed. But since then, the musical pedigree of the city has continued to grow and the likes of The Fratellis, and Glasvegas have all emerged from the city’s streets. In 2010, the city was appointed a UNESCO City of Music and in 2009, was the home of that year’s MOBO awards. It seems Glasgow’s musical pedigree is not to be sniffed at; the inhabitants have music in their blood and they take the whole thing very seriously.

It seems appropriate then that Glasgow has one of the largest collection of Soundnet digital jukeboxes. Wander into most bars, pubs and hotels in the city and you’re likely to hear the music from one of our boxes providing the soundtrack to enthusiastic chats about the next big thing.

Here at Soundnet, we’re honoured to contribute to the blossoming music scene in the city. Indeed, given our track record of uploading the newest bands and tracks for punters, you can expect to find the latest Glaswegian find on our jukeboxes; primed and ready to be played. Because we trust in new music.

Isn't music brilliant? It can inspire emotions, evoke long-forgotten memories and add atmosphere. A three minute track can make you smile, laugh and get on the table to start dancing. A good song can make an evening.

We love music; it doesn't matter if it's old or new.

So naturally, we were delighted to find out that over in America, the Library of Congress has decided to help preserve some of music's finest compositions in a project called the National Jukebox website.

The initiative, in partnership with Sony, sees 10,000 rare songs hosted online. The collection, which includes tracks performed between 1901 and 1925, features a host of previously unheard music from blues to early jazz. It's all very exciting stuff and well worth a listen if you're interested in the musical history of our Atlantic cousins.

And it's something that we can relate to over here at Soundnet. While our jukeboxes include all the latest tracks, from Adele to Lady Gaga, we're also proud to offer a veritable attic of iconic and classic songs. Indeed, while we all like to get an earful of the latest songs ripping up the dance floor, sometimes you can't beat a classic track: Queen, Iggy Pop, The Ramones. We could go on.

The thing about classic songs is that they never got old. Some of our most request tracks come from the swinging 60s or the raving 90s. The lesson here is that customers, from 18 to 60, always want to hear the classics. If you're music system only travels as far back as last week's Top 40, perhaps it's time you started investing in a digital jukebox which can teach you a thing or two about good music.

We hate to say we told you so but, according to a leading industry expert, a friendly and relaxed pub environment can help increase sales and customer dwell time.

Speaking in an interview to The Publican's Morning Advertiser, Paul Linthwaite, the chap responsible for licensed trade for Britvic Soft Drinks in the UK, argued that Britain's pubs needed to be more focused on providing customers with a better experience; better hospitality, better music, better atmosphere.

"In a recent survey pubs lagged behind supermarkets for hospitality," Paul told The Morning Advertiser.

"The take-home trade has worked hard to build customer loyalty, to keep them coming back. It’s about providing a level of service that makes people believe they belong there. And that’s something that’s often missing in pubs."

Naturally, background music plays a huge role in making a local watering hole more appealing. A background music jukebox, complete with an extensive track selection, can create a fantastic atmosphere, helping to drastically improve customer experience. And atmosphere is everything to customers.

To prove our point, our digital-savvy team spent the morning trawling through the online views of the masses. Here's just five comments from the users of Twitter.

"Did you guys eat at the Red Bar in Grayton? If not you should try to hit it. Great food and cool atmosphere"

"Love that pub, right around the corner from my new flat. Looks horrid, but amaze atmosphere"

"Top bar with a great atmosphere"

"Have you been to Bremerton Bar and Grill? I went a couple of weeks ago and it was a great, fun atmosphere."

"Has anyone eaten in the Samsara bar on Dawson street? I'd like to know what kind of atmosphere/crowd it has!"

We did tell you so…

Sultry soul singer Adele is having a good 2011. Her second studio album, 21, has now spent 14 weeks in the top 40 album chart, having topped the pile for 11 consecutive Sundays. She's sold over 1.5 million copies of that record and, if you're one for these sorts of stats, the only solo artist to have spent longer as the number one album is Phil Collins with 'But Seriously' in 1989. Seriously.

But it's not just the music-buying crowd that have embraced Adele and her bellowing whale-lungs. Here at Soundnet, we've seen the seamless songstress firmly embed herself into our most-popular track chart.

Currently, Adele has two tracks in our top-30 songs: the bass-thumping 'Rolling in the Deep' and the tender 'Someone Like You'. Both have been a permanent feature in our chart since their individual release and they don't look to be sliding down into the depths anytime soon.

But, it's not just Adele who is making a habit of sticking around the Soundnet chart. Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars and Rihanna have all been permanent features in the top 30, lurking in the top half of the chart for several weeks. Each of these artists currently has an album in the Top 40 chart.

Here at Soundnet, we realise that music fans want to hear their favourite artists when they're out and about. As a result, it's of little wonder that the UK's favourite singers and bands appear all over our top 30 record chart. We pride ourselves on providing the best (and latest) music to our jukeboxes, however long they decide to stay in the charts. Even if it is Phil Collins.

It is the wedding of the century.

Like it or loathe it, this Friday sees the joining of Will and Kate. It will be a wedding of monumental proportions; the wedding of the century. The BBC won’t stop talking about it, Hello magazine launched a special wedding issue and we're all getting the day off. Huzzah.

Here at Soundnet, we've been speculating about the royal wedding. In particular, we've been ruminating on the issue of the first dance; just what will their 'first song' be? Naturally, given the nature of our business, we've been trying to work out if their choice of tune will come from the Soundnet top 30 chart.

Indeed, is it so preposterous to imagine a first dance to the current number one track 'Party Rock Anthem' by LMFAO? Or perhaps S&M by Rihanna? Maybe 'F*ckun' Perfect' by Pink will kick off the night? Possibly not though.

Still, we can definitely see the potential in some of the more tender songs on the Soundnet chart. It's not hard to imagine a romantic dance to Adele's 'Someone Like You' or 'Just The Way You Are' by Bruno Mars.

And while Soundnet doesn't have a jukebox at the royal wedding, we'd happily step in to provide the audio entertainment if any last-minute disasters transpire. Our top 30 playlist has a number of toe-tapping beats suitable for any potential monarch to be. Plus, we'd pay good money to see the Queen jive to Jessie J or Alexis Jordan.

In short, you can find a song for any occasion on a Soundnet jukebox. Give us a bell and find out just what we can offer your customers. Just don't ask us to do any recommendations for first wedding song.

It's coming up to the festival season and, throughout the United Kingdom, keen gig-goers have been eagerly anticipating the release of this year's lineups; lists detailing which artists will be playing around the country at the summer's most-popular festivals.

Last Thursday, Glastonbury announced that Morrissey, U2, Metronomy and Biffy Clyro will be gracing the Pyramid Stage this year, while on Monday it was revealed that The Chemical Brothers, Kayne West and Jessie J are set to attend The Big Chill festival.

Meanwhile, rock-lovers will be looking to attend this year's T in the Park festival in Scotland as The Strokes, Blink 182 and Slash will all be performing. Coldplay, The Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters are also set to join the trio during the July extravaganza. Elsewhere, Latitude Festival will play host to KT Tunstall, Paolo Nutini, Paloma Faith and Suede.

So, 2011 is shaping up to be a bumper year for festival fans. But, all this festival action is also good news for venues with up-to-date jukebox playlists. Indeed, the rolling coverage of Glasonbury and its ilk will no doubt turn fans towards their favourite tracks as they attempt to soften the anguish of not being able to attend in person.

Just a quick glance down the Soundnet playlist reveals a number of tracks from those artists set to appear this summer. Currently, Jessie J, Cee Lo Green and Bruno Mars hold a place in our top-30 playlist, while KT Tunstall, Coldplay and Kanye West have all regularly appeared over the last year or so. And you can be certain that, when footage of this year's festival begins to appear online and television, customers will want to hear the season's most-popular tracks.

Here at Soundnet, we're consistently asking our customer about the music they want to see. We've sourced Live Lounge performances, one-off Brit Award slots and timeless tracks which have enjoyed a second wind. If your customers want a song, we'll have it for them. They won't even have to buy new Wellington boots to enjoy it.

Some bad news for Spotify users this week as the music-streaming company declared it was introducing some tough new restrictions for subscribers.

The Swedish company announced it was imposing strict new laws to the service, limiting users who had not yet signed up to a paid-for package to just 10 hours of free music per month. Furthermore, listeners will only be able to hear the same track five times per month.

Naturally, a number of music lovers expressed their anger at the changes, with users on Twitter venting their frustrations at the change.

"Wow. Spotify are making some harsh change," said one user.

"Goodbye, Spotify. The 5-play limit just plain stinks, and I have more important things to subscribe to (like food)," condemned another.

"Big mistake if you ask me. Should clamp down on businesses using the free service in public places though," vented a third.

Here at Soundnet, we're constantly amazed by the number of businesses using Spotify to provide background music to their customers. While we've highlighted the legal issues of using programs like Spotify in the past, there are a number of other concerns for venues using streaming software; notably that these free services don't have the comprehensive catalogue of tracks offered by professional music jukeboxes.

We're proud to be able to offer venues and their customers the very latest tracks. If you need any further proof, please feel free to have a look at our playlist chart; new music immediately available for patrons. Whatever their music taste.

And we certainly won't limit you to listening to one track five times.

Michael Jackson fans were up in arms this week after Fulham FC owner Mohamed Al Fayed unveiled a controversial statue of the late singer outside the club's football ground. The monument, which has been described by art critics as ' almost so bad it's almost good', 'creepy', and 'a little bit nasty', has angered fans of the pop icon.

Supporters of the singer have reacted badly to the statue, which you can see here, with many claiming the monument is an insult to the King of Pop.

"The statue doesn't even look like Michael Jackson," said one fan.

But, Mohamed Al Fayed, who considered himself a personal friend to Jackson, responded strongly to the criticism.

"If they don't understand and don't believe in things I believe in, they can go to Chelsea, they can go to anywhere else," he told the BBC.

"He [Jackson] loved Fulham and he wanted to attend all of the matches," Al Fayed added.

But fans of the football club were less then complimentary about the statue with one fan stating: "It makes the club look silly. I thought it was an April Fools joke."

Here at Soundnet, we’re in no position to critique monuments of modern art; we would rather remember the King of Pop through his music.

Indeed, subscribers to our service will be able to offer their punters a host of classic Jackson songs and customers can enjoy classics like 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean' and 'Smooth Criminal' straight from our jukeboxes.

Of course, if you'd prefer to listen to some more contemporary artists, you can also direct your customers to other classic pop artists. Indeed, this week's chart sees entries for pop queens Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Alexis Jordan. You'll just have to blame us for the boogie.

At Soundnet, we know our jukebox customers like new music. In fact, they like it so much, 85 per cent of all the tracks played on our digital jukeboxes are new releases or recent chart hits.

As a company, we pride ourselves on getting the latest tunes to our customers - from new releases to nostalgic re-entries - although recently, we've even impressed ourselves.

Last month, cult British band Radiohead announced the launch of their eighth studio album, The King of Limbs, on the 14th of February. Five days later, the album was released in a download format. The record was an instant success and received rave reviews.

While the physical copy won’t be available until May, the team here at Soundnet outdid themselves by offering the album on all online connected Milestones jukeboxes the Monday after its release.

In order to ensure customers have the best opportunity to maximize the revenues surrounding the release, we have already sent out the album for standard MIMs and it is also available on request for SNUK (at no extra cost).

But, we’re not just Radiohead fans. We’re also offering customers free live performances for this year’s Brit Award performances, featuring spectacular one-off songs by Arcade Fire, Adele, Rihanna and Plan B.

Speaking to the Soundnet blog, James Luck said:

“We pride ourselves on offering the best possible service to our customers and that means providing the music people want to hear when it is topical and relevant.”

In the past we have provided special playlists for Michael Jackson after his death, for the Beatles Remastered album when it was in the news and we also offer a popular X Factor service after each show."

Everyone at Soundnet lives and breathes music and we know that many people who spend money on jukeboxes feel the same way. Soundnet customers can relax in the knowledge that we will keep their jukeboxes as up to date as possible – even ahead of the shops or radio stations.”

Paul Gambaccini is a mainstay of talking heads shows about music, with an impressive pedigree in the study of pop's glittering history. With that in mind, when he declares rock dead, fans of the genre should take serious notice – could it be true the days of rocking out are really coming to a close? Gambaccini points to the fact that just three of the top 100 selling singles in the UK in 2010 could be filed under the rock genre, with the charts and airwaves now dominated by R'n'B, Hip Hop and Pop.

There's no doubt that the charts aren't exactly drowning in guitar riffs, but it's not the end of rock as we know it. Just because the current crop of bands aren't topping the charts doesn't mean they're petering out – the live scene is thriving, festivals are sold out in seconds and there are whole TV stations dedicated to the heavier side of things. The charts tend to be cyclical, and while we might have to wait a while for boys and girls in bands to be clogging up the top 10, it's certainly not the end of guitar, bass drums and amps that go up to 11. 

Opening hours extended for Royal celebrations

This coming April the nation will be gripped with wedding fever as Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the regal knot, and in order to accommodate this fresh bout of patriotic partying it's been announced that pubs and clubs in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 1am on the 29th and 30th of April.

It's rare for licensing laws to be relaxed, but according to James Brokenshire, the Crime Prevention Minister, the wedding is "an occasion for national celebration" and thus just cause for extended hours. It's not just the opening hours which have been pushed back either, with recorded and live music allowed in venues, alongside the slightly more ambitious trio of "films, plays and dancing".

With an additional Bank Holiday and a relaxation of opening hours it looks like the Royal nuptials are going cause quite a stir across the land, and leave most of us with plenty of cause, and opportunity, to toast the happy couple. If all goes to plan, similar scenes could be seen as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.

On the 23rd of November, 1889, the world's first ever jukebox was installed in San Francisco's Palais Royale Saloon, and a craze that was set to sweep venues across the world was born. The brains behind this new device were the Pacific Phonograph Co. and while it wasn't quite as sophisticated as a modern digital device it quickly became a word-of-mouth hit.

The machine was made of four tubes which looked a little like stethoscopes and were attached to an electric phonograph, all contained within an oak cabinet. It wasn't called a jukebox at the time – the man who brought it to the Palais Royale, Louis Glass, christened it a 'nickel-in-the-slot-machine' – but it could cater to up to four customers at a time, thanks to its separate listening tubes. There was even a towel provided so listeners could give their tube a quick wipe before listening.

The success of this first ever jukebox (the name jukebox came later, possibly as a reference to juke houses – the slang name for rowdy nightspots) signalled the death knell for the player piano, which up until this nickel machine was the most popular way for drinkers to sample the hits of the day.

Creating the right ambience in a venue’s a tricky thing. Get it right and it’ll feel like a home from home, get it wrong and you’ll set people’s teeth on edge as they battle to have a conversation over a blast of highly inappropriate Hip Hop, or cover their ears to avoid another Rick Wakeman solo.

Luckily, the days when you had to rely on your staff bringing in music from the more questionable corners of their CD collection, or having the same mix-tape stuck on a loop day-in, day-out, are gone. Thanks to Soundnet’s free background music software you can create the perfect environment for your customers, whether they’re into hair metal or acid jazz, and remove the risk of hearing the same song every day for a month all at once.

It’s also interesting to note that background music can, and does, influence customer behaviour. A French study conducted in 2008 showed that customers, on average, order an extra drink, and drink more quickly, when there is faster or louder music on in the background. And you don’t need any studies to tell you that making your venue seem welcoming, and playing the music your customers want to hear, will make it a far more appealing, inviting place to spend their time (and money).

With Sound Leisure’s Smart Quiz application on your digital jukebox you have everything you need to host a brilliant pub quiz, without the need for expensive quiz masters or mobile PAs. Here are our top five tips for a great quiz night.

Promotion

Quiz nights are a huge draw, so spread the word about yours in advance, giving would-be masterminds plenty of chance to pencil the date in their diaries (in between learning England monarchs by heart...).

Have a break

With the Sound Leisure pub quiz application you can run an automated quiz, building in breaks so punters can pause for drinks and to dust off their thinking caps. If you’d rather be hands-on, there’s an option allowing a staff member to push all the right buttons using the intuitive interface.

Make it immersive

Aside from saving you a fortune, the Smart Quiz application allows you to take full advantage of your digital jukebox, seamlessly integrating music and video clips to illustrate questions and make your customers feel fully immersed in an ultra-modern quiz experience.

Keep it fresh

The Smart Quiz comes with an initial bank of a thousand quiz questions. That’s not all – the smart technology randomly selects questions which haven’t been used before, ensuring you don’t repeat yourself and give regulars an easy ride.

Keep it regular

You’ve got a packed-out venue, and everyone’s talking about your slick, immersive quiz – so why leave it there? Turn it into a regular monthly, or even weekly, event and watch the regular, loyal customers flock in.

With an estimated 22,000 taking place in the UK every week the pub quiz has gone from occasional money-spinner to pub mainstay. Not only do quizzes foster a loyal, and regular, base of customers – they’re also the perfect way of boosting the coffers.

Creating a stimulating and engrossing quiz experience is easier than it’s ever been. Gone are the days when the only option was a hired quizmaster or the plucky landlord trying their hand at light entertainment – thanks to Soundnet’s quiz package you can have a fully automated quiz at your fingertips.

The automated option saves on overheads and allows you to seamlessly blend audio and video content from your digital jukebox, creating an enhanced, immersive quiz bound to keep people coming back, win or lose.

Even landlords formerly averse to the idea of quizzes have started to come around to the benefits of a regular event on their quieter nights, with some even opting to take out their satellite TV and swapping it for a quiz machine – with lucrative results.

Find out more about Soundnet’s quiz package and see why we’ve got all the answers you need to provide a cutting-edge quiz experience.

For the first time since 2003 the British music industry’s sales of recorded music have risen. It might only be a 1.4% increase, but it points at just how important digital sales are in the modern music industry – they’ve played a crucial role in this rise.

Online music purchases have risen by 51.7% with digital tracks and video sales more popular than ever. Now worth £154 million in sales, digital tracks and videos may not quite have replaced traditional physical formats, but they are helping to maintain the industry at a time of transition.

Digital sales now make up around a fifth of music sales, with singles the format performing the most impressively. Even with illegal downloads still taking a chunk out of the music business’ revenue, the single enjoyed its best year ever – not least because of the much publicised battle for Christmas number one.

Spotify might be changing the way people hear music, but legal downloads are making sure they can carry their favourite tracks and videos around with them, and help support the next generation of artists. Keep up to speed with all the singles and albums making headlines with Soundnet’s MIM package, or go Unlimited to enjoy the benefits of Internet connectivity to a limitless number of songs.

If ever there was any doubt about how much we love Led Zeppelin, their anthem Stairway To Heaven has been voted Britain’s favourite rock song of all time in a poll taken by the radio station Absolute Classic Rock.

The epic rock classic pipped The Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to top the poll, and proving the public still has a whole lotta love for the Zep. The hard-rocking, guitar-soloing giants might be reluctant to put on a full comeback tour, but their songs are still soundtracking millions of rock fans’ lives.

While it may come as something of a surprise to see Led Zeppelin and not The Beatles topping the list, it proves there’s still a huge appetite for great rock songs, even when the bands who played them are now a little grey around the temples.

There’s nothing quite like a great rock song to get a crowd going at a live show, and the same is true in any venue – make sure you’re fully stocked with the greatest hits of the greatest British bands, and your customers can see if they agree with  this poll. 
 

The passing of The Digital Economy Bill 2010 is a strike back against online music piracy, but what’s it really going to mean for the industry as a whole?

The main area of interest for music fans, and musicians, was the section on illegal downloading, because there’s no two ways about it – it’s having a huge impact on record labels and artists, as well as all those trying to get a record deal from an industry in flux.

Music isn’t free to make, and with the rise of online piracy acts increasingly have to live off revenue made from touring to survive. The bill may have been modified but it does send out a clear signal: copyright infringement is theft, and it has to stop.

While the arguments over making music free to download will continue to rumble on, amid claims that those who download illegally go on to spend more money on music than people who don’t, it is an important move to halt a massive drain on the music industry’s resources.

If you love a musician’s work you’ve got to support it, or face the reality that they might not get to release another record. 
 

It might sound like something from a spy film but Warner Bros are taking their fight against piracy to the next level: on-campus espionage. The music giants are hoping to crack down on students who break copyright laws with a little help from their fellow bookworms.

Aimed at people studying computing (well, they do know their way around the system after all) the £17,500 job, based in London, is a clear sign labels are taking the issue of illegal downloading more seriously than ever.

It’s not as simple as keeping their virtual ear to the ground – the successful ‘anti-piracy intern’ will monitor blogs and torrent sites as well as purchasing illegal material and issuing copyright infringement notices straight after their sting.

Rumour has it torrent sites are already biting back, recruiting people to snoop on the snooper – it could be a never ending spiral! Either way it shows how important this issue has become, and while I’m sure the intern won’t be the most popular person on campus it is a forward-thinking move to get someone on the inside. It also shows it’s not just big sites like Pirate Bay who have to keep an eye on who’s watching when they try to get around copyright laws.