For more information about Rockify.TV and to receive your invite to the beta, go to https://rockify.tv/invite.
By Candy Rendon
Reporter
Is Rockify.TV the new Pandora for music videos? That’s the comparison that CEO and founder Joel Korpi makes.
“It’s like Pandora radio,” Korpi said. “In the same sense that you construct your particular style of music with a set of like and dislike buttons.”
Korpi is a Baylor graduate and current Austin resident. He has developed Rockify.TV, an application platform that allows users to stream music videos instantly to devices. It finds current, popular music and delivers those clips to its viewers.
The Rockify.tv website states its purpose for new users, claiming to be a more modern version of MTV used to be, focusing on music videos and highlighting the unlimited nature of the platform.
In today’s world of variety music, one could search and find new sights and sounds for their favorite music artists, in which several hours could be spent, or one could use the application’s customization function to build endless streams of music videos.
Rockify.TV both uses one’s liked artists while it finds new and popular music from iTunes and top songs from the big billboards.
Claiming that it learns what users like and don’t like, Rockify.TV suggests new bands and videos for users to view. Sharing is a major aspect of the platform, with the website saying that when a user finds the a video that they want to share with friends, they are only one-click away from sending it directly to your friends via Facebook, Twitter, or email using features built-in on the website.
Even if listeners and viewers alike favor only a small niche of jingle jangles, the site promises a large library of music genres. From Adele to ZZ Top, viewers can watch a varied assortment of their favorite tune clips, while the application generates more and more music to their liking.
Houston sophomore Drew Kayle said he enjoys how well things are integrated in Rockify.TV.
“I see they used some familiar interface styles,” Kayle said. “I especially like that it has unlimited skips. Yeah, it has a few bugs, but so does every app. It’s something to surely check out.”
Korpi said the app does resemble other application forms in which Internet instant streaming holds the center stage.
The Pandora format is there, along with bits and pieces that clearly reflect the interface styles of social media networking websites, with colored buttons beneath the music videos asking for one-click criticism.
“We wanted to ensure that users feel comfortable while using Rockify.TV,” Korpi said. “Using a familiar method with the like and dislike buttons allows an easy transition to something new and exciting.”
Korpi says he is extremely thankful for his experience at Baylor and claims it as one of the largest factors for his success in the technical department of entertainment business.
Korpi has a long list of talents and experiences. With his undergraduate work in computer science and master’s completion in film and digital media at Baylor, he has the educational background to show his truly ambitious demeanor for success in the computer life, but he also has work experience on his resume.
He was the founder and software developer for Unum Lux from 2002 to 2007, where his role was drafting and creating management survey platforms regarding human resources. In 2006, he interned at Dell and at 2007 he interned with Paramount Pictures as a video technologist while focusing on digital cinema and anti-piracy and video fingerprinting technologies, respectively.
Recently, he completed a three-year vice president position with ON Networks. He was the chief of product management, where he worked on the development of video syndication platforms.
Korpi says he is excited for all the things happening around him.
“It is all going great,” Korpi said. “Rockify.TV is growing, we have an upcoming partnership with Austin City Limits during South by South West to reveal soon, and finally our public Rockify release, where the beta will stop, and the service will be open to everyone. The sky is definitely the limit.”
Korpi is staying busy but still has time to tell Baylor students how to aim big. He tells aspiring professionals to aim high and get a lot of stuff done while in school.
“The one thing that has helped me the most with getting jobs and succeeding in the professional world has been allowing myself to put things into my own hands,” Korpi said.
“Use your student projects to spark your portfolio and get out there doing the things you love to do for your resume building.”
