History of Limelight

The Birth of an Idea

It all started with Bilal, a pioneer in music promotion, who had built a significant following. Through his network, he capitalized on the burgeoning market for exposure, charging up to $900 USD per post. While he watched this income stream burgeon, Bilal couldn't help but wonder why anyone would pay such a price for a single post. This contemplation led to the recognition of a stark reality in the music industry—talented independent artists were clamoring for exposure, often overshadowed by well-funded label giants.

Recognizing the Struggle

Bilal's interactions with artists waiting to pay for promotional posts revealed the cyclical plight of aspiring talent. Each story resonated with him, unveiling a harsh truth—the industry's towering barriers to entry. Despite their arduous efforts, many artists remained unheard, their potential dimming in the shadow of mainstream acts.

The Genesis of Limelight 1.0

In May 2019, the conception of Limelight began. Envisioned as a "Tinder for music," the platform sought to pair discerning music fans with deserving artists. The goal was simple yet profound: create an ecosystem where talent could thrive based on merit. The platform, initially named 'Locartist,' was underpinned by an algorithm designed to amplify local talent, starting from their home cities and reaching outward in accordance with listener feedback.

This first version of Limelight made its mark, rocketing to the #4 spot in the Apple App Store's Music Category. The success stories from creators like Ozy—a Hamilton artist whose streams soared from a modest 600 to over 200,000—underscored Limelight's impact. His Spotify wrapped, fueled by Limelight's exposure, told the tale of his newfound acclaim.

Refinement and Expansion: Limelight 2.0

With valuable insights from the initial launch, Bilal recognized the need for refinement. He gathered a dedicated team, intent on sculpting Limelight into an even more potent platform. The reinvigoration was holistic: enhancing the user interface, fortifying artist tools, and fine-tuning the algorithm.

Amidst a global pandemic, Limelight 2.0 was born. The web app mirrored the mobile app's functionality, but with broader reach and improved performance. Support came in the form of AC JumpStart—a mentorship program that bolstered Limelight with $30,000 in seed capital and invaluable guidance from experts in digital marketing, user experience, and internal strategy.

This phase culminated in remarkable achievements: a spike in app downloads, a peak monthly revenue of $1446, and an engaged user base that spent, on average, 4.5 minutes per session. The business also laid its formal foundations, incorporating legally and filing for a provisional patent.

Limelight 3.0: The New Frontier

Limelight 3.0 is poised to address the gaps of its predecessor. With a presence on the Google PlayStore and a robust digital distribution system, the new iteration seeks to democratize music discovery further. The Flutter framework ensures a consistent, high-quality experience across Android and iOS, while new features aim to streamline content ownership in a digital world ripe for duplication.

The ongoing success stories of artists on major streaming platforms have highlighted a clear opportunity for Limelight. With digital distribution integrated into the platform, Limelight stands as a beacon for creators, offering them a stage to shine and a path to prosper.