British Dotcom Entrepreneur takes on Apple, Amazon and Spotify to save kids from sleepwalking into tablet trauma

17 August 2017 - Press release

British internet entrepreneur, Rob Lewis, who created Europe's first music streaming service on mobiles over 10 years ago, takes on tech giants Apple, Spotify and Amazon with the launch of ROXI, a radically different approach to music entertainment, launching in the UK and USA today.

ROXI by Electric Jukebox, an innovative British upstart music entertainment brand founded by Lewis, is designed to combat the dangers of excessive use of mobiles, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles in the home, and in particular by young children.

Unlike the music streaming services offered by the major tech giants, ROXI is not app-based or designed for personal devices. It instead offers a dedicated device and internet connected service that gets friends and family listening, singing and playing together. ROXI powers a shared family experience that works with families' TV and speakers, making digital entertainment a shared, social, inclusive entertainment experience.

Research reveals tablet trauma

The launch comes as independent market research published today by Electric Jukebox,** shows that children spend 23 hours a week isolated on personal devices in the home, twice the amount of time they spend interacting with their family. This new research comes hot on the heels of last week's warning from Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield of the dangers of over-use of personal devices and social media.

Rob Lewis, CEO and founder of Electric Jukebox said: "I spent decades advocating the wider user of the internet, but increasingly, I've realised that the overuse of tablets, mobiles and personal tech is damaging children's development. Children are spending twice as much time on their personal tech as they do talking to their families."

He added. "We're sleep walking into a crisis where kids grow up addicted to personal tech, which damages their ability to communicate in the real world and contributes to a rise in mental health issues. We can't just take the devices away. We need to recognise these problems and offer radical new alternatives. ROXI is one such alternative approach and one that can get families enjoying digital experiences in a more healthy, sociable framework."

Expert Geoff Beattie speaks out

Experts also agree children's personal development is being seriously damaged by addiction to personal devices. Psychologist Geoff Beattie (Cambridge professor and previously Channel 4 Big Brother psychologist) today speaks out

"It's a familiar sight.  A family at home, parents and children not interacting, the children engaged only with their personal mobile devices, the family members leading separate lives within the same space. Families are being fragmented, with children becoming more and more solitary in their activities; addicted to their mobile devices, psychologically dependent on social media and 'virtual friends' to maintain their self-esteem.  Parents feel powerless to make any significant change."

He added, "We urgently need to find ways of making a change.  One solution is shared music experiences, which is what families get with ROXI.  Music helps people connect in many ways.  It provides a basis for interaction, it lifts the mood, it facilitates communication and it can act as a bridge between the generations." 

 

ROXI in detail

Serving up an exciting mix of music entertainment in one fun and easy-to-use device, ROXI offers a much richer and more social entertainment experience than competing app-based music streaming services.

ROXI's unique wireless controller has a built-in microphone, that enables users to voice search the entire music catalogue and singalong, karaoke-style. The motion sensitive controller encourages interaction between users, allowing you to cooperatively select music entertainment features through families' TV and best home speakers. Unlike any other personal music streaming device, ROXI enables quality family time through its social music entertainment features, including karaoke-style singalongs and music trivia games.

Furthermore, its backed by passionate music celebrities including Robbie Williams, Stephen Fry Alesha Dixon and Sheryl Crow, who commented: "I love Electric Jukebox ROXI because it brings people together," said nine times Grammy award-winner and Electric Jukebox Curator, Sheryl Crow. "Listening to music and sharing those experiences together is what life's all about. With headphones and mobiles, we've somehow lost all that. ROXI plugs into your TV and turns it into a jukebox with all the music you want, played out loud in your home for you to listen, sing and play together. Simple, fun and no fuss."

 

Business news - Funding & IPO Plans

Electric Jukebox is closing its final tranche of $14m in funding and is today announcing plans for an IPO in the first half of 2018 to fund the rollout of ROXI and additional Electric Jukebox products around the world.

The company's mission is dedicated to helping families live better lives through high quality music entertainment products, content and experiences. The British upstart is backed by YOLO Leisure & Technology PLC and a range of industry heavyweights including ex U2 manager Paul McGuiness, ex TomTom founder CTO Mark Gretton, ex Bon Jovi manager, ex Vice Chairman and CEO of EMI Americas, and President of Nordoff Robins, David Munns OBE, ex Chairman and CEO of EMI Worldwide, Alain Levy and ex Chairman Warner Music UK Rob Dickins CBE.

ROXI by Electric Jukebox is available in Red, Blue, Charcoal, SRP £199 from www.electricjukebox.com, Selfridges, Amazon, Ebay, Ocado, Tesco.com, and QVC from 17 August.

*Rob Lewis launched Europe's first internet TV station Silicon.com in 1998 and Europe's first music streaming service, MusicStation, on mobiles with Swedish mobile network operator Telenor in 2007.

**Research carried out in July 2017 by CensusWide for Electric Jukebox. Sample: 2,000 UK families - with children under 14 years old.