SmartPhoneRecords Battles App Developer, USC Tech Incubator

Those who regularly interact with us on Facebook and Twitter have probably seen us share info about SmartPhoneRecords across various social media platforms. We came to know them quite some time ago as we’re always on the lookout for companies doing things in new and interesting ways. We’re also always on the lookout for women looking to make their mark in a positive way and SmartPhone Records is a combination of both of those things.

Before we get into what their current problems are, let’s share a little background on SPR. Founded by Reyna Carrasco, a Marine Corps veteran, and app developer, musician, and author Damion Hollomon, SPR is exactly what it sounds like; a record label on your smartphone. The description from the SmartPhoneRecords website says:

Discover or be discovered.

Listen to tracks for free or purchase high-quality recordings directly from the artists you love. You can even tip your favorite artist to show your support. 

If you’re an artist, SPR will let you distribute your music worldwide for free. No listing fees or subscriptions required.

Artists can begin uploading their music now so that it’s ready for listeners when the new SPR launches. 

Not only does SPR serve as a D2F label which gives artists control of their content and encourages the artist:fan engagement which is so crucial in today’s music business climate, its innovative nature hasn’t gone unnoticed in tech circles and the app community. SPR had been nominated for numerous awards before they even officially launched and Reyna Carrasco was  nominated for awards as a woman in tech.

Despite this early success, Carrasco and Holloman have faced a series of ongoing issues with their app developers, 52_inc., as well as the University of South Carolina Technology Incubator. 52_inc. is an app development company which specializes in making an app a week and the USC Tech Incubator “operates on a membership model, and we only consider and select the businesses and entrepreneurs that are focused on entrepreneurship and exhibit strong potential for success”. To be accepted into the program, companies must be well beyond the idea phase, be able to earn enough income to provide salaries to employees, and meet a series of other criteria which you can read in detail by clicking the link above.

Now, as for the aforementioned issues facing SPR and its founders; 52inc. and the USC Tech Incubator haven’t followed through on their obligations to SmartPhoneRecords. They’ve ceased communication, denied correspondence, sent termination agreements, and not followed through on app development. This has left SmartPhoneRecords in a position no startup or small business wants to find itself in. Carrasco and Holloman have their savings tied up in SPR, not to mention years of work. Fortunately, the SPR owners aren’t naive to how business works and saved all correspondence. They have proof of the communication, some which has been denied by other interested parties, some which is alleged to have been entirely deleted. In a blog written by Reyna Carrasco, dated February 15, 2016,  copies of that correspondence is shared and details chronicling the SmartPhone Records/52_inc./USC Tech Incubator saga are laid out in as much detail as can be currently discussed. We highly urge you to read the link below and share their story. So many of our readers are musicians who share their music via SmartPhoneRecords. Others are startups who need to be made aware that these things occur, and they occur quite often. Show your support for SPR as ultimately we’re all in this together. Read the full SmartPhoneRecords story HERE!