Has TweetDeck Found a Business Model? Launches Blink-182 Themed Version
TweetDeck, the popular desktop Twitter client, launched a Blink-182 themed version of its application today. The Blink-182 version of TweetDeck is based on the current version of the app (0.25).
We have often wondered how an application like TweetDeck or Seesmic could make money from their efforts. Tweetdeck, after all, is the most popular desktop Twitter client, yet it doesn't feature any advertising or pro versions, so providing customized versions of the app to bands and brands seems like a very smart way to actually make money for TweetDeck.
In addition to the new theme, the app also features a new notification sound that is based on a popular Blink 182 song (Dammit) and a Blink-182 button that brings up a Blink-182 group in TweetDeck, which is pre-seeded with tweets from all the band's members on Twitter.
Blink-182 on Twitter
Blink-182 (assuming this is an official account), joined Twitter in February, but have only posted three tweets so far. Two of them are actually announcements for the TweetDeck client and were posted within the last hour. However, the band's singer, Mark Hoppus, and drummer, Travis Barker, are clearly active Twitter and Tweetdeck users, so this combination seems like a very good fit for TweetDeck. Especially, because both of the band members actually seem to engage their fans on Twitter.
Similar Deals Coming Soon?
We are still waiting for confirmation that money actually changed hands in this deal, so we have contacted TweetDeck and will update this post once we hear back from them.
According to a DM we got from the TweetDeck team on Twitter, however, "this is just the beginning, wait until you see what else we've got coming up next." We are also awaiting the release of the next version of TweetDeck in the near future. Chances are that this will not be a one-off deal between Blink-182 and TweetDeck, but that the company is actively looking for similar deals with other brands.
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So when will the RWW version of Tweetdeck be released?
Chris - great idea!
Very similar to what Meebo is doing...
Just so long as they don't plan to charge me to use an *unbranded* version of TweetDeck :-)
TweetDeck is a sweet app. They'll do good if they keep innovating.
Hopefully the subsequent skins will be less unattractive (and feature better musicians if tweetdeck is destined to become a freemium service where branded experiences are pro-bono).
In the music industry the times of big money is over as people hardly buy records any more.
Musicians can only make money by live performances.
How will Tweetdeck make decent money with an industry that has problems.
Hey Frederic,
Nice to know that now we can use different themes in tweetdeck. I have to install it and search for a nice theme which looks awesome.
Thanks
Sankar
pretty innovative brand positioning.. but realistically how many themese can you sell whilst sustaining its effectiveness...not very strategic..
also, is this Tweetdecks only form on revenue??