Purdue alumnus' social music app adds 'Spotify'

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Caktus Music Inc., a mobile music app that allows people to connect with friends and find new music through a unique social network, has added a global leader in music streaming, Spotify, to its list of supported music platforms.

Caktus was co-founded by Keith Williams, a Purdue University alumnus.

The app allows users direct access to their iTunes library, local media files, SoundCloud tracks and now Spotify, all through the Caktus music player.

"Caktus' music player has the unique ability to play music from multiple libraries, eliminating the inconvenient 'app gap' that many audiophiles face in trying to listen to their music via disjointed mobile platforms," said Joel Benson, a Purdue alumnus and marketing specialist with Caktus. "The app's addition of Spotify is a first-of-its-kind integration that we are excited to debut in our next update."

In January, Caktus took part in the National Association of Music Merchants convention in Los Angeles. While there, team members met with representatives from music labels and ticket industry leaders, Ticketmaster and Live Nation, discussing potential applications of Caktus' technology.

"Caktus' unique ability to provide a variety of geolocation-based predictive modeling is a very attractive value proposition for the music industry," Benson said. "Our analytics, predictive modeling and direct-marketing capabilities will have industry leaders excited."

Caktus is a client of the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub based in Purdue's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. Caktus' main office is part of the Anvil, a community co-working space on Purdue's campus supported in part by the Purdue Research Foundation and the City of West Lafayette.

"Working with the Purdue Foundry has offered exceptional networking opportunities with local entrepreneurs and a strong sounding board for new ideas," Benson said. "The Anvil has been a great place to work and interact with other startups and entrepreneurs, sharing ideas and being a part of the Indiana startup community."

Caktus is available for free through iTunes and the Apple App store, and currently with an Android port in development. The company was named one of 2014's Top 50 Hottest Startups at Tech Cocktail's Celebrate conference in Las Vegas.

About Caktus Music Inc.

Caktus is the world's first true social music player, allowing users to play music and see what their friends are listening to in real time. The company is committed to positively impacting the lives of users and musicians by connecting people through music.  

About Purdue Foundry
The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org

Writer: Hillary Henry, Purdue Research Foundation

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org

Source:  Joel Benson, 765.418.7218, joel@caktusmusic.com