Whats better than and iPhone that lets you do everything? A Buddha Box that lets you do one thing and one thing only. Listen to FM3's (a tidy band desperate for promotion) tunes.
The little boxes come in six colours and according to forcedexposure.com "is a small soundbox made in China which comes with an integrated speaker, a volume control, mini jack-out and a switch to choose between nine different loops which are stored on a small chip and can be directly played by this mini soundsystem"
These things look cool, sound raw (not perfect as its like listening to AM radio), and are a fantastic promotion for the band. Expect to see the next Nirvana or Pearl Jam with design focused Buddha Boxes in the future. The trend as i see it is to promote the band while the person is listening to it through their headphones. The boxes only allow the installed music to be played and at only a little more than a CD (or an itunes download that lives in your computer box) are great ways to enjoy music and decorate your house.
Buddha Machine
$23 Funky Music Player with 9 Ambiant Chillout Tunes
Trend Themes
1. Music-focused Gadgets - Opportunity to create innovative gadgets that focus solely on music playback and promotion.
2. Limited Functionality Devices - Chance to develop devices with restricted functionality that provide unique user experiences.
3. Music Merchandise - Potential to expand the music industry by creating merchandise that enhances the music listening experience.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - Disruptive innovation opportunities in developing compact devices dedicated to specific functions such as music playback.
2. Music Promotion - Opportunity to create promotional strategies and products that facilitate the connection between music artists and fans.
3. Home Decor - Chance to incorporate music-themed decoration items into the home decor industry, offering a blend of aesthetics and functionality.