Hit iPhone auto-tuner “I Am T-Pain” took home the ‘Best Artist-Based App’ Award at the Billboard Music App Awards today in San Francisco, beating out finalists Linkin Park’s “8-Bit Rebellion” and “TouchChords: Jimmie Vaughan.”
Sporting a “Big Ass Chain” necklace, white blazer and company sign, Smule marketing manager Turner Kirk accepted the award and thanked rapper T-Pain, who singlehandedly conceived of the auto-tuning iPhone app, and executed it with Smule. “We’re lucky T-Pain and Nappy Boy just get it,” Kirk said.
Released in 2009, “I Am T-Pain” went to number one on the Apple App Store, and has stayed in the top 50 since then. Arguably one of the most-downloaded music apps of all time, it boasts two million users, one million YouTube video uploads. The app has been launched 45 million times and consumed 450 man-years.
Fellow finalist Linkin Park’s “8-Bit Rebellion” was created by Linkin Park, Artificial Life and Warner Bros Records. It features members battling an evil corporation amidst Linkin Park tracks. Curious Brain’s “TouchChords: Jimmy Vaughan” streams music, teaches users to learn to play guitar with tablature and notation, and was installed 50,000 times in the three weeks after launch.
FOR FULL COVERAGE of Billboard’s Mobile Entertainment Live Music App Summit in San Francisco #MEL2010 click here.
