Innovation  |  Inventing an original technology of sound purification and sound remastering

SITUATION  |

Back in the 1990s, the sound of classical music on CDs was rarely crystal clear and often remastered without great care or quality.

TASK  |

A group of three pianists decided to innovate while inventing an original technology of sound purification and sound remastering. I was one of those three classical music lovers while also studying our MSc. We founded a start-up (Keystone Records) in which each of us would have a distinct role based on our respective competencies and network.

APPROACH  |

Our new technology consisted of an innovative sound remastering software combined with an original technique of recording the sound at the source. We patented it. I was in charge of promoting and launching our CDs while signing up piano artists. I could reference them and negotiate successfully with national department store chains such as Fnac and Virgin.

RESULTS AND IMPACT  |

We won the special mention of the “Reims Creator 1994” the innovation contest organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Champagne-Ardennes among 1,200 competitors. We received a prize of €40,000 allowing the Keystone Records to break even in its first year of existence. We were soon approached by major music labels to acquire our company.

CASE-OWNER(S)  |