Jimmy Barnes, Reece Mastin’s label speak out against “dodgy” local app, Sociabl

A local app, which promises to put fans in touch with artists like will.i.am, Jimmy Barnes and Reece Mastin, has caused a stir among the music industry as acts deny ever giving permission.

21-year-old Brandon Reynolds, who created the app Sociabl, appeared on The Today Show this morning. In an interview with Today co-host David Campbell – who also appears on the app as one of the contactable ‘idols’ – Reynolds said he had spoken to Campbell’s manager prior to the launch.

“My name came up on the app, and I was like, I’ve never heard of this app,” Campbell said.

Launched today, Sociabl was created by Reynolds along with 22-year-old Jarrad Hrotek. According to its description on the Apple app page, it “offers you the opportunity to connect with the world’s biggest stars, through an intimate one-on-one video call.”

The chat with David Campbell was on offer for $500, with $250 said to be donated to anti-violence against women charity White Ribbon.

“Work with me, help me raise money for charity,” said Reynolds in the interview. “We are working with White Ribbon […] we’re not a major fraud.”

White Ribbon has said it has no involvement with Sociabl.

Ina statement to TMN, Jimmy Barnes said he will have to take further action if the app’s creators keep using his name and likeness.

“These people have completely lied about my involvement,” said Barnes. “I think they’re just using my name to try to fool people into buying a dodgy product. It’s wrong and I have nothing to do with it. If the people behind this don’t stop putting these stories out there then I’ll have tomakethem stop.”

Jake Challenor, CEO & Co-Founder at Reece Mastin’s label Social Family Records, told TMNthe label requested Mastin’s name and likeness be removed from Sociabl. However, Reece Mastin is still featured prominently.

Challenor told TMN Social Family was approached by Sociabl’s representatives last November, when they were invited to use the app. Social Family Records received a contract from Sociabl at the end of the year to sign; the label didn’t sign the contract. Social Familywere asked to present the contract to its roster of artists, which also includes Dallas Frasca, Baby Animals and Amber Lawrence.

“Social Family Records is in no way involved and in light of recent media coverage, we now have no plans to formally present [the contract from Sociabl] to any of our artists,” saidJake Challenor.

Reynolds told The Today Show that US artist will.i.am will begin his involvement with Sociabl in April. He said he had been in contact with Polo Molina, will.i.am’s US manager.The Today Show contacted Molina, who said: “I don’t think this in something Will’s involved in.”

Australia’s comedy industry has also been affected. Speaking to TMN, Andrew Taylor of management firm More Comedy said he met with Reynolds in Sydney on November 5 after being contacted in late October.

“At that meeting he outlined the project to me and I decided that it wouldn’t work for my clients. The clients he wanted to involve were Jim Jefferies, Alex Williamson, Frenchy, Em Rusciano, Joel Creasey and Neel Kolhatkar.

“We then noticed recently that he had sited Frenchy and Alex [Williamson] on his launch promotion as being involved, I told him then to remove them, for which I got no reply. Having checked again yesterday I saw he’d left them on his website.”

Taylor said he has informed Sociabl to either remove the two comedy figures or face legal action.

“At best Brandon is naïve and unprofessional, at worst he is unscrupulous, using anyone’s personal IP for commercial gain is totally unacceptable,” Taylor said. “No More Comedy clients will be involved with this project.”

What’s more, Minister for Innovation Christopher Pyne and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who were named to attend the app’s launch in Sydney today, have both denied any involvement.

While’s the app’s creators at the very least have undoubtedlty been naive, Sociabl’s publicist is Sydney-based publicist/tour promoter Max Markson.

Speaking to TMN, Markson said every artist on the app sans will.i.am, Reece Mastin and Jimmy Barnes “is confirmed”.

“It’s only three local stars whose social media manager gave approval in writing for them to be on the App,” said Markson. “Unfortunately he didn’t tell the stars!”

Markson also told TMN international stars will be made available on the app following itsoverseas launch in April.

TMN expects more artists and entertainment figures will deny their involvement with Sociabl in the coming days.