Geolocation And Weezer

Everyone seems to agree that geolocation apps like Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places are the coming thing, but until now only brick and mortar retail stores and restaurants have taken advantage of the promotional opportunities. How? Stores and restaurants often provide an extra discount or special when a person has checked into their place a minimum number of times, then increase the incentive the more they visit.

Now the band Weezer and Gowalla are rewarding fans who attend shows in much the same way. After a fan stamps his "virtual passport" by attending a show (the first one is November 26 at the Gibson Amphitheater in LA), he can download a track from the band's latest album Hurley for free, eventually earning a full discount on the the full album download by attending more shows. Additional prizes include an all-expenses trip to a Weezer tour date to meeting the band backstage.

Expect this to be only the first of many musical reward experiences based around geolocation, as artists begin get hip to the concept.

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