Jonas Brothers not just phoning it in

Tonight, you might begin to wonder if something dreadful has happened to the tween demographic because they are not out and about. Fear not. Most likely they are watching "Camp Rock," the Disney Channel movie musical starring members of the hyper-popular Jonas Brothers.

Not that they needed one, but a half-million Jonas Brothers fans got a quasi-personal reminder on their phones today from the band members touring in Germany saying how excited they were about the movie. And if a fan wants, she can call the band's phone number, (818) 748-8887, and leave a message about the "Camp Rock" slumber party she's hosting. When she calls, she can choose to receive recorded calls from the boys or text alerts every time they issue a new voice message (the service doesn't work if you call from a number with caller ID blocked).

Connecting celebrities and fans by phone seems positively retro, admits Nikhyl Singhal (we incorrectly spelled it Singhai in a previous version of this post), chief executive of SayNow, the Palo Alto company that runs the service. Surely someone in Motown ...

... did this in the '60s? In a world where every hot musician and celeb knows his iMeem from his iLike and all the other social networking sites, he said, there's something about getting a telephone message from someone famous that appeals to people.

SayNow is sort of a phone messaging service, Singhal explained today during a visit to my office in San Francisco. It gives the artist a phone number that he or she then gives out to fans (and no, it's not the artist's real cellphone digits). The actor/R&B singer Tyrese is among the famous people leaving messages about their day and what they're thinking.

"It gets you closer to the fan and allows you to interact with them when they are offstage," Singhal said.

SayNow and the artists make money not from the phone call charges but from the advertising that accompanies the message as well as from sales of tour tickets and other items. In 15 months, the Jonas Brothers have gathered a virtual army of 500,000 people who have said they want phone messages from the band. When the group was in New Jersey, the brothers left a message saying they wanted a bagel. They were greeted with bag upon bag at their next gig.

"They could get them to do anything," Singhal said. "Tell them to register to vote, they would register to vote."

Other artists using SayNow include R. Kelly, Janet Jackson and the rapper Lil' Fizz. Hoping to capture different kinds of audiences, SayNow plans to expand into comedy, sports and possibly politics.

Woody Allen ("I shot a moose once") isn't on the list yet, but one can hope.

-- Michelle Quinn

Photo: From left, Jonas Brothers Nick, Joe and Kevin, along with co-star Demi Lovato from the movie "Camp Rock" on the Disney Channel. Credit: Bob D'Amico / Disney Channel

Comments

[Mindy Bessette]

Hello

As a parent I wanted to let you know what a great representation you are for teens and pre teen girls and boys.

You set positive examples and are great role models. Keep up the good work.
a Friend of mine has a daughter who is coming back stage to meet you in Vermont and she cannot wait.

VErmont " Save the Best for Last"

[katrina]

Hay its katrina your movie was awesome and you were right you can relate to people in the movie. i think i related the most to mitchie i have a talent but im just afraid that if i sing infront of everybody they'll laugh im petrified of crowds and always shy anyways i loved your movie and thanks for being in it, it made it just so much more great Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas cant wait to see it again bye!!!!!!!!

[Maria]

OMG i totally watched camp rock today and it is the best movie ever. Joe JONAS IS SOOOOOOOOO HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS

[courtney betkowski]

camp rock was awsome......love the music vidios....<3 nick jonas is so hot : ) <3i llove you guys

[Samantha Fields]

I love the Jonas Brothers! Their new movie is awesome! I wonder if they will make a camp rock 2?!?!?!?!? I hope they do. My favorite character in camp rock was nick jonas, kevin jonas, and joe jonas. My new favorite character in camp rock is demi lovato.

[TINKERBELL]

I THOUGHT THE MOVIE WAS AWSOME AND THE ONLY REASON THAT IS IS BECUASE JOE JONAS WAS IN THE MOVIE AND HIS TWO OTHER BRIOTHERS WERER AWSOME TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU JOE WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shannon]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh my god they rok i luv there song SOS n I LOOK IN UR EYES or something like that i cant wait till i see ur movie NICK U R SOOOOOOOOOOOO HOT SO R U JOE

[Mimo]

I adore JONAS BROTHERS <3 Theyre so cute. and im happy to their fanline...
I hope it works from germany

[Angelica]

Even though I'm not a preteen I think you guys are pretty good. I heard you guys want to expand your audience to teens. Even though most teens are into typical teen stuff and it does not fit the purity of your style, there are a lot of teens who respect and adored by many fans. Hopefully you'll expand your audience to older teens, or you'll disappoint a lot of fans who like you a lot, like me.

You guys rock!

~JoBro fan!

[Angelica]

I just want to hear you "play the music"! Never quit! Continue and leave a legacy for the 4th JoBro when the time comes for him to do what you do. Hopefully he'll join your band!

[Kristina]

I love the song LoveBug.

[future mrs.jonas]

camp rock totallay rocked!!!!! i loved it!

i loved it so much becaus the jo bros are in it!

p.s. if the jo bros are reading this...........

i think your hotter than hot, and u guys are so sweet u could give me a tooth-ake!

[Shreya]

I love Jonas brothers.Their new movie camp rock really very rocking.I like the song two stars.I like the movie because it gives message that {stars are also common people they also want true friend ,who care them not their name&fame.}