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New York’s karaoke scene is getting a major remix. Opening November 1 at 248 West 14th Street by Eighth Avenue, Beatbox will reimagine the classic karaoke night as an immersive, design-forward experience where every performance feels like a mini concert, regardless of your talent level.
Created by Stanford Business School alumni Lannie Rosenfield and Sara Goodison, Beatbox transforms karaoke into a full-fledged cultural hub aimed at making the practice less intimidating and more interactive. Their solution? A space that uses cutting-edge technology to turn even the shyest guest into a rock star.
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The heart of the concept is Beatbox’s proprietary karaoke platform, offering three distinct modes of play that turn karaoke into as much a competition as it is a booze-fueled confessional. On Key challenges singers to hit the right notes while competing for top scores. Don’t Forget the Lyrics uses AI to test memory and timing, scoring singers in real time as they fill in missing words. And for the old-school traditionalists, Freestyle mode delivers the familiar, low-pressure singalong vibe, but with modern twists like optional auto-tune and real-time scoring.
The space itself, designed by Zachary Pulman Design Studio, feels worlds away from a typical karaoke lounge. A glowing space decked out with vinyl records and concert photography sets the tone before guests enter one of three private suites. Each room transforms into an immersive stage with LED backdrops, plush seating and theatrical lighting. Onstage, every performance unfolds across three screens, including a massive 8-by-5-foot LED wall that makes every number look like a music video. So dress accordingly.
The food and drinks are just as creative. Designed in partnership with Gadi Peleg (Breads Bakery, Stretch Pizza, Buba Bureka), the menu takes bar food favorites and gives them a late-night twist. Cocktails range from Rockstar Martinis and Sang-ria to inventive zero-proof options, proving that liquid courage can be optional when Auto-Tune has your back.
“Music is the ultimate connector,” said Rosenfield in a statement. “With Beatbox, we wanted to reimagine karaoke through the lens of interactivity. By developing proprietary software, we’ve created modes that measure pitch accuracy, test lyric recall, and let guests perform without pressure. Pairing those features with real-time scoring and elevated production design turns each song into a shared experience that’s more engaging than a traditional karaoke night and more approachable than a professional recording studio.”
Beatbox’s calendar will feature themed nights, album anniversary parties, happy hours and family-friendly programming by day. The result is a nightlife venue that aims to merge playfulness, polish and performance.