Beats & Bytes – Quality Festivals, Quality Brand Activations

In Beats + Bytes by Matt Voyno

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I saw a lot of great festivals this year. Besides quality music, a common theme was quality brand activations. You can read all about my top five that I saw in 2016 right here.

The big lesson here: Like any cultural trend, brands need to pick and choose their battles wisely. With millennials, teens and incoming generations of consumers behind them, authenticity is the name of the game.

There’s plenty of room for brands to play at festivals and other music-based events, but before diving in marketers should ask:
1) “Can I translate my brand story in a way that’s appropriate for this environment?” and
2) “Does my brand experience offer tangible value to busy and distracted festival-goers?”
If you can answer “yes” to both of those questions, the next challenge is to craft a unique and compelling enough experience that can cut through the noise – and keep in mind, in a festival setting this “noise” comes in the form of the likes of Kanye, LCD Soundsystem and The Strokes. For a more detailed look at how the best of the best are doing it including HP, Budweiser, Toyota and more click here.

Also don’t miss out on the Jazz Foundation of America’s 15th annual “A Great Night in Harlem” concert on October 27th, 2016 at the Apollo Theater. It will be a magical night featuring performances by Jon Batiste, Robert Cray, John Mayer Trio, and more. Get your tickets here.

@JesseKay


BEATS

Five show-stopping music festival brand activations from 2016
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AT&T Plans Media-Telecom Mix With $85.4 Billion Time Warner Deal
Bloomberg

After Years Of Warnings, Internet Of Things Devices To Blame For Big Internet Attack
FastCompany


 BYTES

LISTEN

At the Revolt Music Conference Drink Champs sit down with hip hop powerhouse executives Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles.

N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN:
Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles

WATCH

CBS news program dives into social media influencers. Who they are, the power they have and the money they make. Check it out above.

60 Minutes:
The Influencers

GET

Pulp allows you to choose whatever song you want from Apple Music and mix animated live filters onto your video. Share them with the rest of your community.

Pulp:
Music Videos w/ Filters

CHARGED UP

Leonard Cohen’s 14th studio album is another classic that can be stacked next to his catalouge of brilliant music. Check out You Want It Darker above.

Leonard Cohen:
You Want It Darker