(* Source: Gucci Clothing Outlet *)



No longer isolated to just the United States, the NBA All-Star Game is now a global phenomenon and an appropriate excuse to host a large pep rally. While fans enjoy the festivities at Nike Sportswear Los Fearless Club House in Los Angeles, hundreds more were doing the same halfway across the globe in Shanghai’s 800 Show Creative Center, where Nike Sportswear gathered top Chinese talents for All-Star Battle Night. Liken to American Idol with a twine from Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, B-Boys, DJs, and rhythm meisters battled one another for the prize – the admiration of the gathered audience. As for the grand finale? A special performance by Jason Tang and the affable, comical lyrics from the one and only MC Hot Dog.

Posted by brian tiong at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Emily for Freshness *)



After three months of ferocious competition at Lower East Side’s PONG (a single table ping pong parlor revived three months ago for its third iteration to provide the neighborhood with a healthy dose of competition and entertainment), the culmination of the pop-up ping pong venture ends in the grand L.E.S. Cup 2010. The L.E.S. Cup 2010 is a joint effort between creative agency Grand Opening and PUMA. The L.E.S. Cup is not just a neighborhood table tennis championship, but also a project aimed at helping to bring the community together regardless of whether one can execute a deadly backhand.

As the top ping pong players from the Lower East Side vie for the trophy and fulfilling sense of sweet victory, all interested in supporting the players or simply enjoying a fun night of furious serves. smashes and chops can purchase tickets to attend the event. The event doesn’t simply provide entertainment and an opportunity to yell at the top of one’s lungs, but also comes with stadium seating, fresh beats from DJs, even fresher remarks from commentators, and the highlight– a staffed bar.

Posted by brian tiong at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Masa for Freshness *)



First arrived in the West Coast, understandably the UNDFTD x PUMA Clyde celebration finally arrived in the Big Apple last night as part of the Good Units venue. Packed with eager fans, party goers, and personalities from the entertainment industry, a clash of style took place on the stage with performances by DJ Scratch, Kid Capri, Kenny Dope, Prince Language, DJ Spinna and DJ Getlive! Spotted in the midst, legendary rapper Biz Markie with Michael Packer, of Packer Shoes, along with Eddie Cruz (UNDEFEATED), Adam Leaventon, the Director of Merchandising for PUMA,  along with a range of notable PUMA Clyde editions were all on hand to take part in the festivities.  Guests were even invited to pose with the giant Clyde, the largest size made, for a memorable party snap shot.

Posted by brian tiong at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: LiquidRice *)



The official unveiling of the Jordan Fly Wade took place today in Miami. Dwayne Wade along with Jordan Creative Director, Mark Smith held several mini media sessions with journalist to go through the first Jordan signature sneaker for Mr Wade. The sessions included some time for Q&A which we will present very soon in video form. As a surprise, Jordan Brand and NikeiD premiered the customization builder for the Jordan Fly Wade iD which will be available to the public on Sunday, May 29, 2011. Take a look below for photos from the event including illustrations, shoe parts, pre-designed Fly Wade iD photos and more shots of the shoes.

Posted by brian tiong at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Freshnessmag *)



Ahead of the world’s most potent Southpaw’s fight against “Sugar Shane” Mosley this Saturday night, the gathered fans along the Las Vegas Strip will have the chance to declare their allegiance. Beginning today, Nike Sportswear is offering Manny Pacquiao the chance to customize and create their very own MP tees for free. Simply purchase a t-shirt from the Nike Manny Pacquiao Collectionat the Champ Sports location within Fashion Show Mall and select the array of designs. The offer will last till Fight Night, May 7th. There will also be a temporary photo booth event this Sunday, May 8th, where you can bring your best championship poses to the ring for a memorable knockout portrait.

Posted by brian tiong at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Giles Fitzgerald *)



Sport is usually approached by brands in two ways.  Firstly, as part of the basic – yet fundamental – sponsorship bragging rights battle at key high profile events, be it football or motor racing. The other flip side of this has been the sponsorship, or development of, on the ground grassroots initiatives that favour the working sportsman; the Sunday football league or part time marathon runner.

Both have their merits, but there is now a new movement brewing, one that is redefining what sport is and how it fits into the more mundane tasks of everyday life.

Puma kick started this rethinking with its ‘Puma Social’ campaign, a global re-envisioning of sport as a part of a much wider competitive set of events outside the remit of traditional sporting activates. The footwear and apparel brand’s low key celebration of the After Hours Athlete, sees everything from darts and bowling to attempting to score a girl’s phone number in the pub as part of the ‘sport’ we engage in everyday. This positions sport as available to all, and not just the reserve of the more able bodied among us.

Posted by brian tiong at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Freshness Mag *)



“Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice…” or as the old saying goes.  Just don’t tell these “girls”.  Sure, they too are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice.  But they are also “empowered”, able to create their own destinies by navigating through the various obstacles in life.  Led by Samantha Jo Alonso of FRUITION, they are more than just fashion bloggers, writers, stylists, or boutique owners. They are sisters, nieces, girlfriends, and daughters. But most importantly, they are archetypes of modern day “girls”.

In honor of these role models, Nike devised a “Girl’s Night Out” event in Los Angeles. It all started a week before, when mysterious men in black tux hand delivered invitations to 11 ladies. Next, a private car service picked up each invited guest on the stated date and chauffeured them to an undisclosed location in Downtown Los Angeles. After several courses of wine and dine, the honored 11 were ushered to the just opened Nike Vault at Staples Center for the unveiling of Aquadunk Hi Skinny, each personalized with their names. As a finale to a tremendously fun evening, Nike supplied each with a ticket to Lady Gaga‘s sold out concert at Staples Center.

Posted by brian tiong at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Jack Jensen *)



While most of the basketball world was focused on the glitz and the glamour of the NBA All-Star game and all of the hoopla surrounding, a new movement in basketball had its day just a few blocks from Staples Center.

On Saturday, under a gritty overpass at the Lower Grand Street Tunnel in downtown L.A., the inaugural Nike Basketball Los Fearless 2-on-2 tournament went off. 64 teams showed up to do battle for a $2,000 cash prize and the bragging rights that come with surviving what is undoubtedly one of the most brutal tournaments in the known basketball world. In it’s most simple form, the Los Fearless game is full court 2-on-2 with a scoring system that rewards players for scoring in the paint – it’s a setup that creates a style of play not for the faint of heart.

We charted the journey that the players made up to and through the tournament. Secrecy, surprises and the opportunity to test their mettle before the lights came on Saturday morning awaited every player deemed to have the skills and toughness to be invited to play in the tourney

When it came time to get after it on Saturday morning, Los Fearless did not disappoint. The players were ready, and it was clear from the jump that every athlete in the field represented the best that L.A. and its surrounding areas had to offer. Games were run on five different courts laid down in the tunnel and the fans who made their way down to the event could check out new Nike products, customize t-shirts, hit a NIKEiD station and more.

Posted by brian tiong at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Jack Jensen *)



" It all started with a text message from a random number about two weeks ago. The message I received went something along the lines of, “Jack, this is Nike. There’s a 2-on-2 tournament during All-Star weekend. Winner gets $2,000. Do you want in?”

Since I received my first anonymous text a few weeks back, I’ve been contacted more than a few times by the Nike team (hovering around 20 or so estimated by my count). And they’ve all operated under a veil of near-complete anonymity. Every time I get a call or a text explaining a new step I have to complete, I am given the information and that’s it.

But that’s all I knew, until Monday that is, when I got a series of calls making sure I was going to be at my work to receive a “special package.” Cool, I like getting mail at work, makes me feel important. The package, or envelope, that arrived, contained a Nike-branded letter inside assigning me my first task.

On the front of the letter, it read, “Los Fearless Are The Chosen Elite.” And on the back, it gave an address and two simple directions:

We pull up to the street about 8:45pm Wednesday night and it is pitch black outside. The street we pull into is under a street overpass and leads us into a pit of cement nothingness. As we pass a few stray cats and discarded sleeping bags down the street ramp, a huge fellow in all black tells us to park under the pass.

I get out of my car and they sort of file all of us up against this steel-grated warehouse and tell me to pull out my ID card. There are 127 “Chosen Elite” standing around me, not counting myself.  Then, the line starts to flow into said abandoned warehouse through a four-foot metal hobbit door into a room straight out of Saw. They hand me a metal dog tag, cross my name off a highlighted list and send me through. There are boxes and sheets of used plywood and plastic shipping crates strewn all over the building, with one semi-circle opening cleared out for us all to congregate. On the wall in front of us is a forty-foot projection screen displaying the “Los Fearless” tournament logo twitching back and forth.

We still have no clue what’s going on. No one does, not even the security detail, or so they claim.

Then the screen flickers on and there is a giant hooded figure in front of us.

He’s raspy, deep and telling us why we’re all here. That we players are the Chosen Elite to compete in the Los Fearless Tournament and that our dog tags are our lifeblood. When we lose on the court, we lose our dog tags. And the last duo standing will walk away with the cake for two-grand. The magic voice tells us our next instructions await us at the door.

Inside the envelope were instructions, which I quickly read over. I was told to pick out a couple of shirts and logos for the 'Los Fearless' tournament, and then some shoes for the team as well. Just in case the weather turns sour they also let me pick out some Nike sweatshirts with the logo as well. It shouldn't be a surprise that Nike is doing their best to weed out the fearless.

  "

Posted by brian tiong at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Rocky Brown *)



The history of Black athletes is full of epic stories and iconic examples of men and women who have reached unprecedented levels of greatness by committing themselves to an awesome struggle. Through their lives and their accomplishments, these players have exemplified what it means to be dedicated to a level of triumph that should always be honored and never be forgotten. This month BOWERY STADIUM transformed into an homage of three athletes that have exemplified greatness in their personal careers; Michael Jordan, Dr. Jay and Kobe Bryant. In support of their inspiring stories, Nike, Jordan and Converse teamed up to release an exclusive line of products which are now on sale at BOWERY STADIUM

Posted by brian tiong at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Dazed Digital *)

 

Wood Wood's successful pop-up store in Vienna earlier in May, it comes as no surprise that they have settled down into a permanent location in Vienna's Zollergasse which opened last Friday. The Danish fashion label can add this location to their Berlin and Copenhagen stores where they successfully blend in pieces from their own collections with a mix of music, zines and limited edition products that they truly believe in. The Vienna store opening was also the perfect opportunity to launch their collaboration with Nike Sportswear where Wood Wood have created the Lunar Wood TZ shoe, that was inspired by Scandinavia's harsh winter weather.

Wood Wood were keen on making a versatile running shoe that would be functional as well as subtly reflect their influences; "Basically they should keep your feet warm and dry. The Nordic environment was the initial inspiration for this project, and in the first drafts we were more specific about the scandinavian references. However we didn't want the shoe to be too gimmicky, and in the end the scandinavian aspect is probably more present in the process than in the final product." A full indepth look into the shoe can be found on Being Hunted and at the Vienna store there is also a photo exhibition dedicated to the Lunar TZ Shoe ('Scandinavian Nights'), photographed by Thomas Skou.

Posted by brian tiong at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: HongKong Hustle *)



Nike held a block party on Friday night to celebrate the opening of their first NSW store in Hong Kong. ‘NSW’ (Nike Sports Wear,) is the brand’s finely crafted line that exceeds athletic apparel and ventures into cutting-edge fashion. Until now they’ve relied on local power houses such as: D-mop, I.T., Lane Crawford and Juice to distribute their high-end lines. With NSW, the company is a establishing a retail foothold for their premium collection.

The event drew a large crowd as people made their way around normally bustling Causeway Bay on a Friday night. The atmosphere was genuinely festive as staff dressed in sports uniforms and costumes walked through the crowd handing out everything from cotton candy to beers!
Costumed mascots, including a tiger, a panda and the letters NSW paraded around welcoming guests and onlookers.

For the night there were exhibitions lining the walls. The highlight was a photo collection titled “Disco Nike” by Keiichi Nitta. The Japanese photographer was assistant to Terry Richardson before moving back to Japan to set up his own successful studio. The constantly changing images were displayed on a series of monitors mounted against the wall.

Headlining d.j. for the night, Jules Gayton was playing in the store with the equipment set up on the checkout counter! (Jules is a clothing industry veteran who was an original member of the Stussy International Tribe and went on to found his own brand, Leilow, in Hawaii.)

Nike recently opened the very first NSW flagship store on Mercer Street in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Hong Kong’s shop is a fraction of the size, though it maintains a similar sparse decor. The vibrant colors of the clothing and shoes stand out against the muted space.
After perusing the NSW store, guests made their way over to the “secret” after-party. The after-party was held on the third floor of Lee Garden Two, a shopping center just a block away. The venue was Habitu, a restaurant / cafe that includes several rooms, a long bar and a spacious rooftop patio.

 

 

 

 

Posted by brian tiong at 06:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: LLreps *)



Nike hit the world with a range of projects focused on probably the most popular kind of urban sports—running. The methods of raising jogging awareness among the public were different—from creating a new collection of sportswear in collaboration with Japanese designer Jun Takahashi and re-launching Nike GRID to opening the Nike Lunar installationdedicated to the history of running, which can be explored through the collection of the running shoes, at the London-based venue. To reach people in Spain, Nike decided to use vibrant street stickers, which promote the idea of active lifestyle.

The brand commissioned the Brosmind studio to develop a series of hilarious stickers, which were later slapped on walls of city buildings, fences, gritty tubes and other elements of urban environment. The creative team developed 19 stickers with different designs to promote the idea of this urban activity among the generation of young adults, which would definitely love the visual work. The designs feature weird but funny characters, who are running—because they want to relieve themselves, are robbed, are late for a bus or a date, want to get to the store, which is about to close, etc. The stickers appeared in major cities of the country (below there are a few photos of the stickers’ invasion in Barcelona).

Nike’s guerilla campaign is encouraging people to ‘stick and run’ not only by reaching them with offline methods, but also by extending the initiative to social media. The brand is now encouraging Facebookers to take part in the initiative by creating personalized stickers for their friends. The virtual motivational imaginary, users are invited to thefacebook.com/nikestickrun page, where they can write most inspiring message on one of the 19 stickers and send it to one person from their contact list.

Posted by brian tiong at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Giles Ftizgerald *)



Nike has launched a new campaign that turns the art of creation on its head, as the sportswear brand puts forward the notion that “all creators are destroyers”.
The ‘we are the destroyers’ campaign – designed to promote the Nike Destroy Jacket and accompanying footwear – brought together a diverse array of talent, from musicians and artists to athletes, for an evening of destructive mayhem in London.

Held at the Nike 1948 store on Batemans Row in Shoreditch the central event featured a live boxing match between WBA Super Heavyweight Champion Kina Malpartida and her sparring partner Lissett Medel, which featured live musical accompaniment from UK punk outfit Gallows.

The rest of the venue played host to a variety of destructive acts. Amsterdam design studio I Have Pop developed a replica of the NSW Destroyer jacket, constructed from a single block of charred wood, while British jewelery designer Duffy created a skull out of cyclist Mark Cavendish’s crushed bike.

Other activities included live tattooing courtesy of Frith Street and live DJ workshops from Japanese DMCs Kireek
“The passion for destruction is a creative passion, because the old must die for the new to be born” states Nike, as it harnesses the raw energy that drives a variety of creative cultures. It’s a clever premise, and one that manages to blend sport with the wider arts without being pious or heavy handed in its support, enabling artists to create and learn side-by-side with their sporting counterparts.

Posted by brian tiong at 05:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Giles Fitzgerald *)




“Running is boring,” says Nike at the onset of Take Mokum, its new interactive graffiti challenge campaign.  A fairly bold statement from a brand that makes its living from flogging running shoes.

However, this campaign isn’t aimed at everyone, just the somewhat disillusioned youth market who now want running to be more than just pounding the pavement.  Running, like so many other pursuits, needs to be bolted on to other more interactive and connected experiences.

With this in mind Nike Amsterdam created a new Facebook app, Nike Take Mokum, which enabled runners to come together and create digital graffiti by manipulating satellite maps with their chosen running routes. This gave runs a new sense of purpose and a quirky creative spin, as participants converted their hard run steps into the Nike swoosh, skulls and other graphical imagery which they could then share with friends via social media.

A nifty little app in its own right, but Nike didn’t stop there, instead chosing to turn the run and the app activity into a full-blown social experience.  The brand developed ‘Nike: Run House’, which operated as a form of social club where runners could plan their graffiti runs and also hang out, listen to live music acts and get their fill of beer and pizza post run.

Over 9,000 people became members of the club, notching up some 183,275 Facebook views and a total of 220 graffiti runs, covering over a thousand Nike + Killometres in the space of just 6 weeks.

There are some similarities with Nike Grid, a social gaming campaign in London based on running between phone boxes. However, the real beauty of this promotion is that it isn’t solely focused on a clever digital element. The backbone of the campaign is the club mentality and Run House – a branded environment where like-minded individuals can share and enjoy additional content outside of running – is key to engaging with this audience.

Posted by brian tiong at 08:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: FruktComms *)

Despite its title the ‘Nike Air Show’ is not a sponsored display by the Red Arrows, in fact its more akin to blow football – only with Nike footwear instead of footballs.

The people behind the campaign refer to it as a mix of advergaming and P.O.S.

A specially created in store installation enables users to power one of two racing Air Max shoes (which have been attached to magnets to give the illusion of them floating on air) across a race track by blowing into a computer mic.

The concept here is that the shoes are being powered by customers’ ‘air’, thereby highlighting the USP of the footwear.

Ok, it’s not quite the hover board from Back to the Future that everyone wants, but it’s a step in the right direction. All they need to do now is to make a version strong enough to actually enable people to discover the weightless sensation of being inside the Nike Air Max as it levitates.

Posted by brian tiong at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Brand-e.biz *)


G-Technology by Hitach has partnered with Fool’s Gold Records to develop a streaming video series of live performances and interviews. Tight Space will feature Fool’s Gold artists such as A-Trak, Chromeo and Treasure Fingers braodcasting live at 536 Metropolitan, Fool’s Gold’s newly opened retail store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The debut episode of Tight Space will stream on 20 July, kicking off with a DJ set by Chromeo.

“Based on their own creative output, we knew that A-Trak and the Fool’s Gold team would enable G-Technology to reach creative influencers in a very credible and fun way,” said Diana Cartwright, Hitachi GST marketing lead.

Posted by brian tiong at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Giles Fitzgerald *)



Can a website really initiate an actual party? Perhaps in Argentina it can, where this particular slice of music-based marketing stems from – courtesy of ‘once you pop you can’t stop’ chip brand, Pringles.

The Home Party idea is based on the concept that Pringles offers the ability to “Organise a Party Right Now” and the website attempts to convey the party package in a one-stop shop by teaming up with a number of DJs to produce a unique party soundtrack.

Pringles teamed up with 12 international DJs (Carlos Belatti & Joy Marquez; Christian Berger; Felipe Valenzuela, etc) and invited them to compose a set of 12 exclusive tracks, with the whole process curated and produced by internationally renowned DJ, Jimmy Van M.

This exclusive music was then made accessible online, requiring people to sign in with their friends and via social networks in order to utilise the soundtrack for their own party.  The site also features accompanying visuals and VJ tools to aid with the overall atmosphere of the shared dance event experience.

Although the concept can feel a little caged in by its website constraints (it seems to beg for an actual live activation accompaniment) the premise of the ‘party where you’re at’ concept is one that works well for the brand’s regional markets, with the curation and exclusivity angle providing the draw of a big dance event in a compact package, echoing the ‘party in can’ message that underlies the brand itself.

Posted by brian tiong at 05:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Piers Fawkes *)



ArtsThread is a global site that publishes the portfolio of emerging creative talent as they graduate. UK fashion authority Alex Brownless and his partners have created relationships with many of the leading design schools around the world so that when their students graduate there’s a place for potential employers to go to find fashion, arts and design talent.

Since its launch in 2008, ArtsThread have partnered with over 100 colleges in 15 countries including Royal College of Art, the Academy of Art – San Francisco, Glasgow School of Art, Whitehouse-Sydney & Melbourne and Pearl Academy-Delhi. ArtsThread is free for all design graduates: the graduate uploads their portfolio and they get their own individual URL & QR code.

The creative industry can then browse through the portfolios and hire for free. Some of the companies that have contacted graduates on their website include Nike, Gucci, Razorfish, Philips, Nokia, Lego, Nissan, Puma, VF Corporation, Abercrombie & Fitch, Burberry, Urban Outfitters and American Eagle.
Currently ArtsThread have just over 3,000 design graduates on our website but they imagine this figure will increase to 5,000 by September as the students graduate. Brownless hopes that in the next 12 months the number of students signed up increase to 10,000 members.

Brownless explains the benefits to businesses:
“A very user friendly search facility which means an employer can find exactly what they are looking for in just a few clicks. They can search by specialism, school & location. For example. you could be looking for a mens fully fashioned knitwear designer from Nottingham Trent University. An employer can contact the graduate directly and hire.”

Posted by brian tiong at 04:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Todd Wasserman *)



Marvin Gaye’s been dead for almost 30 years, yet he’s a viral sensation right now. What’s going on?
Universal Motown, Marvin Gaye’s record label, has launched a successful Facebook campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his What’s Going On album. The campaign asks fans to post photos of “What’s going on” all over the world.

Fans responded by loading photos, videos and even editorials. A few people posted pictures from the flooding in North Dakota. A woman named Kelly Salazar complained about segregation in Santa Cruz, California.

There are only about 20 posts, yet Inside Facebook reports that the campaign has been a big success. Gaye had fewer than 300,000 fans at the beginning of the week and, as of Thursday morning, had more than 900,000 — an increase of more than 200%. Reps from Universal Motown could not be reached for comment.
Coincidentally, Gaye’s name also popped up as a trending topic in Twitter this week as a result of Big Sean & Kanye West’s hit “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay.”

Posted by brian tiong at 04:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: PopSop.com *)



Samsung presented its SIM project in Portugal aimed at promoting creativity in the country. Starting May, the brand is collaborating with recognized artists and encouraging young creative talents from a range of industries to join in, become part of the grandiose movement, share their insights and win Samsung’s YES award.

The brand is on the lookout for geniuses in the following fields: Creative (architecture, performing arts), Visual Arts and Design, Marketing and Advertising, Film, Television and Radio, Fashion, Music, New Digital Technologies and Applications. Representatives of these areas are encouraged to submit their projects from May 26 through August 31 for a chance to win €25,000. On November 17, the jury will select five finalists based on the innovation, market potential, community impact and economic viability of their idea— they will have to make a live 10-minute presentation of their work and prove it’s worth receiving the money. On November 24, the grand winner will be announced.

Samsung encourages creatives to sign the SIM manifesto (use can do it via Facebook as well) and sing its anthem together with the brand. The project already has Paulo Arraianoaka YUP, one of the most impressive visual artists in the country, who also collaborated with Volkswagen and Nike. For SIM, he turned Samsung kitchen appliances (a dishwasher and a fridge) into an awesome piece of graphic art (watch the video below to see the whole process of magic transformation). The project is also supported by a number of cultural organizations and Portuguese creative personalities, which will partake in a range of upcoming activities to be announced over the coming months and covered of the website of the project.

Posted by brian tiong at 04:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Brenna Elrich *)



Much buzzed-about startup Turntable.fm has been a big favorite among music heads for several weeks, and Thursday, another startup — 1band 1brand — will be attempting to use it for promotional purposes.

Turntable.fm, which is still in beta, comes from the Stickybits team, and is basically like (musical) AOL chatrooms of old — a series of user-created browser-based chatroom/listening rooms where “DJs” (a.k.a. you and others) can play songs, vote on how “lame” or “awesome” those songs are, score points for picking good tunes, and chat with others in a sidebar. You can choose songs from a Medianet-powered library, or upload your own.

The service is still not open to all — you have to connect via Facebook, and you can only get in if one of your friends is already a member. But it has already crested 140,000 users. At present, only those in the U.S. can play with the service, as it’s striving to stay DMCA compliant to avoid licensing issues.

Today, music and brand deals site 1band 1brand will host a Turntable room at 4 p.m. EST, where it will have trivia contests, giveaways, artist DJs (Eastern Conference Champions and Kopecky Family Band) and open mic spots for participating users. You can find said room via the startup‘s Facebook Page.

In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of buzz about how Turntable.fm can be used within the music industry. Some suggested that music venues plug in to promote shows, and Hypebot postulated that musicians could use it to connect with fans.
However, aside from surprise visits from the likes of Diplo and Talib Kweli, much of the use we’ve seen has been of the recreational variety — music publications, PR companies and even labels (yes, labels) spinning tracks for friends.

Posted by brian tiong at 04:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Carlos Varela *)



Incubus has a new album coming out in July, and instead of doing the usual press tour, the band has decided to set up shop in its hometown of Los Angeles, hosting a livestream to get fans pumped for the new disc.

“Incubus HQ Live” kicks off Thursday and will run until July 6, with the band interacting with fans — in person and on camera — daily from roughly 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. As of right now, Incubus isn’t exactly sure how its going to use the stream, according to guitarist Mike Einziger. “We haven’t really planned a lot of it,” he says. “We’re going to leave a lot of it up in the air. There are a few things that are going to be planned, like I’m the guitarist, so I’m going to do an guitar clinic with fans.”

The band also plans to perform live on the stream — the first performance of which will be tonight — answer fan questions sent in via social media, and conduct any interviews with the press from Incubus HQ. The band has also teamed up with video-sharing app Viddy (which is rapidly becoming a favorite among members of the music scene, like Panic at the Disco), asking fans to create 15-second videos inspired by upcoming album, If Not Now, When? [iTunes link]. The band even has their own Viddy production pack — or effects that users can apply — which includes the ability to soundtrack a video with their single “Adolescents.”

Although most bands are loathe to delve into the marketing side of an album release, Incubus conceived the livestream idea on its own, attempting to tailor the concept to its image. Einziger acknowledges that the promotional side of music “kind of sucks,” but looks upon the livestream as a chance to let fans know about the disc in the band’s own way.

“That’s the key for us — being able to let people know that we have an album coming out, but allow people to find out about it through the channels that we prefer,” says Einziger. “None of us are great at talking about our music, we’d rather just play it. [But] we want people to know that we have an album coming out…. If we don’t tell the story ourselves, maybe somebody else will tell it in the way that we don’t like.”

“I can only imagine what this would have been like with me, if I had this opportunity with some of the bands that I grew up listening to,” he adds. “I would have lost my mind.”
The band does feel a bit apprehensive going into the first day of the promotion. “We don’t know what we’re going to get. This could be the worst idea in the world,” Einziger says, his sentiment almost exactly mirroring Death Cab For Cutie bassist Nick Harmer’s apprehension before the band filmed a live music video for their song, “You Are A Tourist.”

Posted by brian tiong at 05:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Mark Terry *)



The web is dying and Facebook is thriving. In 2001, the 10 most-visited sites online accounted for 31% of US page views, in 2006 it was 40% – now it’s 75%, which suggests the medium- and long-tail of the web is decreasing in importance, according to L2’s Digital IQ Index: Travel report.

And travel brands are aiming to make that count. “Facebook alone accounts for 12.3% of all consumer time on the Internet,” says L2. “Facebook usage is nearly ubiquitous across the travel category, and all but four brands [in the Index] feature at least one dedicated page. During the first-quarter 2011 measurement period, travel brand Facebook communities grew an average of 20%.”

“Your customers already spend their time on Facebook, so targeting them there is more efficient and effective than driving them to custom-built social networking portals,” says Melissa Dowler, CMO of travel and lifestyle marketing agency ISM. “Facebook continues to enhance its flexibility for custom fan page and application development, making the social networking site an increasingly attractive option for brands.”

And travel brands take a variety of approaches when it comes to managing social media across properties and geographies. Almost 50% of hotel brands have more than one account on Facebook and Twitter, while Four Seasons maintains accounts on both social media platforms for each of its properties. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts separate pages by region, including specific ones for Argentinean and Brazilian passengers.

Posted by brian tiong at 04:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: brand-e.biz *)



Honda America has launched a songwriting competition, The Sounds of Civic, tasking Facebook fans with submitting and voting for original songs inspired by… the 2012 Civic.

To kickstart the contest and get the juices flowing, the brand got a number YouTube musicians to create their own songs about the self-same car, with artists such as Maria Zouroudis, Julia Dales, Greg Holden, Madi Diaz and Free Will joining in. The videos have been posted on the Honda Civic Facebook Page and on the branded YouTube channel. Throughout the contest, fans can follow updates through the #soundsofcivic hashtag on Twitter.
The first round of voting will begin 6 June, and the top eight finalists will each receive $2,500 in music gear from Sam Ash Music Stores. The top vote-getter among will be awarded a brand new 2012 Civic and have the opportunity to perform live on a 2011 Honda Civic Tour date in Los Angeles.

“We’ve seen a high crossover of Civic fans and music lovers,” says Steve Center, vp of national marketing operations for American Honda Motor Co. “And with the launch of the 2012 Honda Civic we saw a perfect opportunity to give our amazing fans a little bit of both.”

Posted by brian tiong at 04:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Maria Stadtmeuller *)



Yahoo and Collective Digital Studio have launched an original online series, In The Dressing Room, with Cat Deeley, the host of Fox show So You Think You Can Dance.

In the Dressing Room is a 20-webisode, twice-weekly series, which provides backstage access to Deeley’s room before she goes live on So You Think You Can Dance. In each programme, she will provide viewers with fashion and beauty tips, wardrobe selections and the scoop on her fashion inspiration behind each look.
In the Dressing Room will run for 10 weeks and will be promoted across the Yahoo network.

“Video is a top priority for Yahoo, and this new web series… is an important part of enhancing the video experience across the Yahoo network, and will add to our premium portfolio of original programming,” says Erin McPherson, head of originals and video programming. “Yahoo has eight out of the top 10 shows online and In The Dressing Room will continue to grow our ability to offer a rich canvas for brands to tell their stories and integrate their brand into the next generation of digital programming.” Yahoo’s original programming US audience for May was 24.2 million unique visitors.

Posted by brian tiong at 04:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Krista Peck *)



Coach is launching a campaign to find a series of guest bloggers for the handbag brand. The search for these social media-istas starts this week on Twitter via the #CoachBlogger hashtag, with Coach announcing its new blogging line-up in early July.

Digital writers will need to come up with cool looks to accompany their Coach bags with the aim of giving the brand some social media marketing lift.

Coach engages with its target audience online and involves not only online influentials, but up-and-coming voices.  From Coach’s collaboration with NYC fashion bloggers to the launch of the Poppy Project, through March when they took the search toTwitter via #CoachBlogger and found a few up-and-coming fans to work with, Coach seems dedicated to reaching its customers in a modern and stylish way.
A Coach representative said: “We are going to relaunch this successful search via Twitter once again! We are launched our second Guest Blogger Search via Twitter on June 22nd through June 29th. Then an announcement will be made on@Coach on July 6th. “

Posted by brian tiong at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Brand-eBiz.com *)



Kylie Minogue has partnered with EMI and social games outfit 3ME to develop the Access All Areas mobile gaming app. AAA’s collection of games aims to test fans’ knowledge of all things Kylie… as well as agility, memory and skill, we’re told.

“We think Kylie is the perfect artist to launch this unique social gaming format as she has a very engaged, varied and loyal fan base,” says Dan Duncombe vp of digital marketing at EMI. There are a wide variety of games to challenge the biggest Kylie fans on their knowledge and fun games to share with friends. The viral opportunities within this game make it appealing for fans to encourage friends to participate and compare their scores.”

Posted by brian tiong at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Mark Terry *)



Fashion brand New Era and London creative agency The Tailor of Shoreditch are launching a consumer-led global marketing campaign comprising digital, user generated content and social media platforms, plus consumer-curated events.

“The campaign has been created to further establish the diversity of the New Era brand to our core consumers and to target tastemakers & key influencers,” says Astri Thomas Saunders, creative director, New Era.

Posted by brian tiong at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Laura Feinstein *)



While it would be nice if you could bring your best-friend along every time you needed a second fashion opinion, the truth is that sometimes those whose opinions you value most aren’t always at your disposal. While photo-capable phones like the Droid or iPhone have made sharing digital dressing room pictures a breeze, what if your trusty style guru is indisposed?

Posted by brian tiong at 05:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: PopSop.com *)



MTV 

Posted by brian tiong at 05:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: FruktComms.com *)



Pop Tarts, the pre-baked toasted pastry brand from Kellogg’s, is “unveiling a series of events over the coming months under its ‘Front Row’ experiences banner, which combines a high octane mix of music, art, sport and fashion.

With some 3 million plus fans on Facebook, the slow release of this promotion is a great way for the brand to connect directly with its social media audience. Bringing a music festival experience directly to their door, as opposed to setting up shop at existing festivals, avoids the brand being lost amongst a host of direct and indirect competition for audience attention.

Posted by brian tiong at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Brenna Ehlrich *)



“Cryosphere” is a relatively simple game that lets you navigate through a colorful, geometric plane as the statue of David encased in a spinning rectangle. The song — a soaring, spinny jam reminiscent of a slightly more shrill, tinny (in a good way) Phantogram — carries you through the landscape.

Posted by brian tiong at 05:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: PopSop.com *)



Bacardi 

Posted by brian tiong at 02:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Dazed Digital *)



This summer sees a new immersive theatre experience as a collaboration with Felix Barratt via a dramatic mix of film and online ventures

The Black Diamond will run from 3rd – 21st July, offering just a few thousand lucky invitees the chance to be part of this unique immersive theatre experience; whilst the story will develop simultaneously online, giving a new depth to the production and offering an additional interactive perspective for the audience, whether they’ve attended the experience or not.

Posted by brian tiong at 02:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Giles Fitzgerald *)



Not content with hitting up Mr Cab Driver himself, Lenny Kravitz, for their recent ad campaign, the Jeep brand is rolling out an innovative digital promotion, which lets users map their favourite tracks online.

Posted by brian tiong at 02:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Brande-biz.com *)



London’s Camden Theatres has begun offering live and on-demand streaming from its theatrical venues via an online TV channel on its website. The platform currently hosts content from the recent Accidental Festival at the Camden Roundhouse, as well as an interview with arts duo Gilbert & George. Coverage of a number of summer festivals is in the pipeline.

“We are all about making entertaining content more readily available to consumers wherever they are,” says Marina Sirotkin, UK country manager for ipercast. “And there’s a real opportunity in the arts education space for these kinds of services too.”

Posted by brian tiong at 02:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Steve Mullins *)



For artists looking to sell songs, the answer might the fan pack. The latest album from Blondie, Panic Of Girls, has been given the merchandise marketing treatment from magazine publisher Future in the form of a 132-page mag featuring the band, together with a cover mount of the CD, plus a couple of bonus tracks, a poster, postcards and badges.

Posted by brian tiong at 02:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: Steve Mullins *)



Coke Studio, the primetime Coca-Cola sponsored TV music show broadcast across a raft of Pakistani channels, opened in India last Friday. The Coca Cola- and MTV India-backed sponsored programme is offering unedited live recordings and performances from the likes of popular singer Richa Sharma, to Sufi artists the Wadali Brothers and Advaita, a New Delhi band.

Posted by brian tiong at 09:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: FruktComms.com *)



Proving that even the most difficult of brand messages can be better served through music, the Danone owned yogurt brand Activia developed a slightly bizarre musical campaign in order to side step the “regulating your intestines” premise of its product.

Posted by brian tiong at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(* Source: PopSop.com *)