Weekly update of key events in music, entertainment and technology compiled by Laura Montarroso, CORD Spain and edited by Anthony Vanger, MD CORD EMEA.
THE SOUND SHIRT
Once again, technology has caught up to what we thought was only imaginable. This wearable device enables deaf people to experience live music. The sounds from eight different instruments are picked up by microphones on the stage, which are sent to a software device. This software then translates the sounds into data, which are picked up wirelessly by the sound shirt.
ADVERTISING
Budweiser: Experiences Are The New Impressions In $1.4 Billion Live Music Sponsorship Market
Sponsorship spending on music in 2015 topped $1.4 billion, an increase of 4.8% from the previous year. Budweiser announced it was doubling down on its country music marketing strategy with a three-story touring structure called The Budweiser Country Club hitting powerhouse country festivals Stagecoach, Country 500, CMA Music Festival and Faster Horses during the summer of 2016.
http://goo.gl/1tyAOA
Lowdown: Sprite Evokes Tupac in Lyrical Campaign
Sprite, which has deployed hip hop marketing since the days of Kurtis Blow — has struck a deal with the estate of the late Tupac Shakur for its newest campaign. The late hip hop icon’s lyrics will be featured on this year’s edition of the “Obey Your Verse Lyrical Collection.”
Abbey Road Studios and Technics reveal two-year brand alliance
Abbey Road Studios and Technics have entered into a two-year brand alliance that will result in the studio hosting newest versions of the hi-fi manufacturer’s turntables throughout its mastering rooms. The partnership is timed to coincide with the continuing success of Abbey Road’s Half Speed vinyl mastering service.
DIGITAL
Twitter Makes A Massive $70 Million Investment In SoundCloud
According to reports, Twitter has invested $70 million in SoundCloud’s music streaming service as part of a funding round that could top $100 million. Both companies are notorious money-dumpers, with Twitter suffering through a major executive drain and roughly $250 million in losses in 2015. SoundCloud posted nearly $44 million in losses last year, with $77 million in financing and little path towards profitability.
Music streaming service Rhapsody is rebranding to the infamous Napster
The digital music group Rhapsody, which bought the Napster brand in 2011, announced it was rebranding the company, to be called Napster. This platform was launched in 1999 as a peer-to-peer file-sharing service and became wildly popular as Internet users discovered ways to get music online.
L.M : Is re-branding the solution to attract more consumers?
Spotify Hooks Up With Dating App Bumble
The latest Twitter cash injection will allow SoundCloud to better compete with major rivals Spotify — which has racked up over 30 million paying users — and Apple Music, which just announced hitting 15 million users. The target of the cash injection is unknown at this stage, but most likely will be used for development of new features, securing new content, and of course, keeping the lights on over a darkening business model.
http://goo.gl/fKpSzM
FESTIVALS
Infographic: What Music Festivalgoers Are Buying, Posting and Sharing
Concertgoers at three of the largest U.S. music festivals—Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza—have distinctly different tastes and spending habits. Nielsen took a deeper dive into the demos at each festival to provide better marketing insights.
Click to see the infographic here : http://goo.gl/nOnk41
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For more information please contact:
Anthony Vanger | Anthony@cordww.com
Laura Montarroso | laura.montarroso@cordww.com