“Buttocks and Breasts”

Following up to the Grammy awards which took place in February this year, CBS (one of the US biggest commercial broadcasting televisions networks) made a statement issuing a dress code for the attending stars not to revel too much skin as seen in past events past.  CBS demanded for ‘buttocks and breasts to be adequately covered’ and warned against “exposure of the genital regions” and that “thong type costumes are problematic” as well as stating, “please avoid shear see-through clothing”. (The Standard, 2013)  

So none of this…

Remember this?....

And especially not this….

Although looks like someone didn’t care for the memo as KImbra (who won a grammy for “somebody That I used To know”) tweeted a response saying “Please avoid crimping my style”.

How much skin is inappropriate, and hasn't these outfits at the Grammy’s each year become the norm? Now at the Oscars for example you anticipate the classy, elegant and tasteful gowns on the red carpet.

Was there even a point in CBS making the announcement? Public relations director Anne Gregory says “the fear of many public relations practitioners is that these opinions could be drawn together and focused by the media against the organization… public opinion strongly held affects management decisions… PR practitioners ensure management are aware of public opinions so the can make decisions in the light of it” (Gregory. A, 2010, pp.99). What’s your opinion, after all we are the ones watching?

For more on PR check out the following book:

Gregory, A. (2010) Planning and managing public relations campaigns: A strategic approach. London: Kogan Page, pp.99-102

The Standard (2013) CBS issues dress code for 'breasts,' 'buttocks' at Grammy show. [online] Available at: http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/02/07/cbs-issues-dress-code-breasts-buttocks-grammy-show [Accessed: 20 Apr 2013].

The MusicBlues

We all must have realized that the music industry may be in financial trouble just like everyone else as a result of the recession, not to mention the HMV stores shutting down. But how bad is it, and are we really seeing the whole picture?

Although music still surrounds us it nowadays emerges from different formats such as using our mobile phones, mp3 players and Internet streaming services (Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, 2010). We are living in a digital age, and may be satisfied as music listeners however this creates quite the opposite effect in the industry and their executives. The birth of iTunes with their downloadable tracks and not to mention piracy which has spread like the plague across the world where large chunks of revenue is lost each year, has almost killed the CD and destroyed record companies leaving nothing to patch them up.

So there is no wonder the music industries revenues have continued to drop in recent years. Not only are the industry executives from the large label companies like Sony and EMI affected but also smaller independent musicians nowadays are unable to make a living solely on their music. The industries economy is a well talked about topic and especially during Billboard’s Annual Music and Money Conference were EMI fanatical situation was discussed, in 2007 (Gringer, 2010) EMI (a British music company) allowed a private equity firm to purchase them in the hope of recovery when in the beginning things seemed to be looking up, proved failing unfortunately resulting in the loss of top artists including radio head and rolling stones. Today EMI is no more and in 2012 sold of there assets. Could this be the record industries fate? Or can they learn to adapt successfuly in this digital era. Author of  “Digital Disruption “ believes many lessons can be learnt from observing the music industry.

“Build a digital customer relationship. The music industry fought the first wave of digital disruption — it didn’t help that Napster was ultimately illegal, making the industry fail to realize that the bigger phenomenon was legitimate even if its current manifestation was not. But then when iTunes came along and offered some relief, the industry gave away all the keys to the kingdom, with the most important one being the digital customer relationship they could have had if they had insisted on different terms or created their own digital music service without hampering it with impossible DRM expectations”. (McQuively, 2013)

For more on the music industries financial crisis check out blogger “The Unsigned Guide”

When Celebrity endorsements go wrong..

Celebrity sponsorship and endorsement is one of the oldest techniques for marketing products. However, it can all go wrong; it can create a damaging issue for the celebrity and the corporate sponsor in question. Sometimes, it is the fault of a poorly conceived marketing campaign, other times it is the fault of the celebrities undermining their brand message-either inadvertently or with bad behaviour. The real test however is how the organisation responds.

The pace of social media have made it more difficult for brands to curate their image and enlisting a celebrity spokesperson adds a significant layer of risk says Patti Williams, professor of marketing at Wharton.  “Traditionally, a celebrity would agree to be in an advertisement, and that was essentially the extent of the relationship, now celebrities are now encouraged to engage with the brands customers in other ways. This could be through the companies own media or through the celebrity’s own media, like twitter or Facebook. 

"The nature of the celebrity is a 360 degree proposition and that’s where many of the risks come from.” Patti Williams

The theory goes that borrowing a celebrity’s star power will create both an awareness of and interest in the brand in question. According to a study published in 2011 (Journal of Advertising) that looked at athletes’ support for brands found that such endorsements produced a 4% growth in revenue (About $10 million a year in added sales of the branded products), and a 0.25% rise in stock returns, celebrity endorsement proves successful!

Barbara Kahn believes that: “There are two schools of thought (on choosing the right celebrity for your brand), One is that you want to choose a celebrity who evokes positive emotions in your target market. You want someone who has a board appeal, some who creates a buzz, and someone who is likeable. The second is that you want someone who is a good fit or has some expertise with your product. This gives credibility.

I mean say someone like Beyonce?! Can you suggest anyone fitting this description?

With regards to social media, celebrities have more of an impact than brands. On twitter for example Justin Beiber has 34.5 million followers yet popular brands such as Rolling Stone magazine has a mere 2.3 million!  

Nearly three-quarters of social media users say they use social networks to hear others; experiences with brands, according to Nielson. Of those, about 65% wanted to learn more about brands’ products and services; 53% wished to compliment brands, and 50% want to express concerns or complain about brands and services.

Although social media allows consumers to have a voice and celebrities have a great field of communicating with brand and viewers, there can be both positive and negative impacts (David Reilbstein) I mean if the celebrity in question or brand for that question makes a “faux pas” it could create negative atmosphere around the other one which could equate to a loss in finances or fewer business opportunities and a chance to expand.

I mean the old say “there’s no such thing as bad press” …. Well I guess that’s not always true.

Social media aside, celebrities will not always act wisely.

Britney spears, brand ambassador for Pepsi, seen drinking coca cola, not just once, but well several times, “oops, she did it again”.

Tony Jaques: “The problem is that corporations need to respond more thoughtfully and effectively to protect their own reputation. (March 03, 2013, Vol 4, No. 5. Managing Outcomes.)

Pepsi very carefully and tactfully phased Britney out as their brand ambassador and slowly introduce Beyonce to take over the role as brand ambassador. Check out video below to see Pepsi's clever tactics! 

The Power Of Celebrities...

Celebrity product endorsements are a staple of advertising, bestowing titles like "brand ambassador  and spokesperson on stars. But these days companies are taking an extra step and giving celebrities  titles usually reserved for top executive talents such as "creative director". Susanna Kim, Feb 18th  2013 

Read More;

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/top-recent-celebrity-creative-directors-brand-ambassadors/story?id=18492843#

MTV Awards forced licensing change

Back in 2011 Belfast’s live music and entertainment venues were struggling to keep the parties going. With Irelands strict laws, clubs were not permitted to sell alcohol after midnight even if they could stay open until 3am and with the MTV European music awards creeping round the corner many felt they would miss out on business from tourism, crucial for the city says tourism marketing Bonita, M Kolb:

“economic benefits tourism can provide include increasing tax revenue so that more money is available for infrastructure maintenance......providing for economic development through attracting new businesses.” (2006).

The Events organizers also commented saying that the closing of bars and clubs was “not and option” and that it would “create enormous problems for MTV” (BelfastTelegraph, 2013).

The purpose of The Live Music bill issued by Lib Dem Lord Clement-Jones, was to offer licensing exceptions to venues with capacities less than 200.

Unfortunately the Bill never passed in time for the MTV Music Awards and local clubs, pubs and bars missed out on hosting the after parties for the attending stars like Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Instead these parties where held in Belfast’s Titanic Bell Hall, an unlicensed venue where the same laws didn’t apply. However MTV played a large part in pushing the Bill to the House Of Commons when in 2012 the Bill finally became an Act of Parliament.

Not all was lost for Belfast though, £22 million was generated in sales with £10 million of that generated in tourism revenue by the event. The council’s statistics showed MTV booking over 8,000 rooms from over 40 hotels in the area (BBC News, 2012).

Now Belfast can to get their party on!!!

For more on tourism marketing check out the book below:

Kolb, B. M. (2006) Tourism Marketing for Cities and Towns: Using branding and events to attract tourists. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Inc.

Musical Cabaret!

Just realised that according to the musical cabaret " Money makes the world go round" Surely it should be "Music makes the world go round" ?? 

What do you think? 

Sponsorship Shift!

“In a little less than 20 years, the focus of sponsorship has shifted from the valuation of brand exposure to the sponsor’s brand activation by focusing attention on the organisation’s relationship with the people interested in the event”

(Alain Ferrand, Luiggino Torrigiani, Andreu Camps I Povill – ‘The Routledge Handbook of Sports Sponsorship’ 2007.

Addicted to Apps??

Businesses have definitely tapped into the rise in smart phones and people's overwhelming attachment to them. Come on... if you haven't said it you have at least thought...'I couldn't live without my phone!'

Through the use of phone applications companies can take advantage of consumers opting into receiving direct marketing to their 'extra limb,' seems less intrusive that way round right? Organizations can use these apps to increase engagement with their customers, build brand loyalty/image and even sell their goods to people anytime and anywhere. 

Mintel research suggests...

"Some 42% of youths who own a smartphone say they have paid for apps on their smartphones, and the proportion almost doubles to 82% for downloading free apps on their phones." (Teens' and Tweens' Technology Usage- UK- November 2011)

"According to Ofcom, 41% of smartphone users claim to be addicted to their mobile phone, whilst the same proportion of 16-24-year-olds say their smartphone is the device they would miss the most." (Smartphone Purchasing Habits-UK-November 2012)

"Mobile applications become more than a self-contained activity (eg a game), and more than a portal to a pre-existing web-based service (eg a social network application), but instead a supplementary offering interacting with and enhancing a separate media source." (Mobile Phone Apps-UK- June 2012)

However, despite the rise in smart phone and table ownership among a similar age group that might be interested in the music awards its not all of them have adopted a smart phone app. Are the benefits less significant to these types of events then to other types of organisations?

MTV EMA (Free) App...

Features;

• Vote anytime- anywhere
• Latest breaking updates and hottest photos
• The MegaFan Game
• Chat with fellow music fans around the world
• BUZZ map- to check lates Facebook and Twitter posts

American Music Awards (Free) App...

Features...

• Real-Time updates
• Live feed from the Coca-Cola Red Carpet!
• Exclusive fashion photos
• Celebrity interviews
• Connect with the AMAs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

So why haven't all the major music awards adopted a mobile app? 

I personally feel an app is something you download because you will access it on a regular basis. And these events occurring once a year don't demand all year round attention. So is there a need for a 'temporary' app? Especially one that will require re-vamping each year? 

As to be expected their Facebook and Twitter profiles, although active all year round, are much more 'alive' around the time of the event. Which is probably reflected in the traffic to these sites. Knowing the Billboards, Grammy's or The BRITs are approach is definitely what prompted me to seek them out on social media...What about you?

Rihanna Breaks Billboard Record With "Stay"

Rihanna is one of the most talked about celebrities today, and most liked celebrity on Facebook today. So it's no wonder she is breaking music award records. Check out the link below for more details on her achievement for next months Billboard Awards in Las Vegas...

Rihanna Breaks Billboard Record With "Stay"

Music Awards developed for GENERATION Y!

Music Awards and events can no longer be simple! They have to be ‘remarkable,’ ‘extravagant’ and ‘extraordinary’ in their content, entertainment and technical ability to feed our hunger for sensory overload. We are Generation Y!

Gen Y “are people born between 1977 and 1997. They personify multitasking: using the TV, DVD player, stereo, and the internet all while calling friends on their mobile,” (Sonder, 2004).

So we have already touched on how digital technologies make it easy for music events to market themselves, distribute news and exclusive footage and engage with their audience more personally. As well as this online ticketing and registration has become ‘standard’ making it a convenient and easily administrative process both for attendees and organisers. But technology goes way beyond the internet and computer systems. Technology has enabled the Music Awards to push the boundaries creatively, crafting jaw dropping performances, and aid in the accuracy needed to build, programme and broadcast the events. . “Just as the music, motion picture, theatre and television industries have enhanced their presentations, our industry is moving towards highly produced events,” (Sonder, 2004).

Visual presentation technology

Visuals at music events are crucial in establishing the WOW factor. You want the audience to resist even blinking in case they miss something. IMAG (image magnification) is now at most large scale events where footage from the stage is projected onto a large screen making the audience ‘in the gods’ still feel close to the action. There are much advancement in types of projectors for video and imagery used at special events from CRT projectors, video/data projectors, LCD projectors and digital light procession projectors. All are used for different reasons and effects.

A wonderful demonstration of the power of artists but also the use of technology to create that “WOW” factor as well as to support and enhance the amazing talent of Beyoncé…

Audio systems

Special events, like Music Awards, require audio systems both to amplify the human voice as well as the sounds of musical instruments and recordings. For speech there are 4 main types of microphones; wireless handheld, wireless lavalier, wired lectern, and wired handheld. Distributed system of speakers in generally used, which “consists of multiple smaller speakers that amplify mid-range voice frequencies,” (Matthews, 2008).

With the variations in frequency, pitch, and volume in music performances a different audio system much be used to provide a clear and audible sound to the entire audience. The speakers used much also be able to amplify frequencies from the entire spectrum too. The placement of the speakers also proves critical to quality for example; “speakers that amplify the middle and high frequencies are better placed as high above the audience as possible in order to avoid reflection, absorption and diffraction of the high-frequencies,” (Matthews, 2008). In addition, there is also a full monitor system that must be balanced and equalized for all musicians so that each can hear exactly what they are meant to. It’s no wonder sound checks are so lengthy in prep for events!

Lighting systems

Lighting isn’t just used simple for visibility. No. It’s used to help purposefully transform the event space into a new, exciting and unique environment. A wide array of lighting has been developed with different capabilities to interact among the TV, movie, theatre and special event industries. Main categories include: spotlights, floodlights, projectors, automated fixtures, and specialty lighting.

As well at the creative advantages of advancements in LED lighting there are also many safety and efficiency benefits too.

Broadcasting and Webcasting

Technologies now allow us to not just broadcast live via the TV but also now via the internet, providing access to more potential attendee and viewers. Once the recording equipment has captured the event for the audience “there is special equipment to encode the provided signal into the chosen format and other necessary equipment that the end user must have in order to decode that signal back into the audio and video that they are interested in receiving,” (Sondor, 2004). The good thing is that the end user only needs a computer and Internet connection, to acquire the necessary decoding software at no cost.

Videoconferencing has also enabled the music awards to give award winners there acceptance speech without them physically being there.

There is obviously much more to technology and how it has developed to evolve the world of special events. The décor, camera footage and infrastructure of music events have also got more and more lavish over the years, including staging, rigging, tenting etc. Computer systems and databases are also used to aid in timing and accuracy of the event operations to avoid human error. 

If you interested in event production…

Books:

Sonder, M. (2004). Events Entertainment and Production

Matthews, D. (2008). Special Event Production