M2M

Trent Reznor does it again.  To kick off the band’s upcoming tour, Nine Inch Nails decided to hold an exclusive concert in Los Angeles on July 19.  A few weeks ago, Trent Reznor posted a file to the NIN website with tour locations that could be opened with the Google Earth app.  With these locations, Trent sent some of his craziest fans on a treasure hunt to find hidden envelopes with guest passes to the Los Angeles show.

That event kicked off a viral campaign that puts fans in treasure-hunt scenarios, but with the pressure-cooker timing of an episode of “24.” Trent Reznor and Co. have a reputation for these unusual stunts. The band launched an alternate reality game in 2007 for its “Year Zero” album. That adventure sent fans digging through a digital trail of cryptic websites, calling phone numbers and analyzing digital files found on memory sticks in concert venue bathrooms.

Thanks, Nick. For more information read the article.

WIRED.com lists the top ten hottest music sites.  Check them out.

Change is the only constant in the music business, and that goes double for the digital music business. Nonetheless, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 hottest digital music websites in the world.

Criteria were simple and admittedly subjective: Sites were chosen based not only on what they currently do for music fans, but also on their potential to impact the future development of the music industry. Based on how things go with the first iteration, this list could be updated periodically and opened for voting.

The tag-line for the new Apple iPhone 3G is “Twice as fast. Half the Price”.  If you take a closer look you will see that its actually more expensive than the original iPhone.

Let me break it down for you: An 8GB iPhone 3G costs $199.  Sounds pretty good, except AT&T has added an extra $10 a month to the unlimited 3G monthly fees compared to EDGE, so over a two year contract, that sets you back an extra $240.

$199 + $240 = $439

A $40 increase compared to the price of the current iPhone.  I’ve read additional rumors that new iPhones will have to be activated at your local AT&T store, there will be no online ordering, and there may be financial penalties for those who do not activate their phone in the first thirty days.

With the Dark Knight approaching theaters across the globe, Warner Bros created an aggressive viral marketing campaign to raise awareness about the film. The Dark Knight has also gained a great deal of press due to the death of Heath Ledger.  While some people claim that viral marketing is a waste of both time and money, I completely disagree.  The marketing campaign was executed by hosting several websites in an attempt to create a virtual Gotham City.  There are sites for everything from Harvey Dent’s Political Campaign to Gotham National Bank.

Warner Bros did not stop there, The Joker has his own campaign as well.  In addition to online political campaigns and websites for Gotham City Police, people are creating rallies for both The Joker and Harvey Dent throughout major cities in the United States (video below).

The reason this marketing campaign is so effective is due to the fact that its allowing the fans to become more passionate about the film and is essentially empowering them as actual citizens of Gotham City.  Fans are able to decide who to support: Harvey Dent, The Joker, or Bruce Wayne/Batman. By choosing sides, fans become even more passionate about the film and about that character in general.  I am completely blown away by this marketing campaign and I can’t wait to see the film.

“Dark Knight Selling Out Three Weeks Early” — I’d love to have a talk with the guy who thinks viral marketing is a complete waste of time and money.

Additional Gotham City Links:

The Gotham Times, We Are the Answer, Gotham Police, Gotham City Rail, Why So Serious, Gotham USD, Gotham Cab, ACME Security Systems, GVA Foundation.

Advertising Agency: DDB, Sydney, Australia
Executive Creative Director: Matt Eastwood
Copywriter: Alex Stainton
Art Director: Jakub Szymanski
Photographer: Christian Mushenko
Typographers: Jason Young, Erwin Santoso
Account Supervisor: Penny Sarfati
Advertiser’s Supervisor: Helen Farquhar
Retoucher: Dennis Monk

Radiohead recently had an In Rainbows Animated Music Video Contest.  There were over 900 entries which has now been narrowed down to 13.  The winner will receive a $10,000 prize to produce a full-length music video. View the final videos here.  There are some very creative videos.

I have to admit that I own the most recent Kanye West album Graduation.  And I have to admit that I think it was a pretty solid album.  And I have to admit that I AM a fan of Hip Hop.  So I guess its time to admit why I have absolutely no respect for this guy.  I do think that Kanye has lyrical ability, but that doesn’t mean that I like the guy.  I could go on and on about how he constantly whines and complains but I think his blog post explains everything:

I am  sick of negative  people who just sit around trying 2 plot my downfall… Why????  I understand if people don’t like me because I like me or if people think tight clothes look gay or people say I run my mouth to much,  But this Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I’ve ever had in my life. This is the most offended I’ve ever been… this is the maddest I ever will be.  I’m typing so fucking hard I might break my fucking Mac book Air!!!!!!!!   Call me any name you want…. arrogant, conceited, narcissistic, racist, metro, fag whatever you can think of….  BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL!   NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL!  THIS SHOWS NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY  TO BE GOOD AT SOMETHING THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THERE TO LIE ABOUT YOU AND BRING YOU DOWN!  LIKE WAYNE SAYS PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME DOWN CAUSE I’M FLYING!  I’M FUCKING HURT BY THIS ONE. ALL I CARE ABOUT ARE THE FANS.  JUST SAY THIS OUT LOUD IN  A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, “KANYE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT GIVING A GOOD PERFORMANCE.”  CAN ANYONE HONESTLY SAY THAT ?????????

A few months ago I blogged about the recent Skittles Campaign including spots such as “Touch” (above) and “Pinata“.  Turns out, both TV spots were winners at Cannes 2008.  “Touch” won Gold while “Pinata” was awarded a silver lion.  I was glad to see that these spots won such a prestigious award because even though they are slightly awkward, they are genius.  I’ve listed the information for the “Touch” spot below:

Type Of Entry: Product & Service
Category: Sweet Foods & Snacks
Title: TOUCH
Advertiser: MARS
Product/Service: SKITTLES SWEETS
Entrant Company, City: TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, New York
Country: USA
Advertising Agency, City: TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, New York
Country: USA
Executive Creative Director: Gerry Graf
Creative Director: Ian Reichenthal/Scott Vitrone
Copywriter: Eric Kallman
Art Director: Craig Allen
Agency Producer: Nathy Aviram
Production Company, City: MJZ, Los Angeles
Country: USA
Director: Tom Kuntz

This video came out in January.  This is a must watch for any Radiohead fan:

We hear ‘In the air tonight’ by Phil Collins as we realize we’re in front of a calm looking gorilla. ‘I’ve been waiting for this moment for all of my life…’ The ape stretches its neck like a heavyweight boxer would do before a fight. He’s sitting in front of a massive drum kit as the best drum fill of the history of rock is coming. The Gorilla knows this. He smashes the drums phenomenally - feeling every beat. The camera leaves the ape and his drum. United, the way they are meant to be.

Category: Sweet Foods & Snacks
Title: GORILLA
Advertiser: CADBURY
Product/Service: DAIRY MILK
Entrant Company: FALLON LONDON
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Advertising Agency: FALLON LONDON
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Executive Creative Director: Richard Flintham
Creative Director: Juan Cabral
Copywriter: Juan Cabral
Art Director: Juan Cabral
Agency Producer: Nicky Barnes
Account Supervisor: Chris Willingham
Production Company, City: BLINK, London
Country: UNITED KINGDOM
Producer: Matthew Fone
Director: Juan Cabral
D.O.P/Lighting Cameraman: Daniel Bronks
Editor: Joe Guest
Music - Artist/Title: Phil Collins/In The Air Tonight
Sound Design/Arrangement: Parv Thind @ Wave
Post Production: MPC

On-line, the Halo 3 website served as a virtual museum, providing an interactive fly through of the entire John 117 monument and putting visitors right in the middle of the fight. They could also learn more about our enemies and hear first hand stories from the men who were there. For that we filmed interviews with surviving veterans of the battle who served with Master Chief. They talked about their experiences and spoke with reverence and awe about what it was like to serve with mankind’s greatest hero.