August 23, 2013: V.M.A.s Get Sponsorship Boost, the Problem With Surprise Performers, New Meaning for March on Washington

1. SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP LIFTS V.M.A.S SPONSORSHIP: The ratings for Video Music Awards may have dropped dramatically last year, but the growth of social media interaction has given the MTV event a big sponsor boost. The 2013 V.M.A.s has already set a sponsorship record, which the network partially credits to a new partnership with Twitter's TV ad targeting service, Amplify. Viacom Media Networks' Jeff Lucas told Billboard: "In the world of social media, the VMAs is our Super Bowl and even bigger in some ways. ... We have live events but we also have topical events, and we’re gonna build off of the VMAs. I know a lot of organizations have agreements with Twitter and do different things, but I think we are the best fit. It’s a great product to build off of, not just content. We have relevant content that we can customize." http://bit.ly/1bYH8Xe

2. BRANDY'S EMPTY PERFORMANCE: The organizers of the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day in Johannesburg, South Africa, found out what happens when a surprise performer is scheduled too late at a day-long event. By the time R&B singer Brandy took the stage at FNB Stadium, there was only a small crowd of people left. The Guardian: "'Brandy [just] performed to an empty stadium. With the stadium lights on,' tweeted an aghast South African musician, Kabomo. 'People didn't know there was a concert after the games. No one knew Brandy was around.'" http://bit.ly/1bSTCzz

3. MARCH ON WASHINGTON HAS BIGGER DREAM: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the civil rights rally—and Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech—and for many, the events for it this weekend and next week will represent a broad range of concerns, from immigration reform to gay rights. USA Today: "Organizers began hosting events including concerts, summits and town hall meetings this week. They will continue until Wednesday, which marks the exact day of the 1963 march. The closing event will feature President Obama, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and several other speakers at the Lincoln Memorial. Both [Al Sharpton] and [Martin Luther King III] told USA Today the anniversary events aim to remind the world that many of the concerns that motivated people to march 50 years ago remain problems today." http://usat.ly/1775ay8


INDUSTRY NEWS

Five new properties have joined the International Association of Conference Centers' portfolio of approved conference venues. These include the U.C.L.A. Lake Arrowhead Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead, California; the FMC Technologies Learning Center in Houston, Texas; and the Alexander in Indianapolis, Indiana.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Barking Crab will host the Boardwalk Bash on September 12, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester.

CHICAGO:  To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Sun-Times publication Splash will host a private viewing of the designers of the Chicago Fashion Incubator's spring 2014 runway show at the Underground on August 29.

CH Distillery is now open in the West Loop. The distillery's attached cocktail bar serves the house vodka and gins as well as small plates, and menu items include cold vodka shots served with rye bread and pickles. http://bit.ly/170wRXm

LAS VEGAS:  Breaking Travel News: "The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has completed $20 million in recent improvements to the Las Vegas Convention Center." http://bit.ly/12qwt4N

On Tuesday, Hakkasan Las Vegas at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino hosted the official Hudson and Creative Recreation after-party during Magic. http://bit.ly/14YHgjz

LOS ANGELES:  Heifer International will host the second annual “Beyond Hunger: A Place at the Table,” gala on September 19 at the Montage Beverly Hills. This year it will honor Susan Sarandon and will include a performance by the Band Perry.

On September 7, chef Michael Voltaggio will do demos and sign his latest book at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center in Studio City.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Sixthman, an Atlanta-based company that creates theme cruises, has partnered with Tennessee rock band Paramore to host Parahoy!, a festival at sea scheduled for March 7-11, 2014. Sailing from Miami to the Carribean, the event will be on the Norwegian Pearl and include two concerts on the pool deck.

South Florida Business Journal: "The managing company of New York City's One World Trade Center is in a joint venture with Miami's Coastal Construction Group to build the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, a new hotel and entertainment complex." http://bit.ly/17vGFIY

The LGBT Visitor Center's first Pink Flamingo Awards will be held September 17 at the Palm Ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center. The awards, which will be presented at the luncheon event, will honor the 10 people and organizations "that have made Miami Beach one of the top 20 places to visit among L.G.B.T. tourists" and will be sponsored by American Airlines, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Tourist Board of Curacao. The event will also raise funds for the M.D.G.L.C.C. Foundation.

NEW ORLEANS:  The 2014 run of Tales of the Cocktail is scheduled for July 16-20.

The $5 million renovation of the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans's executive club level, the Maison Orleans, and presidential suite is scheduled to be complete in September.

NEW YORK:  Mashable will host its awards for digital work in marketing, advertising, and social media on October 10. The awards, known as the Mashies, will take place at the Altman Building and include cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. http://on.mash.to/153d6Cx

This weekend the Hamptons will see fund-raisers for Bill Clinton and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is hosting a gala at Topping Rose House, while Caryn and Craig Effron will have a private bash for Cuomo at their home in Sagaponack. http://bit.ly/16l8P70

Debra Roth, formerly of Pink Inc. that was acquired by Moss Inc. in 2010, has launched the Originators, offering design and fabric structures for events. http://bit.ly/17OBP9H

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

SAN FRANCISCO:  Ad Age-hosted events this fall include its marquee digital conference, Ad Age Digital SF, October 15 at the Ritz-Carlton, and the CMO Strategy Summit, to be held October 16 at the Intercontinental. http://bit.ly/16hVtrX

TORONTO:  Alexi Hakim is the new general manager of InterContinental Toronto Centre.

WASHINGTON:  Tickets for the Washington International Horse Show are now on sale. The event, October 22-27 at Verizon Center, typically draws 20,000 spectators.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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