1. HOW NEWFRONTS CAN MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT ON BUYERS: While the digital video industry's NewFront presentations have competed with television's UpFronts since 2008, stats from eMarketer show that ad spending growth in digital video has continually slowed in the past two years. With presentations failing to gain concrete opportunities and niche audiences for original online series, industry experts say this year's NewFronts need to shake things up and do more than just show off content. Advertising Age: "'For years, the TV upfronts have been trying to look more like digital, and NewFronts have been trying to look more like TV,' said Jon Anselmo, president—strategic digital services, Omnicom Media Group. 'Hopefully, this year the NewFronts will go beyond that, not just showing off slates of content that they are trying to establish as TV-quality, but showing off content and strategies that harness the true power that digital provides.' … Yahoo, a founding partner of the NewFronts, shuttered its digital video site, Yahoo Screen, in January. Instead of a glitzy show like the one it held at Lincoln Center last year, when it announced 18 new series, the company will host a private event at its New York sales office. One of the most intriguing developments expected to come out of the NewFronts is virtual reality content. Hulu recently introduced its own app for the Samsung Gear headset and plans to create original content in the near future." http://bit.ly/1VzSafm
2. GOLDEN GLOBES GRAPPLE WITH FILM CATEGORY DEFINITIONS: Many film fans—including director Ridley Scott himself—were confused when The Martian, a space survival drama with a humorous tone, was nominated and won for best comedy at the Golden Globes earlier this year. With a January 8 date set for the 74th annual film and TV awards next year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is now trying to decide and revise what constitutes a comedy and a drama. The organization has already stated that now, "Motion pictures shall be entered into the category that best matches the overall tone and content of the motion picture." The Hollywood Reporter: "But since the definition could still leave plenty of room for debate, the organization is also specifying how it will decide whether a studio or network has submitted a comedy or drama in the correct category. After the submissions deadline, which has not yet been set but is expected to take place near the end of October, HFPA members will vote by written ballot whether or not to accept a submission in a given category (in terms of both comedy/drama and lead/supporting actor designations); a 2/3 vote of the membership is required to change the submission to another category. … The HFPA also is discouraging the industry from lobbying, wining, and dining HFPA members for their votes between the time the nominations are announced in mid-December and the awards are held on Jan. 7." http://bit.ly/1peQcCw
3. HOW BRANDS COMMERCIALIZED A MARIJUANA HOLIDAY: April 20 has always been known as a somewhat taboo holiday for marijuana lovers, but as public acceptance and forms of legalization of the drug grow, brands and companies within and outside of the cannabis industry see the holiday as a huge marketing opportunity. MarketWatch: “With greater attention turned toward marijuana companies during the holiday, the date has also become an opportunity for product launches and concept introductions, says Robert Hunt, a general partner at cannabis-focused private-equity firm Tuatara Capital. Trade shows like High Times’ Cannabis Cup have become major industry events on April 20—the 2015 cup in Denver had an attendance of about 53,000, according to Stang. Companies outside of the cannabis industry are also trying to capitalize off the holiday. Last year, ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s introduced its burrito-shaped frozen treat, the ‘BRRR-rito,’ on April 20, while other brands like Pepsi and Carl’s Jr. tweeted stoner-themed messages. The involvement of mainstream brands is a sign of public acceptance of marijuana legalization. ‘It’s validation as a real industry,’ Hunt says. ‘As soon as outside groups covet consumers during a certain time, it’s validation that this industry is more than it’s been given credit for.’” http://on.mktw.net/1qDC32Y
* LOCAL NEWS *
INDUSTRY NEWS: Maritz Global Events is the new parent company of meetings and events industry companies Maritz Travel and Experient.
COAST-TO-COAST: Bowlmor AMF has created an online system for customizing and booking events at their venues around the country.
ATLANTA: Peachtree Hotel Group will renovate and rebrand the 260-room Holiday Inn Atlanta Downtown Centennial Park as an AC Hotel by Marriott. Atlanta Business Chronicle: http://bit.ly/1XHsQS9
BOSTON: Frank McClelland, owner of Back Bay restaurant L’Espalier (and former BizBash event innovator), will open Riversbend in Essex in June. The eatery will overlook the Essex River, and will serve farm-to-table fare and wood-fired dishes.
CHICAGO: The annual wine-tasting event, Le Grand Cercle Des Vins De Bordeaux, will stop in Chicago on April 25 during its U.S. tour. The event will take place at Chez and offer tastings from 22 Bordeaux wineries.
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Convention Center, managed by AEG Facilities, reported a successful first quarter, with an overall increase of more than 30 percent in citywide conventions booked compared to the previous year.
The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Broad museum a LEED Gold certification for new construction.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Bravo’s Andy Cohen will host the 10th anniversary gala concert for the Adrienne Arscht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on Thursday. Performers include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jon Secada, Estelle, Michael Feinstein, and more.
NEW YORK: Big Apple Circus's 29th annual benefit performance, "The Grand Tour," will take place May 19 at Cunningham Park in Queens.
Tech media startup Blavity will host its inaugural EmpowerHer conference on May 21. The themes of the conference—which will host more than 400 millennial women—are build and innovate, digital activism, and growth and exploration.
The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that Tony Award-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Tony-nominated director Marshall W. Mason are this year's recipients of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. The award will be presented at the 70th annual ceremony on June 12 at the Beacon Theatre.
International events agency First Protocol has appointed Barry Richards as president of the managed services division.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
PHILADELPHIA: The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention will launch the civic program Donkeys Around Town, which will feature 57 fiberglass donkeys that represent the 50 states, five U.S. territories, Washington, D.C., and Democrats Abroad. Painted by local artists, the donkeys will be on display from July 1-September 5 in the Center City area.
SAN FRANCISCO: Apple will host its Developer Conference in San Francisco June 13-17. The kickoff events will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium; the rest of the conference sessions will take place at Moscone West.
TORONTO: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel has completed a $120 million renovation. All 1,372 guest rooms have been refurbished, the function space has been expanded, and the meeting rooms have been restored.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: General Colin L. Powell and Alma J. Powell will host the second annual Promise Night Awards tonight at the Howard Theatre. Honorees for the event, from the America’s Promise Alliance, are N.B.A. basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson; Brian Cornell, chairman and C.E.O. of Target Corporation; Dr. Angela Diaz, director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center; and Patricia de Stacy Harrison, president and C.E.O. of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The National Cannabis Festival will take place Saturday at RFK Stadium Festival Grounds. The event’s musical lineup features De La Soul, with opening performances by Jesse Royal, Congo Sanchez, and others.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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