April 14, 2014: The Instagram Challenge for Brands, Toronto Bans Electronic Dance Music Events, MTV Movie Awards Integrate Selfies, Vine Videos

1. THE INSTAGRAM CHALLENGE FOR BRANDS: While social networks like Twitter and Facebook have sophisticated publishing tools to manage their accounts, Instagram is still a manual process. Ad Age: “Instagram hasn't launched any publishing APIs (application program interfaces) which means posting on Instagram remains a very manual process. It also means social-marketing companies like Expion, Spredfast and Sprinklr and enterprise giants like Salesforce can't build software to enable Instagram publishing at the scale big brands want. … It's a logistical headache for brands that are seeking to consistently engage and grow their Instagram followings.” http://bit.ly/1n0U2fb

2. TORONTO BANS ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC EVENTS: City officials voted to ban electronic dance music events at Exhibition Place, citing concerns over drug use at the gatherings. But opponents said the ban is a political move that benefits other venues. Toronto Star: “The decision will likely cost Exhibition Place around $1 million in annual revenue,” according to one city councillor. http://on.thestar.com/1oVmwJg

3. MTV MOVIE AWARDS INTEGRATE SELFIES, VINE VIDEOS: MTV feted its favorite movie moments, from best kiss to best fight, at its annual movie awards in Los Angeles, with host Conan O’Brien mixing in of-the-moment technology to connect with the younger demographic. USA Today: “The host also threatened to play long speechmakers off — not with music, but with nude selfies of himself—and debuted Oscar-winning Vines. ‘If you didn't have time to see the big movies we're celebrating here tonight … we've distilled them down to six-second Vine videos,’ he said, rolling truncated versions of Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle.” http://usat.ly/1qwERd3

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will headline the Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival at City Hall Plaza on June 21.

CHICAGO:  NoMi Boutique Chocolate, a pastry pop-up shop, will be open at the Park Hyatt Chicago from April 26-May 11. Stocking pastries, chocolates, and gift packages, the concept is targeted toward Mother’s Day shoppers.

LAS VEGAS:  Snoop Dogg has committed to a six-date DJ and performance residency at TAO Las Vegas starting May 3. The venue will transform into the "Snoopadelic Cabaret," a Roaring '20s-theme night with the rapper as master of ceremonies. The evenings also will have specialty acts and dance performances.

Comedian George Wallace announced he will end his “Best 10 p.m.” show on April 26 after marking his 10-year anniversary at Flamingo Las Vegas last month.

For the 30th consecutive year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its annual financial report.

LOS ANGELES:  The Hollywood Radio and Television Society will host its annual Hitmakers panel Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Emily Bernstein has left her position as PR director at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills for a job at the marketing and PR agency Workshop Collective.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup X, marking the 10th anniversary of the event, is April 24-27 on South Beach.

HaVen Gastro-Lounge will host a charity cocktail party Tuesday in memory of South Beach socialite Maria Marin, who recently died of melanoma. Proceeds will go toward melanoma research.

NEW YORK:  Brazilia Cafe opens Friday in NoHo. The Brazilian eatery and specialty market will have a juice bar, salad station, soup and sandwich bar, bakery, gelateria, and coffee bar. The 3,000-square-foot space was designed by Costa Group (the firm that modeled Eataly) and will have a 60-seat dining room.

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

ORLANDO:  Orlando welcomed 59 million visitors in 2013, setting a record for U.S. destinations according to Visit Orlando. The figure represents a 3 percent increase over the previous milestone set in 2012.

AAA has awarded its Four Diamond rating to the Alfond Inn, which opened last fall in Winter Park.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Events commemorating the 152nd anniversary of D.C. Emancipation Day include a parade Wednesday down Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest followed by an open house at the John A. Wilson Building and fireworks over Freedom Plaza at night. A celebrity town hall on social issues within the African American community was held Sunday at the Lincoln Theatre.

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, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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