Creating Music Magic With Lights and Gestures

Music simulations are pretty common in today’s world, with plenty of mobile and PC-based programs available to teach the very basics of how a tune is put together. However, the team over at Opho have managed to create a keyboard that makes putting together a tune even simpler – users won’t even need to pound away on keys.

The device, called Keys, enables a connection to either a computer or mobile device, then helps produce tunes using a series of gestures and light-up keys on the boards.

It’s not heavy like most keyboards, as it clocks in at around two pounds and enables easy interaction with whatever device it’s plugged into. It utilizes light-up interaction with the keys through proximity-based gestures, and also provides modular link, so that tunes can be easily customized.

With the coordinating Keys app (available through Apple’s App Store), users can learn to play along with a number of songs, as keys light up when they need to press them. A number of songs and modes are available, providing plenty to do for would-be pianists, whether they’re just getting started or can master Beethoven off the back off their hands.

Speaking with PSFK, Idan Beck, founder and CEO of Opho, explained the simplicity of the device. “We’ve taught thousands of people to successfully play the guitar with gTar. Our customers and our team felt that a keyboard-like device would offer even more accessibility, as well as be more portable and affordable. We designed and developed Keys from the ground up to be a modern take on the musical keyboard, leveraging the platform that we originally built for gTar.”

Best of all, the project won’t cost an arm and a leg like most instruments. Pre-orders for the Keys device are available now, selling for around $88 (down from the usual $99 price tag). In addition, Opho has vowed to donate some of the proceeds to the Immunity Project, a non-profit company devoted to developing a free HIV vaccine.

The video below shows just how easy the keyboard is to use. If Opho can find the right marketing angle, there’s no reason that it can’t be successful in the music/electronics industry – and that’s music to the company’s ears.

 

Join Us For Our First Webinar On March 10

With so many events and things to keep up with, we know your life is busy. That’s why in addition to our [a]list summits, Ayzenberg is now launching a series of convenient webinars.

These webinars are focused, 30-60 minute interactive presentations and will deliver timely information on a single marketing subject.

You can apply for an invite to join us for our first webinar on Tuesday, March 10, at 12 noon PT / 3 p.m. ET on the subject of influencer marketing.

Ayzenberg’s Chris Younger, Director of Strategy, and Vincent Juarez, Director of Media, will do an exclusive follow-up presentation to last summer’s [a]list summit on Influencer Marketing {link no longer active} in LA which 300+ progressive marketers and top-tier content creators attended. They will share their experiences in this exciting and evolving field through ION, the Influencer Outreach Network, an agency within Ayzenberg specializing in influencer marketing, content creation and custom brand channels.

The discussion will cover how to:

·      Discover new influencers

·      Connect with new and existing influencers

·      Activate campaign strategy

·      Create custom content across multiple influencer tiers

·      Amplify across paid and owned media channels

·      Report insights, optimization and ROI

Before we announce more of our upcoming plans, we also want to give you all, our readers, the opportunity to tell us what you want us to do more or less of. Please take a minute to fill out our survey and tell us what events or webinars you’d like to see from us.

Stay tuned for updates from us here at Ayzenberg and [a]listdaily by subscribing to us if you haven’t already here.

 

5 Defining Trends In Digital Media

By: Jessica Klein

As pay-TV subscriber numbers go down and investment dollars in digital-first media companies go up, you can feel these trends shaping the future of video. Content is getting more global, brands are becoming publishers, and traditional media companies are trying to get their slice of the online video pie.

See the infographic…

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

CREATIVE: The Most Powerful Images Of 2014

Iconic images say everything about a time and place, a feeling. For their annual “Year In Focus,” Getty Images decided to turn the tables and ask the world which images were most moving in 2014. To get the word out, Getty Images shared some of these incredible images on their social channels, naturally leveraging Instagram to engage shutterbugs.

Getty Images has now wrapped up the campaign with an immersive digital experience and a final top 10 chosen by all. Take a look at the results in the video below that turns the campaign into literal moving pictures.

What Marketers Need To Know About Social Media This Year

Social media marketing sure does love to evolve and 2015 is bound to be an exciting year in this sphere. What else is up Snapchat’s sleeves Will other social platforms monetize a la Facebook Only time will tell. For now, we can just make the most educated conjectures we possibly can. The best indiction of the future, however, is the present.

Ian Tornay, Associate Director of Social Strategy at Ayzenberg

Ayzenberg‘s associate director of social strategy, Ian Tornay, is in the trenches of it all. We spoke with him to gain some perspective on the platforms that marketers should consider critical, the trends he is seeing, the brands that most inspired him this past year, and, of course, those beginning-of-the-year predictions. Take heed.

How are you predicting social media marketing will evolve this year?

First, mobile will reach its zenith. Mobile is already an essential part of plans for those who are serious about marketing online. But mobile optimization will become essential in 2015. If you’re not thinking about how your customers and consumers are looking at your content using their mobile devices, you will begin to see precipitous declines in engagement and conversion.

Second, a maturation of the perspective that brands have on social. Since the beginning, experts and pioneers in the social space have been telling brands that social isn’t about refashioning existing marketing messages and media to fit platform standards, but we’re just now seeing brands take this to heart. Don’t think about how your brand will be adapted to social  – think about the conversation that your brand wants to own, and adapt that message to your brand.

Last, and maybe most importantly, brands will need to come to terms with “secret” or 1-to-1 marketing platforms. Emerging social networks focus less on a broadcast of information in a feed and more on selected and personal communications directly between users. Brands will need to adapt and those that do will be handsomely rewarded.

What’s looking trendy right now? How are these trends working out for brands?

Brands are getting even better at playing into short-term memes and Internet trends. The most agile brands are quickly conjugating what they’re seeing trend on Reddit, Imgur, and 9GAG into part of their brand message. It can be a risky game. In attempting to prove savvy and personality you may come across as aloof or cloying if your brand misses the meme mark. Fail to use a popular macro correctly and you may be facing ridicule and find your brand worse for your efforts.

Participating in popular internet culture isn’t a casual affair — it requires an immersion and appreciation of  jokes and memes that can go back as far as “Hampster Dance.” If going this deep doesn’t sound appealing or worth your time, you might be better off leaving it alone.

What platforms should marketers consider to be absolutely critical right now?

As for the obvious, Instagram has surfaced from the depths as a content behemoth. Many brands are reaching more of their audience and driving more conversation through the platform than Facebook and Twitter combined. It’s also a great place to ply your brand and broaden your visual identity. While it sounds like advice from 2013, if you’re not on Instagram, you’re doing it wrong.

More brands are also finding a voice on Reddit. Brands like Pornhub that were formerly relegated to taboo are spreading their wings and message through AMAs. Be warned, though: Reddit is fickle and slow to forget (sorry, Woody) and will drag every skeleton out of your closet for clarification. It can be a crucible for a communications team, but it can also be a great way to assert your brand identity, clear the air around controversy and learn a heap about your audience.

What brands were most inspiring to you in 2014 in their approach to social?

Pornhub. Right ! While the Internet is no stranger to pornography, it’s still not an accepted topic of conversation in all but the most intimate social circles. So, Pornhub changed the conversation. When you think of the people who probably work for Internet pornography sites, you probably don’t conjure intellectual or excited conversationists. Pornhub has shared the statistics, reality, and humanizing stories that people do feel safe sharing and talking about. The adjectives more commonly associated with Pornhub are now positive; honest, passionate, altruistic and creative. It just goes to show that the narrative around your brand is never set in stone.

Speaking of Instagram, Nike is always an inspiration: beautiful photography, subtly topical content, and an obvious passion for the conversation around their brand.

And lastly, a little guy. You Are Not So Smart is a podcast about psychology and self-delusion. It’s heavy listening and even thicker reading. So how does its host, David McRaney, make a splash on Pinterest  With cookies. To break up each episode, McRaney samples a cookie recipe sent in by listeners. It’s a great way to drive fan engagement and bring attention to a brand that’s an otherwise bad fit for the platform. I won’t get tired of beating this drum in ’15, but again it just goes to show that if people aren’t interested in the conversation around your brand, own a different conversation.

What is on your wish list this year for tools you want social platforms to implement?

Different online tools work better for different scopes and different brands, but there’s one tool that will never go out of fashion: the scientific method. Brands that are excelling on social don’t rely on charm and creative alone. If you’re not tracking your brands stats and experimenting with variables in creative and platform strategy, you’re missing out. It’s challenging and can raise more questions than it directly answers, but what you can learn about your audience will be invaluable to your social marketing and beyond.

CREATIVE: First Look At New Martial Arts YouTube Series ‘Clandestine’

Clandestine is a brand new martial arts action series exclusive to YouTube. Produced by Ayzenberg with influencer marketing by ION and directed by Chris Cowan, Clandestine is an episodic saga following bloody conflict and political intrigue amongst warring clans in a fantastical far-away realm.

You can catch the first episode of Clandestine, titled Epic Rival, for free on YouTube today.

Digital Music Sales Drop As Consumers Shift To Streaming

As one thing rises, another falls. According to a new report from Nielsen, streaming had a big year in 2014 and the music industry is feeling it in the decline in sales. Total streams rose from 106 billion to 164 billion, and why not With streaming apps like Pandora and Spotify that take up comparatively little space on devices while giving consumers the access to music they want when they want it, it’s no surprise.

“Digital music consumption continues its robust growth, with On-Demand streaming up 54 percent over last year and 164 billion song streams being played in 2014,” said David Bakula, SVP Industry Insights, Nielsen Entertainment.

While digital music consumption is more robust than ever, album sales, physical and digital, are not. Total sales have dropped down 11 percent to 257 million. That’s not the whole picture, however. The growing vinyl music industry has seen incredible growth of 52 percent, tapping into music nerd nostalgia for the retro format.

A streaming takeover is clearly the future of the entertainment industry at large, but as consumers are leaning more heavily on digital, there’s a good deal of consumers who are digging into the past. The same can be said for gaming, too.

“There is no reason why retro and digital can’t go hand-in-hand. The ever-increasing number of platforms and ways to game provide a huge opportunity for publishers and retailers to help unlock the wealth of digital content that is available,” says GAME category director Charlotte Knight.

Have You Taken Our Survey Yet?

2015 is going to be a big year as we wade into the second half of the decade. The mobile and digital takeover is in progress. Native advertising and programmatic are evolving the future of marketing. VR is an exciting new screen that we’ve only just begun to experiment with and wearables are becoming mainstream.

With [a]list summit coming up on tomorrow and we begin to reflect back on the past year as we look forward, we would be remiss if we didn’t get some perspective from our readers as well. After all, there’s some 100,000+ of you.

We want to hear from you about what you think about [a]listdaily. How do you read us What kinds of stories are most important to you We really have so many questions, but we’ve managed to condense it down to just 6.

If you have a moment to spare, please take our survey and help us to serve you better. Even better, reach out to us with your news and feedback or just to say hello at pr@ayzenberg.com.

Thank you for reading.

Ruffles Dips Into Digital

Ruffles, a popular PepsiCo brand of potato chip famous for its ridges, is on the cutting edge of the marketing world today after shifting nearly one hundred percent of its advertising over to digital platforms.

The stunning move, which makes Ruffles one of a select few snack-food brands in America with an all-digital advertising strategy following a nearly-sixty six percent television strategy just a year earlier, was explained by Frito-Lay senior director of marketing Dana Lawrence as an experiment in making one of their brands completely digital. “We’re really trying to reach our target, 25-year old millennial males, in a more relevant way,” Lawrence remarked, noting Ruffles’ target demographic’s embrace of mobile video.

Despite the move away from television, the folks at Ruffles actually produce more video than ever before; their #RoughLife campaign saw three video series created just this year, including collaborations with online humor network CollegeHumor. The videos are released through an aggressive distribution system that sees Ruffles spots appearing on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook.

The move was initially seen as a gamble, as Ruffles’ full-throated embrace of digital moved them into unfamiliar territory.

“Absolutely we were nervous,” Lawrence said. “Any time you make a significant change, you’re always a little nervous about the impact.”

The decision appears to be paying dividends so far, however, as Ruffles sales in terms of dollars spent were 8.19 percent higher in the past fifty-two weeks over last.

Though Kraft’s Nilla Wafers courted big-time success last year after moving their entire ad budget to social, other brands have been hesitant to make the switch, refusing to do so for reasons ranging from sheer traditionalism to immense levels of scrutiny placed on digital advertising campaigns. Still, with Nilla and Ruffles’ successes in hand and increasingly prohibitive television advertising costs driving more traditional brands to reconsider their options, it would appear that mass adoption of digital-first advertising strategies is an inevitability.

 

Last Day To Enter For A Free Ticket To [a]list summit

[a]listdaily is giving away 2 free passes to our upcoming [a]list summit on Dec. 3rd at the W Hotel in Hollywood, California!  This time, we’re focusing on the most important isses on mobile marketers are facing this year and we have quite the lineup. Interested You have nothing to lose!

Rules and guidelines are outlined below.

To enter the contest, follow [a]listdaily on LinkedIn. All contestants must then send an email to pr@ayzenberg.com with first name, last name and the email address and link to your LinkedIn profile. We’ll verify that your email address receives our newsletter and that you follow us on LinkedIn.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 24th, 2014.

Two winners will be chosen at random the following day. The winner will be notified by the email address provided along with instructions to claim their tickets.

We’ll see you there!

More details and official rules below.

——————–

WINNERS WILL BE ABLE TO REGISTER ONE NAME FOR PASS TO GO TO  [A]LIST SUMMIT. FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE PASS GO HERE. WINNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAVEL, ACCOMODATIONS AND ANY OTHER EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH CLAIMING THE PRIZE. PRIZE HAS NO MONETARY VALUE. ONCE WINNER HAS REGISTERED NAME FOR STANDARD PASS, THE PRIZE IS NON-TRANSFERABLE. MUST BE OVER 18 TO ENTER. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Disclaimers: By participating, contestants acknowledge and agree that sponsors of this giveaway and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates and the officers, employees, representatives and agents of each will not be liable for losses or injuries of any kind resulting from the acceptance/possession/use and/or misuse of any prize, travel to and from any giveaway-related activity, participation in the giveaway, erroneous announcements or printing, mailing or distribution errors, or any malfunctions of the telephone network, computer equipment, software, or any combination thereof, or for any entries that are not in compliance with these official rules.

Reservation of Rights: By participating in this giveaway, the contestants agree to be bound by these official rules and the decisions of the giveaway sponsor shall be final in all respects. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this giveaway solely determined by sponsor. In the event that the fairness, security or proper administration of the giveaway is compromised by tampering, fraud, technical failures or other causes beyond the reasonable control of sponsor, sponsor may suspend, modify or terminate the giveaway. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Rules at any time and sponsor will not be responsible for any typographical or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other announcements or materials relating to the giveaway.