Mini celebrates… the Mini

mini-unitedIt’s Mini United time again. What is it? It’s the time of year when the community around that small British car gets together to celebrate… erm, the Mini. And the Mini United 2012 open-air festival at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France, will feature live music acts, as well as motor sport and lifestyle action.


HP streams Flo live from the gig

florence-and-the-machineLoveLive and Island Records have joined forces with HP to produce a free, interactive, multi-camera live stream of an exclusive Florence + the Machine concert for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust. The show will see the artist performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall along with a full symphony orchestra.


Red Bull heads to Lumia

Red Bull Media House and Nokia have joined forces to bring the ‘World of Red Bull’ to customers via Nokia Lumia handsets. The two brands are promising that consumers will be able to access the world’s best sporting and culture content in a ‘truly unique way’.


Two films for Chivas

ChivasScotch whisky Chivas Regal and ad agency Euro RSCG London tasked 2010 Academy Award Winner Joachim Back with shooting two films based on friendship.

The shorts have been posted on Facebook, Chivas.com and the Chivas YouTube channel. The first Here’s To Big Bear, follows Joe, Sammy, Nicolas and Emilio as they find themselves stranded at a train station in the middle of nowhere after getting off at the wrong stop.


Johnny Cash, remixed by Mercedes

mercedesMercedes-Benz has teamed with music streaming outfit Grooveshark to create the Coupe Remixes campaign to mark the launch of the 2012 C-Class Coupe from the high-end car brand, says Mark Terry.

The initiative, which runs through to 8 December, enables consumers to select their top eight out of 12 songs to be remixed as part of an exclusive album showcasing the new car. Included in the track list are two Johnny Cash songs – Cry! Cry! Cry! and Walk The Line – which have never before been remixed.


Music from Cabo Wabo

Picture 3Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac and singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins are the first acts to front the Off The Record music conversation series from Cabo Wabo Tequila on the brand’s YouTube channel. The duo came together in Fleetwood’s hometown of Maui, at his new bar Fleetwood’s, to talk career beginnings, nights on stage, song inspirations, tour secrets and rumoured band romances.


Amex-style entertainment

Picture 1American Express has launched the Amex Entertainment channel on Facebook to provide music fans and cardmembers with access to exclusive ticket offers, insider updates and ‘innovative experiences’ with some of the biggest names in music, says Mark Terry.


Video ads on a roll with marketers

smartclipClose to 90% of marketers surveyed by video ads outfit smartclip say that online video is more effective than, or as effective as, linear/banner advertising, up from the 66% who thought so this time last year, writes Steve Mullins. Respondents also say they most associate digital video advertising with entertainment (66%), sport (64%) and social media (40%).

Almost half of those surveyed have embraced digital video advertising in their campaigns, and close to two thirds say that they will be considering it as an option over the next 12 months.