Snapchat and HBO are using augmented reality to enhance the Game of Thrones experience at this year’s South by Southwest. At the castle and battlefield created in Austin, Texas, to promote the upcoming season of the Game of Thrones, Snapchat has worked with HBO to create several AR components that add a digital layer to…
Each year ahead of South by Southwest, there are dozens of pieces written about whether or not the festival is still relevant. We’re not looking to debate that here: the relevancy of the festival for marketers will likely be questioned more and more each year. Say what you will about it, but marketers love to…
For the first time, Snapchat will be a sponsor of the annual South by Southwest festival, and it’s taking over the Parlor Room bar in downtown Austin, Texas. From March 10-12, Snap Inc. will hold a variety of talks for all SXSW festivalgoers, the company said, during which Snap executives and other partners will discuss…
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to check out all of the upcoming talks and panels at SXSW. This year more than ever, it provides a refreshing mental aperitif and reminds me that the world is full of passionate, interesting and committed people who have devoted their lives to…
Each March, the city of Austin is invaded by brands, artists, celebrities, policymakers and the masses looking to inspire and be inspired during SXSW. Brands, both emerging and established, leverage SXSW as a kind of cultural currency, creating experiences, stunts and events across the city to engage, connect and build buzz. It’s an investment to…
If you’ve attended South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, you know that grabbing food between panels and events can be rather difficult. For popular panels, the lines are long and you need to be there early, leaving little time to find a meal. Plus, food options near the main festival can be somewhat lackluster. That’s…
SXSW Interactive is a pay-to-play experience for marketers making the trip. But not all attendees are there to play. They’re there, forking over significant time and money, because they expect a return: personal and brand exposure, industry insights, new connections and a glimpse of tomorrow’s technology. But capturing those returns can be tricky. Amid the…
Anyone who’s ever gone to South by Southwest in Austin and had a hankering for making their own music might finally get the chance. As part of a street closure during next month’s festival, Verizon-backed digital-only phone provider Visible is building a clear “Music Box” that it hopes will be both as a respite from…
Netflix is taking the hunt for Bonnie and Clyde to South by Southwest. On March 9, 11 and 12, in partnership with strategic experiential shop Collide, the streaming service will host an immersive pop-up activation that will attempt to transport attendees back to the 1930s. The activation, which will take over Austin’s Banger’s Basement at…
Last March, HBO and Giant Spoon gave SXSW attendees a taste of what it’s like to attend Westworld. This year, HBO has teamed up with the shop again to give fans of Game of Thrones the chance to experience the fictional world of Westeros ahead of the show’s final season premiere on April 14. The…
It’s not always easy to pinpoint what type of content resonates with consumers–especially if you’re the one creating it. That’s where Nielsen consumer neuroscience comes in: With its eye-tracking technology and biometric devices, the company can actually capture sensory information of what a person finds interesting. Two Adweek reporters tried out the technology on the…
Over the past few years, brands have ramped up the number of immersive experiences at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. So it makes sense that the festival would seek to recognize that work. This year, SXSW created a new awards program, the SXSW Creative Experience Arrow Awards. “SXSW has long hosted awards for technology…
During the thick of South by Southwest, patrons of Austin’s hip Better Half Coffee and Cocktails shop likely noticed something odd while sipping their espressos and craft cocktails last Monday: The upper window of a plywood house behind the restaurant shattering while cameras zoomed in on the scene. “That’s the window we’re knocking out to…
Each year, brand marketers come to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, to showcase immersive activations for the festival’s thousands of attendees. This year, brands brought their best experiential marketing efforts, though it did feel a little more strategic and calculated than in the past. Check out the big activations below, from HBO’s Westworld to…
Sony closed out its week-long activation at South by Southwest with some fluffy clouds, a cash bar, special musical performances and a new type of virtual reality experience. The second half of Sony’s activation, which ran from March 15-16, concluded with the debut of artist Khalid’s “Young, Dumb and Broke” VR music video. For the…
After a week filled with AI and VR, one SXSW activation is keeping it simple and artful. Mondo creates screen prints for films, TV shows, video games and comics, as well as record labels, toys and apparel. The company has a permanent gallery in Austin, Texas and during SXSW has invited festivalgoers to immerse themselves…
From Westworld craze to Elon Musk to dozens of branded activations, it’s been a busy week for marketers at South by Southwest. For this week’s recap of digital stats, we’re looking at the standout numbers behind the festival that got people talking. HBO’s Westworld craze HBO’s recreation of Sweetwater, the world within Westworld, was one…
Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Comics is bringing its comic books to life for its 2018 SXSW activation. The film and TV studio brought several vehicles from two Batman films, as well as last year’s Justice League, allowing festival-goers to get up close and personal with movie history. “They decided, this is SXSW, [so] we’re going…
For many around the world, Wikipedia is the first source of information they learn about a topic. That’s why WNYC’s Nancy podcast and Grindr teamed up to “queer the internet” and hosted an “edit-a-thon” of Wikipedia pages at South by Southwest. The goal of the event was simple: Invite Austin residents, as well as the…
Land O’Lakes really wants people to know where their food comes from and how it is really produced. The brand also wants people to know that it is more than just a company that makes butter–it’s also an agricultural co-op that uses technology to help solve the problem of feeding the world in the future….
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