billy burgess

The Wall Street Journal spotlights the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts for leading new technology integration on Broadway

billb4979 — Sun, 29 May 2011 08:55:02 +0000

Four new Broadway productions, including the Tony-nominated musical “Catch Me If You Can,” will be outfitted with technology that allows blind and deaf theatergoers to more fully experience live theater.

The services will be available at “Catch Me” in early June (the production opened in April). The speed of the effort is unusual: Producers typically wait until a show is financially secure before investing in the services, which cost about $35,000.

The not-for-profit jumpstarting the process is Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, whose Board of Directors I sit on.

Taken from Wall Street Journal

Malibu Rum wins FAB Award for best mobile creative

billb4979 — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:34:34 +0000

On Monday at the Hurlingham Club in London, at the 13th annual Food & Beverage Awards, Malibu Rum was awarded the award for best creative in the Mobile category. This was the very last initiative I work on while the Global Interactive Manager for the brand. Kudos also to Ninos Icho who was my intern and surrogate right brain, and Robert McAllister that took care of the left brain.

About FAB: The FAB Awards is an international Creative Awards program focussed entirely on work done for Food And Beverage brands. It recognizes the critical contribution that outstanding creative work makes to building brands, it identifies and rewards the leading practitioners from over 60 countries, and it acknowledges their contribution to their Clients and their Agencies.

Check out the sizzle reel.

LinkedIn recognize Billy Burgess for “Changing the way professionals do business”

billb4979 — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:05:41 +0000

Today, LinkedIn step-changed their future and began offering of 7M+ shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – following their recent IPO filing.

Shortly after the bell rang on Wall Street, VP of Marketing at LinkedIn - Nick Besbeas- posted this on his blog…

… take Andrew Der and Billy Burgess who started a LinkedIn Group called NYC Marketing Mixer to help their friends who were laid off in 2009. The LinkedIn group, which started with less than 10 members, has grown virally, with more than 1,300 members who exchange job tips and networking leads not only online, but also during monthly happy hours that they coordinate through this LinkedIn group. Creating the group was a “no brainer,” Andrew says: “The beauty of LinkedIn is that it gives you opportunities to connect with other professionals who you wouldn’t realize you needed to connect with.”

Malibu Music Mixer is awarded FWA’s ‘Mobile of the Day’

billb4979 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 07:59:32 +0000

“A great new app to get your party started!” – Jungle Gym Magazine

“It is built by people who know what they are doing and are in the top of the music business.” – Cuepoint TV

“Easy as pie…very robust…the price is right and the features flush, we can’t help but recommend taking it for a spin.” – Electricpig

Malibu Rum’s latest iPhone app was awarded FWA Mobile Of The Day. for January 18, 2011. The app is an easy to use DJ mixer that allows you to create, record and share your own DJ mixsets. It has a drumpad, EQ with custom effects and features exclusive tracks from Major Lazer, Style of Eye, and Riva Starr and more.

Check out the promo video

Get the app at the iTunes Store.

My interview: MALIBU AIDS DRINKING AND DJING

billb4979 — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:57:40 +0000

Ever wondered what your drink would sound like?

Now you can find out thanks to an online ‘drink mixer’ application launched by Malibu. As part of its global Get Your Island On brand push, the Pernod-Ricard-owned rum has launched an interactive music-mixing interface with beat combinations relating to 86 unique recipes, and four faders which enable users to adapt the taste/sound to their own preferences. The mixer forms part of RadioMaliboom Boom, an online radio station launched in August, also part of the Get Your Island On brand platform

Contagious caught up with me to discuss the launch:

Contagious: How did you come up with the idea?
BB: Since it can be challenging to convey taste using a digital medium, we wanted to give users a sensory experience that allowed the taste of the product to come through as it relates to musical sound. We also wanted to infuse some unexpected fun and energy into the traditional cocktail recipe section of a drinks site.

Read the full interview here.

Mobile Marketer interviews Billy Burgess

billb4979 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:32:11 +0000

Giselle Tsirulnik, a Senior Editor at Mobile Marketer – the news leader in mobile marketing, media and commerce – interviewed me for her piece on mobile marketing and it’s overall role in a brand’s marketing strategy specifically in the highly contested spirits market.

Why mobile for Malibu Rum? How important is the channel to the brand’s overall marketing strategy?
Mobile is important to Malibu as it links its offline media to digital assets to drive interest and action. It does so by creating a digital user experience that enables a consumer to enter the Caribbean state of mind, anytime, anywhere. - Billy Burgess

Read the full interview here.

Take a look at the mobile website.

Malibu Kicks Off Campaign to Make First Day of Summer an International Holiday With Estelle and Sean Paul

billb4979 — Sun, 30 May 2010 11:13:12 +0000

This June 21, Malibu is celebrating the First Day of Summer with a global broadcast live from New York City, featuring recording artists Estelle and Sean Paul, as well as DJs from across the globe. Fans can celebrate in real time with Radio Maliboom Boom by watching live at Facebook.com/Malibu.Rum. Throughout the summer, warm weather enthusiasts will be encouraged to join the movement to make the first day of summer an international holiday and celebrate the summer with the brand online and offline.

But the fun doesn’t stop when the concert is over! Throughout the summer, fans can keep the celebration going with Radio Maliboom Boom by enjoying upbeat music mixes, a mobile music application, exclusive artist interviews and recordings ofEstelle and Sean Paul’s performances at Facebook.com/Malibu.Rum. Other fun features include an augmented reality application called “Radio Maliboom Boom Video Shoot” that allows users to use their web cams to mix music like a DJ, mix a cocktail like a bartender, and dance the Radio Maliboom Boom dance that will be featured in Malibu’s soon-to-be released television ad spot.

Leading up to the global broadcast in New York City, those eager for summer to begin can join the giant countdown to the official start of summer, which is featured on the Times Square JumboTron. Consumers in New York can also join in on the celebration by dancing the Radio Maliboom Boom dance at a surprise dance-along at a yet to be disclosed location on June 22.

I was responsible for leading development of all global digital tools (videos, apps, website, and advertising) in addition to pre- and post-launch activation.

Official Press Release

Popsop acknowledges ‘Malibu by U’

billb4979 — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:55:19 +0000

Popsop acknowledged a limited edition bottle initiative I led called ‘Malibu by U’, that lets consumers design their own bottle. This was complemented with a strong digital activation (including the spirits industries first ever open-sourced website).

We collaborated with established and up-and-coming visual artists to activate the promotion globally.

Malibu Island Melon joins the family

billb4979 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:55:44 +0000

Today Malibu introduced Island Melon, the newest flavor to join the Malibu family. In addition to leading the development of the concept, product packaging and formulation, I also steered all of the digital communications including 3 digital videos, web advertising, website, Facebook and YouTube destinations and iPhone application.

Check it out on Youtube.

Check it out on Facebook.

Download the Island Bowling iPhone app.

Best of Beauty 2005, 2007 AND 2008 (Nice N’Easy Root Touch Up)

billb4979 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:14:19 +0000

When Root Touch Up launched in 2005, it created a category that had never existed at the mass shopping level. Within the first month, it had over a 2% value share in the hair color category. As the lead manufacturing engineer on the product launch, I ensured the final product met the concept vision. Root Touch Up went onto receive the Beauty Breakthrough award from Allure Magazine (the Beauty Experts) in 2005, and later the Best of Beauty for Hair in 2007 and 2008.