WHAT’S NEW RIGHT NOWGirl Powered: Shtick Chicks Stick It to

Male-Dominated Comedy Destinations

With girl-powered marketing at an all-time high, actress Elizabeth Banks’ new online entertainment destination will offer brands the opportunity to partner in content creation.

Similar to Funny or Die, the recently launched WhoHaHa has the potential to be a unique offering among celebrity platforms and is meant to celebrate funny females. Featuring exclusive content starring Elizabeth Banks and other new media stars – such as this not-safe-for-work talk show “Ask A Badass” – the company will curate the best of female- focused content online while also producing original movies, TV shows, podcasts and books.

While the site will debut ad free, Banks envisions bringing brands on board by integrating them into the content itself in innovative ways.

Issue No. 1April 2016

FACEBOOK LIVE ARRIVES WITH NEW FEATURES AND MEDIA PUBLISHING DEALS

After introducing the ability to broadcast live to all users in December, Facebook is now rolling out a host of upgrades designed to make live video a core part of Facebook. The biggest change is that platform is signing deals with publishers to produce a set number of live videos each month.

Additional new features include the option to broadcast to people who have RSVP’d for an event, the option to invite friends into a broadcast and the option to broadcast to any group you are a part of.

Similar to Snapchat, these updates also allow the addition of filters and drawings to broadcasts.

Facebook is promising to pay some publishers in cash up front and eventually share in revenues

generated from the videos, though they are currently not supported by ads.

COOL CAMPAIGNS

Sonic’s Square Shakes

Sonic recently enlisted Chef Christine Flynn –aka,

@chefjacqueslamerde – to deconstruct their

Creamery shakes and put them back together again

in adorable square shapes designed specifically for

Instagram. The campaign, dreamed up for Coachella,

will allow fans to purchase via instant delivery at the

music festival.

Media coverage includes: BuzzFeed, Digiday,

Popsugar, Elite Daily

“We wanted to be the first brand, and especially the first food brand, to have a product that was

designed for Instagram, offer it exclusively for sale on Instagram, and then deliver that product within

minutes of your order on Instagram.”

Sonic’s president and chief marketing officer, Todd Smith

Ikea Ventures Into VR

Whether you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen or are just a VR

aficionado, you’ll want to check out IKEA’s VR Experience. Within the app you

can change the cabinet finishes, place a frying pan on the stove, explore from

the height of a child and more. IKEA says they hope their initial foray into VR

will solicit useful company feedback.

Media coverage includes: Engadget, Fortune, Gizmodo, BGR

“We hope that users will contribute to our virtual reality development, by submitting ideas on how to use virtual reality and how to improve the

virtual kitchen.”

Martin Enthed, IT Manager for IKEA Communications