For the past 3 years, College Battle (“CB”) has grown organically in the college market with the creation of an unprecedented music and entertainment platform. This includes the national College Battle of the Bands competition which has awarded over $250K in prizing to top student musicians to date, and the Textbooks & Tickets Tour (“T&T”) produced with Chegg, the only free concert series exclusively for college students featuring artists such as T-Pain, Avicii, Big Boi of OutKast, Dev, Chiddy Bang, MNDR, Big Sean and many more. The company’s year round activity provides a unique solution to the college entertainment vertical by reaching one of the most influential portions of the youth media market and economy which represents over $60 billion of spending capitol annually.nnOver the course of 2011, CB visited more than 43 campuses to reach a student population of over 1.25M and garner 10M+ impressions online. Additionally, thousands of student musicians competed in the national College Battle of the Bands competition with the national finalists getting an opening slot on a T&T show. nn
nn2012 plans include an expanded College Battle of the Bands competition (now simply known as College Battle) this spring and summer and the largest T&T Tour launch to date in August to reach over 20M college impressions, with intimate brand integration offered to sponsors and partners throughout.nnCollege Battle is the brainchild of young music entrepreneurs Evan Shapiro and KamranV, along with Dan Costa of Campus MovieFest. In 2007 they decided to put their passion for music and business to the test and create a college brand which not only has gone on to exceed any projections in the way of attendance and sheer numbers, but has become the catalyst for other brand extensions to a unique demographic with tons of spending power – the college student.nnWith the industry continuing to evolve and the world of new media heightening the opportunities for immediate satisfaction, they both knew that they had a chance to create a powerful brand. Given the age of information exchange and collective experiences, they were convinced that they could create a leading college music brand while also discovering new innovative talent that could otherwise go unnoticed in the crowded world of digital downloads, music promotion and emerging artist opportunities. It was then that College Battle began to form into what is now a national tour and music competition with major sponsors. In only a few short years they have succeeded in securing such high level partners as Chegg, GRAMMY U®, T-Mobile and others and have filled venues and college campuses around the country in what has became an unprecedented and energetic brand concept that continues to grow exponentially each year. The College Battle competition is at the forefront of artist discovery and responsible for helping to discover popular acts that go on to secure recording contracts such as Mike Posner (Duke), Local Natives (Pepperdine) and Rozzi Crane (USC) who was just signed by Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame and now featured on the current Hunger Games soundtrack. nnThis spring, College Battle launches its fourth year of competition in April. The 2012 events bring an exciting new regional format with intimate brand integrations, a projection of 300K unique college voters and thousands of music artist participants as well as celebrity judges and a national public relations firm focusing on national exposure for the company.n nBrands are constantly trying to find new ways to market to this key demographic but they usually loose sight of the new current trends and have a hard time staying ahead of the curve. College Battle took one of the strongest cultural identifiers to college students – music – and are making it a lifestyle brand. Through the current music market, CB has successfully found a way to stay ahead of the curve and market to college students in an organic and comfortable way and effectively give them something they can’t live without – their favorite music and an unforgettable college experience where they connect with artists themselves and other like-minded students. College Battle is the perfect strategy for the college entertainment vertical and is consistently finding new ways to provide meaningful event experiences for brands, students and artists alike.n nIn 2012, College Battle hits the road once again to make its mark in 40+ college markets across the United States. Having renewed agreements with major sponsors Chegg and GRAMMY U, College Battle and the Textbooks & Tickets Tour will launch the new season with a special edition Textbooks & Tickets Tour date in Hamilton, NY with a one-of-a-kind performance by college-favorite artist Avicii on 4/20. College Battle and Textbooks & Tickets events follow in all major markets throughout 2012, including the company’s first ever fashion and runway show integrations into select music events. nnAdditional 2012 partnerships are being added. Partners will reap the rewards of unique interactive on-campus and event experiences with college students who will aim to become natural ambassadors for the brand. In a world where money is tight, marketing is crowded and demographics are split, the high energy music enthusiasts at College Battle have created a brand which has now stood the test of time and has the history to continue to prove itself as one of the key college brands in the nation. nnJulia Henry College Battle Contact Julia via email 310-923-6514
Contact:Media: Caroline Galloway M2M PR Contact Caroline via email 440-591-3807
Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More