IMR Executive Partners With The Music Void
Global recruitment firm joins forces with leading music industry blog
London, UK. 19th January 2010 - IMR Executive, the global recruitment firm, has today announced that it will begin working with leading industry blog The Music Void in order to target candidates and opportunities within the vibrant digital music sector.
Peter Oates, Founder of IMR Executive comments; "We're very excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with the Music Void team. The past few years have seen incredible changes within the music business, particularly in digital music, and this has meant that the requirements of both employers and candidates are changing rapidly. We're eager ensure these transitions are successful."
The deal will see IMR co-manage The Music Void's Executive Job section which focuses on positions at the Director level and above. The deal will also include co-operation on off-line activities including consultancy projects and industry events.
The Music Void was launched in 2007 to address the need for dedicated analysis of the rapidly-changing music industry and has quickly become a "go to" site for senior players within the sector. The site covers all the major aspects of the music business and publishes interviews, analysis and opinion from regular writers and leading industry personalities.
Jakomi Mathews, founder of TMV stated, "IMR Executive share our passion for digital entertainment and combining their executive recruitment expertise with our media reach and wealth of industry contacts was a logical step. The future success of digital music requires that proven talent is attracted to where it is needed the most. That's what this deal is all about."
IMR will begin management of TMV's Executive Job section on Tuesday 19th January 2010.
How’s your mobile strategy looking?
When mobile kicks off will you be ready?
Talking about digital opportunities, Sir Martin Sorrell (Chief Executive of WPP) recently said mobile is the most overhyped thing that he had ever heard of in the short term but the most under hyped thing that he had ever heard of in the medium term.
I agree. Take the internet for example. For access to the internet, wireless devices will take over from PC’s and laptop’s in the medium term. It’s inevitable. At some point in the future the mobile internet will eclipse the PC web.
This idea can be illustrated easily of we look at it from a global perspective. Take Cuba for instance. They recently launched their first mobile network, which means that they built a network of antennae masts and put handsets into shops. The Cubans were queuing around the corners to get their hands on a device - in spite of their apparent shortfall in disposable income. What happened next is interesting. They looked at the internet for the first time in their lives. In Cuba wireless devices have leapfrogged PC’s and Laptops as the primary window to the internet. In regions of the world with huge populations like Africa and Asia, mobile is burgeoning due to some very interesting factors such as the lack of robust fixed line infrastructure and the cost of laptops and PC’s. It follows that laptops and PC’s are actually barriers to entry for the internet because they are expensive.
So where is it all this going? A simple statement of fact: Mobile is going to take over from other online media in the medium term. If this is a fact then marketers should be experimenting with mobile right now.
While experimenting with mobile we should also be building our wireless device marketing strategies. We don’t want to miss the boat again this time like we did with Facebook. When volume kicks in for mobile we want to be ready. We need to have learned all our mistakes. Learned how to use our agencies in the most effective way and learnt how best to leverage this volume for our brand.
There’s a wave coming – get ready to ride it.
But where do we start on strategy and execution?
Well… SMS continues to be the most popular way for markettiers to utilise mobile as a channel but there is a debate over whether it is the most effective. For me the technical channels of mobile are not so much of an issue. So I think we should put the consumer first and most importantly be creative. Mobile has been technology-led for far too long. Mobile is the best tool to create relationships between brands and consumers. It is after all a communications device. We will see a big trend next year where (for brands) creating relationships will come a close second only to creating awareness. No other medium can build a relationship as effectively as mobile.
So in my mind, first off, mobile should be used to deliver fantastic brand engagements. The first of three things that I advise clients to do with the medium and its related technologies. The second thing to do would be to build consumer acquisition, I liken this to creating a mini radio station where all your customers are listeners and their mobiles are the radio (of course you are the broadcaster.) The third and final thing to do is to deliver some sort of activation via mobile. So herein we have a mobile strategy.
At Ogilvy we have some very clever remedies that fit intricately within our mobile strategy. I would love to tell you all about them here but unfortunately I don’t have the space… I would much prefer to do that in the privacy of our new Digital Innovation Lab, where you would be made most welcome…
As a final note I would just like to say something about where mobile could be going in the near future. A colleague of mine always goes on about a new set of the 3 p’s: Permission, privacy and preference. Permission being an explicit statement of permission to talk to you – i.e. a firm opt in. Privacy being a clear clarification of privacy, i.e. what data you give, what your data is used for and what data is actually used. The third, preference, is very interesting… it consists of statements defining your likes and dislikes, your behavioural preferences, your contextual data. If we embrace these three and build them into our mobile marketing strategy we experience almost unbelievable results. I created a mobile book club (for a certain high street retailer that will remain nameless) which enjoyed up to 23% redemption of mobile sales promotion vouchers. This ‘mobile club’ increased sales from promotions (net) by 15%. If consumers engage in a relationship with a brand and they know the level of privacy between them, they will tell us what they like and dislike. This makes them very happy to receive messages from us - a push in the right direction…
Contextual elements to mobile data are a critical element to success in the future. If we combine these with best practice and a strategy that I call ‘Engage, Acquire, Activate’ we get the start of a robust mobile strategy. Now is the time to sort one out.
Scott Seaborn, Head of Mobile Technologies, Ogilvy Group
Scott Seaborn is Head of Mobile Technologies at Ogilvy Group. He has 15 years experience in using technology for marketing and advertising. Upon leaving University (in the days before the internet) he went into radio. Radio was the new marketing technology. He then moved from radio to online and then through digital to mobile where he has worked for the past 8 years. It's fair to say that Scott has ridden the wave of new marketing technologies.
IMR Executive are off to Mobile World Congress, Barcelona!
16 – 19th February 2009
We will be over in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress conference 16-18th February 2009.
The GSMA Mobile World Congress (formerly 3GSM World Congress) combines the world's largest exhibition for the mobile industry with a stimulating and insightful congress that brings together prominent leaders and personalities from mobile operators and equipment vendors, as well as Internet and entertainment professionals.
If you would like to arrange a meeting or have a chat to one of our consultants while you are there, please contact them direct:
Ross Wellby (Mobile Content/Entertainment): +44 (0) 788 074 7267
Jeremy McNeile (Mobile Technology): +44 (0) 776 493 7003
Katharine Ruff (Mobile Technology): +44 (0) 798 887 2580
Internet Advertising Bureau – IAB: now representing the major UK mobile operators in mobile advertising.
Consensus from 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone UK gives IAB remit to move mobile to the next level.
October 2008
The first event IAB hosted in their new role as a mobile advertising trade body was a Mobile Forum on 7 October.
IMR Executive went along to learn more:
Following agreement from all the major UK mobile networks, the IAB has officially widened its remit to serve the mobile advertising industry. As of September 2008, the five UK networks – 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone UK have formed a Mobile Steering Group (MSG) to oversee and advise on the trade body’s strategy to educate the advertisers and agencies about the benefits of mobile advertising.
“Mobile has huge potential now that the networks have all fully embraced the media opportunity. Demand for help and information about what mobile can do for brands has never been higher and the IAB is proud to have landed the brief.” - Guy Phillipson, CEO of the IAB
Launched in 1997, the IAB has long-extolled the virtues of online advertising to the marketing community, and – with significant funding from all five UK operators - will now build upon the work they have already done in the mobile arena to formally extend their offering with a series of initiatives over the next 12 months and beyond.
The IAB aims to grow the medium via dedicated events, educational publications and research essential to its development.
The event was attended by members of the internet advertising industry – both brands and agencies - and the speakers were:
Steve Ricketts - Head of Third Party Services: Orange
Guy Phillipson - Chief Exec: IAB
Alistair Hill – Analyst: comScore+M:Metrics
Tim Hussain - Head of Mobile Advertising: Sky
Theo Theodurou - EMEA Sales Manager: Screen Tonic
Shaun Gregory - Chief Executive: Blyk
There was also a panel discussion by:
Jim Cook – Editor: MobiADNews
Shan Henderson - Head of Mobile Advertising & Industry Development: Vodafone
Helen Quelch - Category Manager, Emerging Propositions: T Mobile
IAB mobile advertising report
The next 12 months have been heralded a real turning point for mobile internet advertising, when the experience will match the technology and consumers will get over their hang-ups about using their mobile phones for something other than communication and surf to their hearts’ content on the move, occasionally interacting with advertising. The IAB’s 'mobile advertising: the emerging UK market' report - written with the Mobile Marketing Association and available to download below is an ideal introduction to the increasingly important mobile market.A growing number of consumers are already using mobile internet. They’re using it for news and entertainment, travel information and locations, price comparisons and email. Male 16 – 34 year olds have proven to be the early adopters but other groups are steadily increasing their usage as familiarity with the medium develops. Transparency of mobile packages is improving, content is getting better and more relevant, and mobile usability is finally beginning to be addressed with the development of more and more tailor-made mobile sites and the next generation of mobile technology.
We know that media owners already have established models for advertising on mobile, but marketers have been relatively cautious thus far. However, there are a number of benefits to mobile marketing that your brand can enjoy: enhanced targeting by demographic and day-part, the highly personal nature of the mobile phone, mass reach and the fact that users are likely to have their mobiles always with them and always on. The aim for marketers is to exploit these opportunities with a great creative idea and relevant content. Of course that’s easier said than done, and the medium is not without its challenges and inextricable barriers before it really hits the mainstream.
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IMR Executive @ the ME Awards 2008
Exclusive Sponsors of the Best Games Publisher
26.09.08
The ME Awards 2008, which rewards creativity, innovation and those who work in the mobile sector. The event attracted nearly 400 guests from over 120 companies in media, technology and entertainment around the world.
IMR Executive were proud sponsors of the ‘Best Games Publisher’ at the ME Awards last night! And Ross Wellby and Leee Christian were there to present the award to the winners: EA Mobile! Congratulations!
The wide range of categories covered all aspects of the mobile entertainment space, including software, hardware and B2B applications. Taptu won best mobile search provider, Apple picked up the award for best handset company and Sony BMG for best music label. O2 UK and Ideaworks 3D scooped the awards for the best operator and best games developer categories respectively. The ME Awards also recognised Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president, markets, at Nokia with a special award for outstanding contribution to the mobile entertainment content industry.
It was a great night – well done to all the winners and to ME for putting on such an entertaining evening.
Those of you that did not get to go to the ME Awards last night missed out on the sight of our very own Ross Wellby (The Rapper) and some of other industry folks rocking out in this curtain raising video.
But don’t worry we have it here for you!
Rock Star Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSAJ5cDyUbA
"Claire Griffin has always proven to be very dedicated and helpful with an ability to really understand a recruitment brief and focus on desirable candidate attributes as well as past experience.
She is very tenacious and takes the trouble to follow the process all the way through and to keep in touch. I will definitely continue to work with Claire in the future."
