We're still alive down here in Austin, though the days are starting to blur together a bit. Today, we're planning to hit up Pandora's setup at The Gatsby and a few panels spanning everything from weed marketing to podcasts. If all goes well, maybe even a nap (just kidding, editors!). Check out our talk from yesterday with OMD's Dario Raciti on brands getting into interactive entertainment. George Slefo also did an AMA of sorts with Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. Keep checking back here for more.
Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Pandora takes over The Gatsby
Pandora has a huge setup on East Sixth, where artists like Tinashe
and Dashboard Confessional will take the stage
this week. But what drew my attention was "Sounds Like You," a
program that guides you through a process of personalizing a song
the company claims is made "entirely for you." The program was
created by Tool North America and works with Pandora's Music Genome
Project.
Several screens walk you through a process of choosing songs you like based on different genres, then the program takes a photo and pops out a song. My song sounds like hold music mixed with spa background tunes with a sprinkling of clapping sounds. Apparently I'm doing a great job of pretending like I'm zen at SXSW.
Wednesday, 12:45 p.m.
High times at Southby
Jeffrey Finkle, a cannabis investor, Level Blends co-founder Chris
Emerson and futurist Faith Popcorn gathered to talk about the
future of legal cannabis and how brands should be preparing for the
industry's rise. Popcorn suggested that smart companies are quietly
investing in the area, and says she thinks smaller brands are more
likely to win in this area.
"Small indie brands you're going to see be much more open, but it's always the outsider that has the vision," she said. "Maybe they have less to lose. I think it will be somebody who upsets the apple cart—and not the usual suspects."
She asked Emerson about a partnership his company did to offer specialty cocktails including CBD with terpenes. He described it as "a very nice experience."
"A little fuzziness on the edge," he said. "Not going to say no hangover, but it does help." —Megan Graham
Wednesday, 12:05 p.m.
Rolling with Tito's
Tito's Vodka is riding around Austin offering rides in a school bus
that serves alcohol. Although the rides are free, the booze
marketer is asking for tips, which will all be donated to
the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. Dancing on the bus is
encouraged, Tito's says. Judging by the Instagram evidence,
there were some takers.
