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These customised playlists elevate film streaming

Trolls World Tour mixtapes Pandora and Xfinity

US – The feature film Trolls World Tour is using audio playlists in lieu of traditional marketing.

The collaboration with audio platform Pandora plays on the film’s music-focused narrative, in which trolls set out to destroy music genres from techno to country and classical. To market the film, musicologists at Pandora created dedicated mix tapes for each troll character, custom-designed to capture their personalities and music preferences, which are available for subscribers to stream on the platform.

Taking an alternative approach to traditional film advertising, in lieu of out-of-home billboards, the digital marketing campaign promotes the premiere of the film on streaming platforms. It represents the first mass-market feature film to replace its theatrical opening with at-home streaming due to Covid-19. Therefore, the customised mix tapes offer an additional touchpoint for consumers to interact with the narrative and characters.

As interactive audio experiences become ever-more important in a peak visual world, Trolls World Tour demonstrates the potential for audio content in the entertainment industry.

Covid-19: Quarantine Together is a more focused approach to dating

Quarantine Together , US

US – The dating app requests that users log on at 6:00pm daily to be matched with potential dates.

Launched in response to the numbers of Americans isolating during the pandemic, Quarantine Together prompts users at 6:00pm daily with a reminder to wash their hands. Once they confirm they have done so, they are matched with others in a private text message. After 20 minutes, the pair decide whether to continue their virtual connection over video chat.

Created as a way to encourage those isolating to date safely and remain connected, the app also supports frontline care workers. While the app is free, users are sent links to donate to the Frontline Responders Fund to provide healthcare workers with PPE (personal protective equipment).

With hundreds of dating apps vying for consumers’ attention, Quarantine Together is taking a more focused approach that strips back the dating process and operates on a real-time schedule. For more on how off-demand media can help to focus consumers’ attention spans, read our macrotrend The Focus Filter.

Covid-19: Kickstarter doubles down on lockdown creativity

Global – Inside Voices aims to promote at-home creativity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the initiative, Kickstarter aims to support projects made and delivered entirely at home, providing financial help for creatives out of work. It encourages makers to launch simple digital projects such as zine PDFs, album downloads, Zoom performance invitations or poetry newsletters.

Playing on the term ‘inside voices’ – typically used to tell children to be quiet indoors – the concept provides straightforward ideas and tutorials to allow anyone to unleash their inner creative. ‘Some people are experimenting with creative work for the first time and feeling inspired by the possibilities,’ reads a statement by Kickstarter.

With isolated consumers increasingly time-rich, many are taking the opportunity to reconnect with creative activities and engage with brands that encourage life-long learning.

Inside Voices by Kickstarter

Stat: The latest wellness essential could be music

The concept of music as medicine is finding its feet, according to a new study by The British Academy of Sound Therapy. The global study found that 89% of consumers believe music to be essential to their health and wellbeing.

The research also found that 90% of people reported listening to music as a key part of relaxation, with researchers suggesting this may be down to the use of relaxation music in meditation apps such as Calm and Headspace. It also found that the act of listening to music was commonly associated with processing emotions.

When exploring the role of music in relaxation, the study found that participants benefited from simple melodies with no lyrics, with 79% finding that this music reduced muscle tension and 84% having less negative thoughts.

As a mental health crisis abounds, the health and wellness industry is acknowledging the potential of Music as Medicine, recognising sound as a therapeutic medium.