ground(ctrl) Case Studies

The Backstreet Boys

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:01:00 -0700

The Backstreet Boys have sold over 110 million records worldwide. If thats not an impressive enough statistic, then its worth noting theyve generated over 1/2 billion dollars in concert ticket sales as well. Needless to say, when they came to ground(ctrl) in the fall of 2007, we knew we had a hot property on our hands. They are one of the largest selling bands of all time but more importantly, they are true visionaries when it comes to pushing the limits of band participation. We started with a concept for their general site (backstreetboys.com) encompassing the Backstreet Boys brand while showing the unique nature of the members individually. The band has the highest level of fan interaction weve ever seen and always give 110% to every fan.

Daughtry

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:01:00 -0700

Chris Daughtry is a true success story. After leaving American Idol long before anyone expected, Chris seized the opportunity to finally record the album hed always heard playing in his head. The band Daughtry the group recorded and released their self titled album which became the fastest selling debut rock album in Soundscan history. With sales approaching 5 million and tour dates completed all over the world, its clear theyre in high demand. We partnered up with their management team at 19 entertainment to offer tour VIPs. Our collective goal was to create a face to face connection between the fans and the band - bringing them closer than ever before. Receiving incredible feedback (and demand for VIPs in more cities) we accomplished what we set out to do.

Papa Roach

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:45:00 -0700

Our relationship with Papa Roach pre-dates the existence of ground(ctrl) by almost a decade. Whether its Eddie Meehans days working with band in early 2000 while a part of CBS radio, or Greg Pattersons years spent touring with the band and managing their online properties. This intricate understanding of the band, their fans and their artistic integrity led to Papa Roach becoming the very first client for ground(ctrl). Immediately, ground(ctrl) recognized the major problem with the bands online strategy: too many fragmented properties. Starting in 2007 ground(ctrl) rectified the problem by taking control over the bands existing Fanclub and Street Team sites. The initial combined user base of 2000 members quickly grew by over tenfold.

Paul Oakenfold

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:36:00 -0700

Theres nothing one dimensional about 2-time Grammy nominated DJ Paul Oakenfold. Hes one of the most important and influential DJs around as well as a highly sought after artist, remixer, performer and producer. He came to ground(ctrl) in summer of 2008 asking us to help rebrand his image in addition to his label, Perfecto Records. We jumped at the chance to join Oakenfold/Perfecto team. Since then, PaulOakenfold.com has become the hub of everything Paul does. Utilizing news, blogs, podcasts, exclusive contests, Radio Oakenfold and more, he engages and speaks to his fans like no one else. Were lucky to work with such a diverse and talented presence who spans across all artistic genres.

Thalia

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:03:00 -0700

Already a household name in Spanish speaking parts of the world, Latin superstar Thalia came to us in the spring of 2007 looking to increase her overall online presence. With sales in excess of 35 million units, we developed a plan that includes the following ground(ctrl) services:

far

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:10:00 -0700

Hailing from the best city in the world, (Sacramento, CA), Far broke up in 1999 after releasing two critically acclaimed and highly influential albums for the Epic/Immortal label. In the fall of 2008, the band decided to reunite and immediately sought out the ground(ctrl) team to assist with the process. We broke the news first on the bands official website thebandfar.com with a "sizzle" video and a copy of the 1997 Ginuwine hit "Pony". Working directly with the band to formulate the perfect team (PR/Booking Agent/Management), we distributed the song "Pony" to several major market stations resulting in national airplay. The song quickly became a hit online as well establishing Far as one of the hottest bands to watch in 2009.

NKOTB

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:43:00 -0700

New Kids on the Block were a powerhouse in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The biggest band on the planet, they walked away from it all, breaking millions of girls (and a few guys) hearts in the process. When we got the call in the fall of 2007 announcing NKOTB were reuniting, we knew it was a unique opportunity to do something special. Working diligently with their management team at Azoff Management we helped direct the vision for their remarkable comeback. A few of the key elements we created together are the famous New Kids on the Block logo, the official website and tons of email marketing. In the end its evident the love affair was never forgotten, as theyve easily rekindled their romance with existing fans while earning new ones each and every step-by-step of the way.

Gavin Rossdale

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 23:45:00 -0700

Commissioned by the management firm of Irving Azoff in early 2008, we were invited to sit down with Gavin Rossdale and come up with an interactive presence complimenting the amazing artwork for his WANDERlust release. This combination of the artist's vision and ground(ctrl)'s creative direction can be found at gavinrossdale.com. Visiting the sites during different times of the day yields an aesthetic based on your timezone. Be sure to check it out periodically throughout the day to see what we're talking about.

Third Eye Blind

Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:24:00 -0800

San Francisco rock band Third Eye Blind have always had a distinct vision and an unparalleled sense of how to stay true to themselves and their fans. When they called us to reenergize their interactive strategy, we jumped at the chance. With over 10 million records sold and thousands of live shows under their belt, we knew this next phase was going to be big. Working hand-in-hand with the band and management we crafted the new thirdeyeblind.com community. Featuring a home for the 3eb fanbase, the community strives to do much more by also adding elements introducing fans to more of the bands personalities and philosophoes. Perfect examples of this expanded relationship are Radio3eb, People we love and much more.

Dredg

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:07:00 -0800

After leaving Interscope records in the fall of 2008, San Francisco Bay Area based Dredg came to us to fulfill all their interactive needs. Dredgs desire is to create and interactive world that lives symbiotically with their incorporatation of art, especially painting, into their albums, artwork and concerts. We created the Dredg.com community to bring their fans together in a central location giving the band and fans direct access to each other. Dredg is also a very successful touring band who can use their community to interact with fans on a personal level and sell tickets directly to their audience. For the first time they now have the ability to monetize this relationship using the ground(ctrl) ticketing system to offer their fans a direct, one-stop ticket buying solution.