• 130 campaign entries received for competition from across 15 countries, the latest being New Zealand and South Korea. Other countries include Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
• APPIES 2013 attracts highest number of judges on the assessing panel as 35 of the region?s top marketing heads come on board.
• 35 agencies will showcase their latest and best integrated campaigns for 65 leading brands such as Caltex, Intel, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Google, Gillette, Cocoa-Cola, Tiger Beer, Malaysian Airlines, SingTel, Diageo, Pernod Picard, Wrigleys and MARS, among others.
• More than 70 presenters will pitch their marketing campaigns live with aim to win the APPIES Gold.
• APPIES 2013 to be held on 15 & 16 August at the National University of Singapore Society.
• Organised by the Institute of Advertising Singapore (IAS), APPIES 2013 is supported by The Advertising Club, SingTel, MediaCorp, Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), MEC and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

QUOTE: "Record numbers aside, we are more delighted to have some sterling brands and marketers on board as presenters and judges. You can look forward to two very inspiring days indeed." - Ms Goh Shu Fen, Chairperson of the APPIES and Co-Founder & Principal of R3.

Singapore, 26 June 2013: Learning, sharing and networking - the DNA of the annual APPIES agenda - is once again on the cards at APPIES 2013 which has seen a record number of 130 entries being submitted by over 35 agencies in 15 countries. This year?s competitive showcase will once again integrate a visual showcase of 100 of the latest and best integrated marketing campaigns with stimulating live presentations by their brand marketers/campaign creators.

The 100 shortlisted integrated marketing campaigns will cover a broad range of six product/service categories that include Consumer Durables, Consumer Services, Food & Beverage, Non-Food FMCG, Business Services and Government, Cultural, Social & Environmental campaigns. For last year?s winners, visit www.appies.asia.

Around 70 presenters (brand marketers or campaign creators) will pitch their work individually to the assessing panel comprising leading industry peers, and 5 will win the Best Presenter Awards. The USP of the APPIES LIVE 4-6-10 campaign presentation format continues to be a big draw for participants and audience members. Each presentation begins with a 4-minute showreel video summarising the campaign, followed by a live 6-minute exposition of the campaign?s key highlights by the brand?s marketers/campaign creators. Then comes the interactive 10-minute session where each campaign is cross-examined by the judges and audience.

This year?s record participation of presenters and judges in one venue over two days will once again provide a convenient and stimulating platform for attendees to learn from leading industry peers, share innovative, award-worthy work and network for future business and professional opportunities.

SINGAPORE ? Branded Ltd. today announced the return of the award-winning Digital & Music Matters, and Music Matters Live from 20th to 24th May 2013 in Singapore, with brand-new exciting firsts for Asia ? the YouTube FanFest with HP and a full-day HP Music Academy mentoring workshops to help today?s budding artists. For the first time, Digital & Music Matters will also be streamed ?live? via the www.allthatmatters.asia website, giving industry players a chance to be part of the conference virtually from anywhere in the world. Altogether, the online audience can look forward to nearly 50 hours of ?live? broadcast across YouTube FanFest with HP, Digital & Music Matters and Music Mattes Live.

Digital & Music Matters 2012 brought together more than 1,200 attendees from close to 400 companies across 30 countries. Hosted at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, this year?s conference continues to discuss the latest breakthroughs in the world of music and digital entertainment, coupled with high-level discussions on the challenges and solutions facing today?s entertainment companies.

Digital Matters presented by Windows Azure held in association with Movideo and CASBAA, will kick off the exciting week of conferences on 21st May 2013 and provide a platform for digital entertainment businesses to address the latest solutions to content monetisation. Attendees can look forward to industry insights from top executives from Microsoft, Starhub, Google Asia Pacific, Omnifone, M&C Saatchi and more.

?Globally, almost one-third of online consumer data consumption is attributed to video content, and Asia is at the epicenter of that content explosion. Get into the heat of the action at Digital Matters, where visitors will find out how the latest technologies like cloud computing and big data solutions are enabling consumers around the world to watch what they want, when they want, no matter what device they are using,? said Taras Bugir, Worldwide Managing Director of Media & Cable at Microsoft.

For the first time, this year?s delegates will also get the chance to network with today?s rising YouTube stars through the first-ever YouTube FanFest with HP (from 20th to 21st May) to complement the conference.

Featuring a roster of 18 established and breakout global sensations with a combined subscriber base of 12.5 million and over 3.8 billion views, the two-night YouTube FanFest with HP showcase will include ?live? performances and ?live? debuts of new content makers from the United States, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and more, as well as interactive meet and greet sessions between stars and fans.

Fans who missed the chance to join YouTube FanFest need not fret as they can watch the performances online, which will be streamed ?live? on the YouTube FanFest website (www.youtubefanfest.com) and stars such as Little Boots, GAC, Boyce Avenue, David Choi and Joseph Vincent will also be making their first-ever appearance at Music Matters Live, the three-night music festival held in Clarke Quay in conjunction with the Music Matters conference.

Music Matters, held from 22nd to 23rd May, is a pioneering industry event in the Asia-Pacific region bringing together key players in the global music industry. This year?s programme features more artist showcases while zooming in on the latest in music streaming; global trends in the music industry; monetising content through the entire digital platform value chain and more.

Music Matters attendees can look forward to industry insights from artist manager keynote by Johnny Wright, manager of Justin Timberlake (who managed stars such as Janet Jackson, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and Britney Spears); a keynote performance by Gurrumul Yunupingu, triple-platinum selling artist who has been described by Rolling Stone magazine as ?Australia?s Most Important Voice?; and performances by Myanmar?s first all-girl, all-singing and all-dancing band, the Me N Ma Girls; Little Boots, Boyce Avenue, and more.

This edition of Music Matters launches the first HP Music Matters Academy, a formalised two-day mentoring programme that connects international music and entertainment industry leaders with today?s budding artists.

A total of 100 passes worth US$100,000 were donated by Music Matters to the local arts community comprising members of the one-year-old Singapore Music Society (SG MUSO), who will meet and learn from industry experts who are attending Music Matters 2013. In addition, e2i have part-funded an additional 50 musicians to attend the Academy.

Academy attendees can look forward to hands-on workshops with industry experts such as Seymour Stein (President, Sire Records), Dan Teree (President and COO Ticketfly) and Nick O?Bryne (General Manager, Australian Independent Record Labels Association) to learn more about effectively marketing themselves in today?s crowded digital and music space.

?We want to help grow the Singapore digital entertainment industry and provide a platform for breakout acts to learn more from our fantastic cast of international music and entertainment leaders and given the opportunity to perform for the international audience gathered here,? said Jasper Donat, CEO of Branded Ltd. and President of Digital & Music Matters.

The grand finale to round off the week that matters is Music Matters Live powered by HP, a ?live? music showcase featuring 52 acts from 18 countries across six venues in Clarke Quay. This year?s exciting line-up includes three brand-new country showcases from Singapore, Japan and Taiwan to complement the staple line-up from Australia, Canada and Korea.

Featuring acclaimed electronic artist Little Boots, award-winning folk singer Gurrumul, indie pop meisters Club Scouts, Eurovision runner-up Prata Vetra and local art rock band The Observatory, this year promises to be a diverse musical event unlike any other.

Music Matters Live powered by HP will be streamed ?live? via YouTube ( so audiences from around the globe can tune in to discover the latest breakout artists. Students from Singapore Polytechnic?s Diploma in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics programme will be producing the ?live? streaming show from the Fountain Square main stage and given the hands-on opportunity to produce the graphics packages, filming and editing show inserts, as well as shooting and mixing the ?live? broadcast of the performances.

?As the first-ever Asian music festival to be streamed ?live? via YouTube, our students from Singapore Polytechnic will have a rare and important chance to learn from the best in the digital entertainment industry. This could be the first ?live? streaming experience they will ever have,? added Jasper.

Digital & Music Matters is proudly supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, Media Development Authority of Singapore, and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Other key sponsors on board for 2013 are: 88tc88, Accenture, Akamai, AsiaWorld-Expo, Barks, Believe Digital, Audio Network, BMI, Brightcove, CIMA, Channel [V], Eon & Asia Pop 40, Fender, Fox, Google/ YouTube, Gracenote, HP, ICON, Invest HK, Images in Motion, KOCCA, Windows Azure, Movideo, MPAJ, Omnifone, Pacific Beverages, Samsung, Singapore Grand Prix, Sounds Australia and the Singapore National Arts Council.

MUMBAI: Top executives are taking up digital technology, but the extent of the embrace appears to be tempered by their need to remain in control of their business ecosystem, according to new research by MEC and CNBC. The research surveyed 32 CEOs in multi-national companies across Singapore, Hong Kong, India and China.

Adoption of digital technology is currently limited to new devices (smartphone, tablet, etc.), being used for information aggregation and synchronization.

Attitudinally, CEOs in Asia acknowledge the positive benefits of using digital technology in the work place, citing upturns in growth and productivity, a leveling of the playing field and changing business formats. They believe that digital technology will change the way they work in the future. ?We?ve only just started but digital technology will significantly change the way we deal with our peers, colleagues, clients and suppliers?, said a CEO from India.

Behaviourally, Asian CEOs consider themselves ?fast followers? and claim to be undaunted by the proliferation of new gadgets ? they remain in control over how and when these devices are to be used. A CEO in Singapore said he does not ?want to be controlled by anyone or a piece of machinery?. An example of this is how mobile phones are often switched off and handed over to secretaries during meetings, for undivided attention.

These CEOs believe that digital technologies are not the ?be all and end all? of everything. The same expectations in communications from the past applies in today?s digital age too, from ?paying full attention when someone is talking? to having control of their time. As a CEO from a HK company said, ?When I?m at home, it?s my time. Unless it?s very urgent, everything can wait till the next morning.?

In essence, CEOs continue to and expect to remain in control of their time and schedules.

CEOs tend to have well-established working behaviours, so technology and devices perform an efficiency or enhancing role, especially on a personal level. New technology has not intrinsically changed the way they behave, it is merely facilitating existing behaviors. ?I want to be thoughtful, not just compelled to reply right away. I use these devices to add meaning,? explained a CEO from Singapore.

However, it is clear that CEOs recognize the benefits of technology and how it can revolutionise their business, but also recognise that they have a long way to go.

iPad ? the game changer?

Interestingly, the iPad is possibly the one gadget that has been observed to subtly alter the CEO behaviour. With the trend of consumerisation of technology and more companies embracing the BYOD (bring your own device) policy, the iPad has quickly become a business as well as a personal device.

The iPad is a perfect fit for the needs of this niche target audience. CEOs have expressed a fondness for it especially for browsing and presenting. This CEO from Singapore likes the iPad: ?When the opportunity arises, I take out my iPad and present rather than use my laptop which makes me look like a salesman.?

It is slowly replacing the laptop for short trips and they express a certain liberation that comes with doing that. I started taking my iPad for short trips and now I find the laptop is becoming desk bound. It feels heavy and un-necessary for some trips.?

?Given that they need to manage complexity, tablets satisfy a specific need from CEOs ? simplicity. CEOs are highly selective with their content and only consume what they perceive will add real value to their work and personal lives. Therefore, brands seeking to communicate with CEOs need to ensure that content is delivered in a concise manner and optimised to be viewed and interacted with on these devices,? said Junji Sumitani, Vice President, Advertising Sales, CNBC in Asia Pacific.

Selective levels of engagement with social media

Asian CEOs acknowledge that the social media bandwagon is a wave they have yet to, or are hesitant to ride on, either for themselves or for their companies. Personally, these CEOs cite valuing their privacy as the reason they are at best passive observers of social networks. Due to the inherent social nature of these networks, there seems to be a fear of opening up access to themselves and not having the bandwidth to deal with it. This CEO from Hong Kong described it as ?There are all these requests I need to accept and I just don?t want to get started on dialogues.?

The innate need to remain in control would clearly be at risk.

However, they do realise the potential of using it for their businesses. Internally, there is some but limited use of social networks for internal communications, stemming from a need to provide a platform for employees to air their opinions rather than as a way to connect and engage with them. ?Clearly young people today feel they have a right to question and understand why something is working the way it is and if you don?t provide a mechanism for them to ask that questions and express themselves, they will go outside. So it is better for us to provide that space within the organization.? said a CEO from India.

Externally, CEOs are starting to explore the benefits of what these networks can do. ?Therefore, it becomes a very interesting B2B tool. So that?s something we are experimenting within the office ? how to use social networking for marketing and promotion and positioning for the company.?

?Social networks are not the way to best communicate with CEOs since they are reluctant to lose control of their communication structures. However, they seek recommendations as much as anyone else, often through respected media brands. Hence B2B brands have an opportunity to partner with these media brands to proprovide valuable, timely content,? commented Jon Wright, Head of Analytics and Insight, MEC Asia Pacific.

Mumbai: Bindass, the 360 degree Indian youth entertainment brand presents the ?Bindass Swarathma Rest Less tour that will take place across 3 cities beginning May 11th 2012. In sync with Bindass? refreshed brand campaign REST LESS, this tour promises to make you ROCK MORE and REST LESS! It does not stop at this! At the end of the tour, Swarathma will put together an exclusive ?Bindass anthem? that captures the REST LESS spirit of the youth; the composition will be based on the bands interaction with youngsters during their multi-city tour.

The Bindass Swarathma Rest Less Tour marks the launch of the band?s second full-length album titled Topiwalleh. This album follows their critically acclaimed eponymous debut release in January 2009, which introduced the world to their brand of folk rock and won the band the JD Rock Award for Best Band, Album and Song of the Year.

Commenting on the association of Bindass and Swarathma for the Rest Less Tour, Kunal Mukherjee, Director Marketing, UTV & Bindass Networks ?Bindass as a youth brand has evolved over the years and has become much more than just a television channel. Music is the language the youngsters speak and it is important for a youth brand like Bindass to give them a world class music experience. Folk Rock is an emerging genre and Bindass believes that it has strong following amongst the youth and a band like Swarathma with their unique footprint in folk rock fit the bill. It will also be interesting to see the composition of a Bindass anthem by Swarathma that will resonate the brand?s refreshed philosophy encouraging the youth to do more and rest less.?

Since their first album, the Swarathma has quickly grown to become one of India?s premier live acts, with performances over the world including festivals across the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Morocco. This time around, acclaimed composer/producer Loy Mendonsa worked with the band, helping them polish their new compositions, while retaining the ethos of the band?s identity. This album also represents a subtle shift in the Swarathma sound. While they stay true to their folk roots, the compositions reflect the development in the band members? individual musicality over the last three years.

Girish ?Bobby? Talwar, Co-Founder OML and Artist?s Manager says, ?Swarathma?s Topiwalleh album is going to be like a shot in the arm for the Indian folk rock scene, it?s going to be big. The writing process has been mentored by Loy Mendonsa who is one of the most diverse musicians and producers in our country. Having a brand like Bindass on board only ensures that Swarathma?s unique sound will reach out to the largest group of the coolest people in the country and more importantly, the people that really enjoy Swarathma?s blended genre of music?.

Loy Mendonsa, the producer of the album says, ?They are a great live band with a lot of color and a nice Indian touch to the performance. I have always liked the kind of songs they have written and the social messages their lyrics carry. I have tried to bring in the theatrical angle of their performance into the album? Vasu Dixit the vocalist from the band says, ?It?s great that a popular youth brand like Bindass promotes Folk rock as a genre, this will definitely help us reach out to our audience on a much larger scale. All of us in the band are really excited about the Bindass Swarathma Rest Less tour and more so about the anthem that we are going to put together. It?s the first time that we will document our experiences with inputs from the youth and compose such an anthem?it?s truly going to be a unique sound.?