This is bizarre. Get this. With an added twist to this weekend’s One Big Weekend event, The BBC has moved it into Second Life as well as in **real** life. The BBC website says: “The BBC has staked a claim to a virtual tropical island where it can stage online music festivals and throw exclusive celebrity parties.
“The rented island exists in online game Second Life and will hold its first event this weekend with bands including Muse, Razorlight and Gnarls Barkley. The virtual party will mirror BBC Radio 1’s real-world, One Big Weekend event, being held in Dundee from 12 May.”
Also, there will be a number of Radio 1 DJs circulating at the event and some undisclosed celebrities. The island will hold up to 400 Second Lifers so it’s pretty exclusive. So don’t think about trying to get in without permission, or you’ll be met with some “computerised bouncers” at the door. If your name’s not down, you’re not getting in.
Heh! Check out Chris Moyles above.
And probably the best PR tactic of the whole thing is, all Second Lifers who attend the virtual One Big Weekend will be issued with a “virtual digital radio that will allow them to listen to Radio 1 after the event”. Brilliant! But why can I not help feeling a little scared at the same time?
For a little taster of the event, here’s Razorlight with Golden Touch.
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Drew B's take on tech PR
Nice spot!
Ros
It was only a matter of time before target audiences of virtual communities were accessed from the inside. I think that not only will we see a continuing increase in product placement within gaming (following suit of branded advertising and sponsorship); to reach a growing population of consumers ‘lost’ in cyberspace, PR campaigns will begin to focus on opportunities that are to be had internally.
Alexandra Pullin
As a long(ish) term reader of this blog – I notice (ooh so eagle eyed!) that you often include music videos at the end of your posts. This is a fab idea – have you ever taken any requests? perhaps you can use it as a platform for new bands/artists?
Stephen
Hah! Yeah I could be like Top of the Pops for the online world.
Seriously though, you might have an idea there.
Alexandra Pullin
I know – I was going to sneakily steal it myself but then I thought credit where credit is due and you did (unknowingly) springboard the idea!
You could have a little vote… (mine would be for the Sunshine Underground.)
Funny how creatively focused the mind can be when deadlines are approaching!
Stephen
Yes, and it’s funny how I can’t seem to apply those creative juices to my uni work!
Please, if that’s what you want to do, go for it. You haven’t stole nothing from me, it’s your idea. I’m actually considering a change of tone for this blog so the music vids may be no more.
But your idea is sound.
Drew B's take on tech PR
How’s the work going btw Stephen? Home straight now