Kristopher Collado - Social Media Week New York (SMWNYC) - MAY 4

Entertainment is one of the most impacted industries with the evolution of technology. What once required single-channeled marketing tactics, is now a next-gen content and production solar-system filled with new business models, innovations, and upgraded standards in our multi-platform world.

At SMW New York, we’ve curated 9 forward-thinking sessions that entertainment professionals should plan to attend. Join us as we learn from media greats such as Alex Blumberg (CEO, Gimlet Media), Evan Shapiro (EVP, Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal), and Andrew Jarecki (Director of The Jinx, Founder of KnowMe).

Purchase your pass for SMW New York to be among the 2,000+ industry leaders who will come together to learn and connect throughout the week!

1. Podcast pioneer, Alex Blumberg, will discuss his journey of building an audio-first media company

Hosted by Crowdcentric • Tuesday 2/23 at 11:30AM • TimesCenter
Alex Blumberg is known for his work on This American Life and Planet Money, and recently launched Gimlet Media as a result of his latest podcast, StartUp. This year at SMW New York, Alex Blumberg will discuss Gimlet Media and his journey of building a media company with foundations in audio storytelling and journalism.

2. NBC’s strategic approach to Seeso, their new streaming comedy channel

Hosted by NBCUniversal • Tuesday 2/23 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
The world is at an inflection point, similar to where broadcast TV was in 70s and 80s with a massive boom in content production and this time on various platforms. Join Evan Shapiro (EVP, Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal) as he reveals their strategic approach to the current media landscape with Seeso, the new streaming comedy channel, with other key creators of the channel.

3. Virtual reality’s future in storytelling, gaming, and journalism

Hosted by The New York Times • Wednesday 2/23 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
Learn how companies such as The New York Times, GE, and Google are investing time and resources in virtual reality to enhance storytelling, journalism, and the user experience. Meredith Kopit Levien (Chief Revenue Officer, The New York Times), Jake Silverstein (Editor, The New York Times), Katrina Craigwell (Director of Global Content and Programming, GE) and Aaron Luber (CardBoard Partnerships, Google).

4. Comedy Central’s CMO will break down the the social strategy of their top programming

Hosted by WOMMA • Wednesday 2/24 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Some may think Comedy Central’s ratings and conversations on social come easy due to their hilarious talent, but nothing is further from the truth. In this entertaining session, Comedy Central’s CMO, Walter Levitt, will attempt to organize and rationalize all of his team’s on-the-ground tactics into a fully thought–out strategy.

5. How micro-content and social media can lay the groundwork to launch a new TV show

Hosted by VaynerMedia • Wednesday 2/24 at 3:00PM • SVA Theatre
Social media offers more ways than ever to build awareness around TV programs, but did you know it can drive and impact the new markers of success in today’s ever-changing television industry? Join Kim Garcia (SVP, Entertainment, VaynerMedia) and Jason Loomis (Director, Paid Media, VaynerMedia) as they flesh out the social media strategy for their new reality series Chrisley Knows Best.

6. When, where, and how social media belongs in live events; in-person and online

Hosted by Momentum Worldwide and AEG • Wednesday 2/24 at 4:30PM • TimesCenter
According to a recent study, 70% of millennials feel that social media improves the live music experience. Attend this panel with executives from AEG, Momentum Worldwide, and StubHub directly focused on why music experiences are better with social, and when they don’t belong together.

7. How Grammy-nominated artist, Ryan Leslie, started a business just from thanking fans online

Hosted by Nue Agency • Thursday 2/25 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Ryan Leslie is a Grammy-nominated recording artist and multi-platinum music producer who turned his interest in personally thanking each fan into a million dollar seed funded technology called SuperPhone. Today he’s unlocked the true value in his 1.3 million follower footprint across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by having a text-based dialogue with the 40,000 people who matter most. Joining Ryan will be Jesse Kirshbaum (CEO, Nue Agency).

8. 360° video content, and the next wave of videos in your News Feed

Hosted by BOLD Worlwide • Thursday 2/25 at 3:00 PM • SVA Theatre
If you’re a marketer or content creator looking to engage your audience in an immersive way, you need to understand 360° video. Brian Cristiano (CEO, BOLD Worldwide) will explain the value, excitement, and execution of 360° video, and shed some light on how you can utilize this technology for entertainment, engagement and sales.

9. How to best capture the moment when fans react online, with Andrew Jarecki of HBO’s The Jinx

Hosted by Social Media Week • Friday 2/26 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Andrew Jarecki (Director, HBO’s The Jinx) will discuss social media’s role in how fans experience the show before, during and after the now-infamous hot mic scene, as well as unveil never-before-seen footage from the show. Come to learn how the chorus of Tweets, blog posts, and Facebook updates played a role in that collective gasp.

10. Mixing digital moments with experiential events, from the RSVP invitation to post-event wrap-up

Hosted by Splash • Friday 2/26 at 3:00PM • SVA Theatre
Social media can make or break your event. Splash co-founder and Party Scientist, Ben Hindman, will teach you how to turn your next event into social media gold. He’ll cover everything from how to create “Instagrammable moments,” to designing an irresistible invitation.

We hope to see you in New York for Social Media Week! Join over 1,000 leaders who register each year, and in 2016, #SMWNYC features two official venues: The TimesCenter (FWD Stage) and SVA Theatre (EDU Stage). Attend the 100+ events with 300+ speakers for an incredible week you won’t want to miss. Get your pass here!

We’re bringing some of the most influential leaders together for our 2016 edition of Social Media Week NYC, which takes place this February 22-26.

From the Mark Thompson (CEO, The New York Times) to Claudia Malley (Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, National Geographic), these keynotes will bring their insights and expertise to the SMW New York stage on a range of topics, including virtual reality, Millennial ideology, emerging trends in digital storytelling, and social media’s impact on pop-culture and traditional media.

Purchase your pass for Social Media Week to be among the 2,000+ industry leaders coming to New York for a week of forward-thinking and educational events, and bookmark these keynotes to your schedule!

1. Learn how The New York Times shifted from print to digital

Hosted by The New York Times • Tuesday 2/23 at 10:30AM • TimesCenter
CEO of The New York Times, Mark Thompson, will discuss how the company pivoted and prepared itself to succeed in the digital age, and how others can learn from their shift. Interviewing Mark, will be Toby Daniels, Founder and Executive Director of Social Media Week.

2. Hear how comedy and digital entertainment will evolve in the next few years

Hosted by NBCUniversal • Tuesday 2/23 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
The world is at an inflection point, similar to where broadcast TV was in 70s and 80s with a massive boom in content production and this time on various platforms. Join Evan Shapiro (EVP, Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal) as he reveals their strategic approach to the current media landscape with Seeso, the new steaming comedy channel, with other key creators of the channel.

3. Explore the incredible virtual reality collaboration with Google, GE, and The New York Times

Hosted by The New York Times • Wednesday 2/24 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
Learn how brands, publishers, and networks are using virtual reality to enhance their user experience, and tell amazing stories in an entirely new way. This session features Meredith Kopit Levien (Chief Revenue Officer, The New York Times), Katrina Craigwell (Director, Global Content & Programming, General Electric) and Aaron Luber (CardBoard Partnerships, Google).

4. Laugh and learn with Comedy Central’s Chief Marketing Officer

Hosted by WOMMA • Wednesday 2/24 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Some may think Comedy Central’s ratings and online conversations come easy due to their hilarious roster of talent, but nothing is further from the truth. In this entertaining session, Comedy Central’s CMO, Walter Levitt, will attempt to organize and rationalize all their social media and on-the-ground tactics into a fully thought–out strategy.

5. National Geographic’s lessons to staying relevant and powerful in our fragmented media ecosystem

Hosted by Social Media Week • Thursday 2/25 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
National Geographic is known around the globe for it’s leadership in visually compelling factual and entertaining storytelling, and in this keynote session, Claudia Malley (Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, National Geographic) will share insights and learnings on how this 128 year-old brand has pioneered the new media and fragmented landscape while maintaining it’s leadership position among consumers.

6. The story of how Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie started a tech business after personally thanking his fans

Hosted by Nue Agency • Thursday 2/25 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
In this talk with music tech’s premiere agency CEO, Jesse Kirshbaum of NUE Agency, and Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie, they’ll touch on the best practices and learnings driving $2M in gross revenue from a $2,500 inbound text message campaign, rewriting the blueprint for how social media can be leveraged in today’s marketplace.

7. Step inside the Millennial consumer mindset with Refinery29’s CEO

Hosted by Social Media Week • Friday 2/26 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
Through the rise of social networks and smartphones, the Millennial ideology has transformed communication, making instantaneous, raw, and constant contact the norm. Join Philippe Von Borries, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of lifestyle media company Refinery29, as he discusses the advantages and challenges that this new landscape presents with concrete examples from Refinery29’s work and learnings over the past few years.

8. Watch never-before seen footage of HBO’s The Jinx with Director, Andrew Jarecki

Hosted by Social Media Week • Friday 2/26 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Andrew Jarecki (Director, HBO’s The Jinx) will discuss social media’s role in how fans experience the show before, during and after the now-infamous hot mic scene, as well as unveil never-before-seen footage from the show. Learn how much the chorus of Tweets, blog posts, and Facebook updates played a role in that collective gasp.

We hope to see you in New York for Social Media Week! Join over 2,000 leaders who register each year, and in 2016, #SMWNYC features two official venues: The TimesCenter (FWD Stage) and SVA Theatre (EDU Stage).

Attend the 100+ events with 200+ speakers for an incredible week you won’t want to miss. Get your pass here!

Author: Kristopher Collado

Music, TV, and Comedy: 10 Sessions to Attend For Entertainment Industry Professionals