Background
AKIR, Brooklyn based artist has been actively involved in the Hip-Hop community as a radio host, DJ and emcee since the Late 90's. He was featured as an "Unsigned Hype" in The Source Jan 05 Issue, 1 year previous to Public Wizard, Inc designing a Public Relations campaign for his Sophomore album, "Legacy" on Viper Records that yet had a release date. Close friend and well-known artist in the independent hip hop scene, Immortal Technique, is the executive producer of the album and is also featured on the B side if AKIR's first single, "Politricks." While Immortal Technique's rising fame was a great way to introduce AKIR, AKIR needed to not be pigeonholed into a category of rap such as that of Immortal Technique. Their content and quality of music may be very similar, but AKIR has a different sound that may be more open to a wider audience of corporate sponsorships. No recent press has been developed previous to our addition of the campaign and marketing for the project was bare-minimum. Awareness of this project/artist is mainly based on a solid Public Relations campaign designed by Public Wizard, Inc.
Strategies Deployed
By understanding the machine that allows a record to be heard, we began with our unorthodox style of Viral marketing via our DJ network worldwide. We felt it necessary to engage in MP3 distribution of the single "Politricks",and worked in cooperation with Spectre Media (Radio Servicing Company used by Viper Records) in order to increase AKIR's awareness and chart position. We assisted to set-up various on-air interviews with college and on-line radio shows across the US, Europe and Australia.
During this time we contacted our network of freelance journalists and publication editors, introducing them to AKIR with a well designed Electronic Press Kit that included information, pictures, music audio and even video clips of his various shows and interviews. Still without an official release date until less then 2 months previous to the release, we remained persistent and sought other avenues of visibility by setting up meetings with various clothing lines, marketing firms, special events and more.
The PR campaign we designed included National and Int' press, as well as on-line. Where as some companies may only focus solely on PR strategies, understanding our clients need of marketing tools through our public relations campaign was a vital force in continuing progress for our PR campaign. This campaign we executed in 4 months with results extending far beyond expectations from our client.
Results
Artist features and album reviews were placed in XXL Magazine, The Source Magazine, Vibe Magazine, Kingsize Magazine(Sweden), Hip Hop Nation (Spain), Vapors Magazine, Elemental Magazine, Urbanology (Canada), Thick Magazine (Canada), On Tap Magazine (DC), Okayplayer.com, Myspace.com Artist feature, HipHopSite.com, Ballerstaus.net, HipHopgame.com, NoBodySmiling.com and more.
Also added to this were marketing strategies we developed for AKIR by placing him on the Fort Minor Tour, as well as having him as a model for Mecca 5 Star Apparel Spring 06' line.
We do have to note that this was a collaborated effort with AKIR, very few artists have the drive and persistence to be able to conquer these feats. We produce quality work because we are selective in our clients and expect a quality product to expose.
