Smooth FM goes out of this world in NOVA Entertainment’s new campaign via The Hallway
NOVA Entertainment has launched a captivating new Smooth FM brand campaign, developed by creative agency The Hallway, that celebrates the unifying power of music.
Smooth FM’s new brand platform ‘Together in Music’ is spearheaded by a brand film that shows audiences that the music on Smooth FM is so unifying, not only does it transcend generations, genders, and borders – it transcends galaxies.
The film features a music-loving UFO appearing in the sky above a quiet suburban street, spreading joy and music to the residents below as the UFO tunes into Smooth FM’s frequency. Through this engaging visual narrative, we learn that the unifying power of Smooth FM has an even more profound reach that we ever imagined.
The choice of the timeless pop classic ‘We Built This City’ by Starship is a favourite of Smooth FM listeners and infuses a sense of familiarity for existing audiences and an opportunity for discovery for a new younger audience.
Says Adam Johnson, chief growth officer, NOVA Entertainment: “’Together in Music’ says everything about the unifying power of the kind of music Smooth FM plays all day long, so it’s amazing to see this new positioning brought to life so powerfully by this campaign.
“Whilst ads from radio brands tend to follow a certain formula, we wanted this to be an ad like no other and I’m delighted with what the team have delivered.”
Says Dan Saunders, creative director at The Hallway: “Adam challenged us to break the usual radio advertising formula and we were happy to oblige. It’s been a great collaboration and we’ve already proven that ‘Together in Music’ is a brand platform with intergalactic potential. The exciting question now is where shall we take it next?”
The film is directed by one of Australia’s most awarded television commercial directors, Paul Middleditch, who has won over 300 awards during his career, including eight Cannes Lions awards.
Says Middleditch: “What an amazing project to lend my skills to as a dramatic and comic director. A wonderful script that demands cinematic expanse with a touch of craziness at the end of your driveway. That Starship track will never be the same. Loved it. So brave and great.”
The ‘Together in Music’ commercial will be screened nationally across TV, cinema and digital video channels. The campaign will be accompanied by comprehensive OOH activity showcasing another creative execution that delivers on the ‘Together in Music’ strapline. The creative titled ‘You. Me. Together in Music’ includes a series of key artist names accompanied by lifestyle images reflective of Smooth FM’s broad audience base who are united by the music.
Featuring a respected lineup of announcers, Smooth FM stations include Smooth FM 95.3 in Sydney, Smooth FM 91.5 in Melbourne and Smooth FM DAB+ stations in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, plus a range of era and mood-based DAB+ and streaming stations.
Creative Agency: The Hallway
Production Company: Plaza Content
Director: Paul Middleditch
Executive Producer: Peter Masterton
Producer: Mel Weinman
Cinematographer: Daniel Ardilley ACS
Post-Production: The Editors
Post Producer: Nicoletta Rousianos
Editor: Stu Morley
Colourist: Ben Eagleton
Online: Matt Edwards
UFO: Fanatic Films
VFX Supervisor: Russell Masters
Sound: Massive Music
Sound Producer: Luci Roe
Sound Engineer: Myles Lowe
Media: Carat, Sydne
19 Comments
What a fun little spot
Not Interstella, but not bad.
Nice to see an ad with entertainment at its heart, and not overly worthy sentiment.
Told you so!
Ccrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnggggggeeeeeeee
nice looks cool
Absolutely love this
Haven’t heard that song for ages. It’s an ear worm. Saw it play during Super bowl coverage. Well done Hallway.
Send help. The aliens have abducted me.
How cute. They figured out how to write positive comments on their own work
Do programming directors think good music stopped in the 80s? I feel for all the bands from 20-30 years ago, surely retro by now, that don’t get a crack on radio.
Not bad at all.
OOH was neat. The Beatles Abbey road concept SPOKE TO ME. Now I know Smooth always has a chance of playing ‘She Came in through the bathroom window’, my frequency of flicking to it when my Spotify bluetooth is taking more than .01 seconds to load, will increase. I was advertised to and I am now grateful!!!
It’s almost like an entire generation squeezed us out of being promoted before they died, the housing market and music royalties.
the TVC is pretty damn predictable as an idea and execution, totally snooze…. and totally expected. But the OOH has an idea
Ham and cheese
Love the OOH for this platform, simple, cleaver, nice.
I am frothin this. Zero sarcasm.
OOH was good, but what a waste of money on a cr*p TVC