MAM
‘Goafest 2016 to be more inclusive:’ Raj Nayak
MUMBAI: “Bigger, better and far more inclusive,” is what The Advertising Club president Raj Nayak envisions Goafest 2016 to be.
To meet this goal for the upcoming 11th edition of the advertising festival, it is essential that Goafest 2016 gets complete participation from all stakeholders, clients and agencies. But with how things stand at present, will the “people’s person” Raj Nayak be able to pull it off?
It’s no secret that industry heavyweights have deliberately refrained from attending the Creative Abby for the last few consecutive years. Whether their reasons — varying from Abby not being aspirational enough to disagreements on the shortlisting process — are valid or not, the continued absence of some of the top creative agencies such as Ogilvy & Mather, McCann Erickson, Leo Burnett and Lowe Lintas has dampened the spirit of the festival to a great extent. The festival has also lost the title of being a wholesome representation of the industry.
All eyes are now on the new Ad Club president and current Goafest Organising Committee to successfully unite the industry and present an ad festival that truly reflects the industry as one unit.
“A few members of the organising committee and I will be personally reaching out to the respective heads of the concerned advertising agencies and ask them to participate. We will implore them to share their reasons for keeping away from Goafest for the last few years. We are open to discuss their grievances. If it’s in our power to address such grievances to ensure their participation this year, we will be the happiest,” reassures Nayak.
Having said that, The Ad Club prez adds that the committee will be powerless if the condition of getting the aforementioned agencies is to ensure their dominating presence in the winners list. That being said, the current Goafest Organising Committee led by chairman – Publicis South Asia CEO Nakul Chopra, is making an active effort to ensure that Goafest 2016 is more inclusive.
Agency participation is also driven to a great extent by participation of their clients in the festival. However, in the last few editions, Goafest has seen a dearth of representation from the advertisers, with the previous year witnessing an all time low. “We have a strategy in place and have taken new initiatives to get more representation from the advertisers. Although we don’t guarantee anything, but one can expect a steady rise in the number of chief marketing officers of top brands in the country attending the festival this year,” Chopra points out.
While Goafest remains at its core a way to educate and inspire young advertising enthusiasts, the growing number of youngsters feel that the Abby is losing its aspirational value. Many from the industry blame the increased number of award ceremonies as being the reason behind it.
Addressing the issue, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) president Ambi M G Parameshwaran says, “With advertisement becoming more segmented and specialised and more streams coming into it, it is the need of the hour to recognise excellence in the various categories, such as digital. And I think the young blood in the industry understands this more than us, and appreciates us considering all the avenues of advertising instead of restricting us to core media. We have been taking several initiatives to make the festival more engaging for the younger generation. Have we achieved something? Yes. Can we do more? Absolutely.”
When it comes to the content of the sessions and line up of speakers, the last few editions of Goafest haven’t been up to industry standards. Acknowledging the need to strengthen the festival’s speaker line up, Nayak adds, “For an organiser, it is a matter of pride that an event is lauded for its content. We thrive for it. If previous few years have disappointed the industry in its choice of speakers for the sessions at Goafest, this year our effort is to deliver higher standard of content. Keeping that in mind, we have put together a separate team, which is working to present a powerful line of speakers this year. We are also looking to invite speakers from a variety of industry. Whether it’s the tech startups, entrepreneurs or the torch bearers of the digital sphere — we are open to suggestions from the industry on who they want to listen to, or who the current generation finds engaging.”
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
