MAM
Goafest 2016: Mindshare and Maxus dominate Media; Dainik Jagran leads publisher category
MUMBAI: Goafest 2016’s first ABBY night kick started with healthy dose of laughter well packed in snarky and quick witted jokes delivered by the ever charming Vir Das. Still holding their stomachs, the entire advertising fraternity of India prepared themselves to see who bagged the metals in the Media and Publisher categories.
Continuing their winning streak two years in a row, Mindshare India were the clear leader in the media category with 17 metals to their name, out of which two were gold, six silver and nine silver. The agency bagged gold in Best Use of Newspaper and Magazine category for their Lakme Lip pouts in Grazia — Play time for your pout campaign for Lakme; and in Best use of Integrated campaign category for Before Iftar time; It’s Lifebouy Time for Lifebouy.
The second agency leading Media ABBY was Maxus, with 7 metals to their name. Maxus got their gold for their ‘Get A Job’ campaign for LinkedIn in the Youth Marketing category.Apart from this they bagged two silver and four bronze trophies.
Extending his congratulations to the winners, The Advertiisng Club president Raj Nayak said, “It is such a pleasure to see such tremendous work from brilliant minds winning much deserved Abbys for their efforts. What we’ve seen and are likely to observe in the next two days are some of the most creative works produced by advertising, media and marketing professionals in the country. It makes me immensely proud to be witnessing the triumph of talent across the board. With Goafest 2016, our aim is to celebrate creativity, originality and innovation and I believe we have begun on the right note today. I’m very happy that the entire industry has come together to celebrate the industry’s biggest event.”
Apart from them, Pratap Bose’s The Social Street emerged as a powerful contender in the media category winning two golds and two silver trophies on their first year of entering the ABBY.
A total of 11 golds were given away in the Media ABBY, followed by 36 silver and 30 bronze trophies. In the Publisher category, Dainik Jagran rose as the clear lead bagging all the three golds given out in the category.
2016 has proven to be a good year for the ABBY. With total entries clocking at 4500, there has been a clear 25 per cent increase in entries from the previous year. This trend isn’t limited to entries. This year 150 jury members participated in the judging, with 86 for media ABBY alone. In total, 76 media agencies participated this year as compared to 53 last year.
“Along with giving young enthusiastic talent a platform for their work, it is also our outlook, as the organizing committee of Goafest to curate best in class seminars and conclaves which will provide opportunities for professionals from the industry to learn and grow together. It is our constant endeavor to recognize and felicitate the best of the best creative minds for the unparalleled work that they have been doing. My heartiest congratulations to all our winners tonight,” Goafest Organizing Committee chairman Nakul Chopra added in parting.
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.
