MAM
Top Campaigns on VMate that stole the show in 2019
Mumbai: The ultimate benchmark to gauge a brand’s consumer engagement is through the success of its campaigns. And as all good things take time, so does planning and implementing a campaign which strikes a cord with the intended audience and is an instant hit.
Creating a popular campaign, which is easy to recall and connect with, becomes all the more challenging given the infinite number of visual stimulations that consumers get bombarded with everyday. However, this is exactly where certain brands steal the show, managing to weave unique campaigns that stay with the consumers forever. Trending short video platform VMate, launched in India in 2017, lies in this hallowed category.
Over the past three years, VMate’s easy-to-use video editing tools, innovative VR Stickers and related features have garnered tremendous appeal amongst Indian citizens of all ages. It has empowered them to not just express their creativity but has given them the power to own their future by becoming a steady income-generating source for them. Many of VMate’s popular video creators have become influencers earning incomes worth Rs 2 lakhs per month, purely on the basis of their talents showcased through their VMate short videos.
Here is a peek into some of these campaigns oozing with brilliance and top-notch consumer engagement scores:
VMate Nach Baliye Lakhpati campaign
Starting with its partnership with Star Plus’s dance reality show ‘Nach Baliye-Season 9; the innovative campaign required VMate users to shoot 15 seconds videos on the app supporting their favourite jodis, earn rewards and money worth Rs 1 crore and connect with similar interest creators. The campaign was a hit receiving a record number of 5,00,000 videos being uploaded by users making it one of the most successful promotions by VMate.
VMate Filmistan Campaign
Another first-of-its-kind campaign, it provided users a grand opportunity to collectively win cash prizes and rewards worth Rs 3 crore. The campaign utilized VR stickers of Bollywood movie sets in India which could flawlessly replace VMate’s video background offerings, successfully transporting the users to the desired film sets, virtually. With around 3 lakh people creating & publishing videos on the platform, the winners won exciting prizes, including a car, a Smartphone, television and more.
VMate Roshan Karo India Campaign
VMate users were in for a delightful Diwali winning amazing prizes ranging from cars to gold coins, smart TVs and Smartphones. The campaign saw celebrity jodis from VMate’s association with Nach Baliye Lakhpati campaign on the app making festive videos using VMate's vibrant Diwali stickers, while encouraging fans and app users to light up India.
VMate’s Sunny Ka New Year Call campaign
Reiterating its brand promise of being the ultimate user-centric short video trending platform, VMate sent its users into a delightful frenzy by announcing this engaging New Year campaign featuring popular star Sunny Leone. It invited users to make a creative video with Sunny Leone video call sticker and get once-in-a-lifetime chance to go on a date with Sunny. 24-year old Abdullah Pathan from Uttar Pradesh was the campaign’s winner. The popular video creator on VMate with a fan following of around 6 lakh followers had a date-to-remember with the queen of charm Sunny Leone.
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.
