Spikes Asia announces new categories, sponsor

This is the first time the Festival has partnered with a brand to celebrate excellence in creative communications from across the region. Both parties have a long-standing commitment to championing great ideas and exploring how technology enables creativity.

Sam Ahmed, SVP head of marketing, MasterCard Asia Pacific said these aligned objectives had made the partnership possible. “Creativity and technology underpins everything we do. This is the reason it gives us such pride to work with Spikes Asia. We believe the fostering of creativity and new technology by the Festival will inspire innovation in marketing that benefits the industry, brands and consumers.”

Commenting on the partnership, Terry Savage, chairman, Spikes Asia said, “MasterCard has been innovating and inspiring its customers for nearly 50 years. Its investment in technology and creativity is something that lies at the heart of what Spikes Asia is about and this association will help us push the boundaries of creative communications in the region even further.”

New categories

To shape the 2016 content programme, the Festival will gather a diverse group of industry innovators to share their insights into the future of technology, possibilities on the horizon and their impact for branded communications.

The Entertainment category has evolved from, and now replaces, Branded Content and Entertainment and Music is a new award. Campaigned-for and designed by the industry, it recognises and celebrates the creative production, promotion and distribution of content with music at the core.

“The industry is growing and restructuring in response to, and in advance of, the needs of consumers. For some time, music and entertainment have been the key to cutting-through,” said Savage. “These new awards will celebrate content that has evolved into culture and completely captivated audiences.”

For more information, go to www.spikes.asia.