Music & Marketing: A Musical Twist on Augmented Reality Gaming

Around 2012, I was interviewing for a Digital Marketing role at CMA. In prepping for my interview I came up with an innovative idea for CMA Music Festival (formerly known as Fan Fair) where the Country Music Association could create a Farmville style virtual 24/7/365 fan experience that overlays with the actual event. Farmville was VERY popular at the time and Facebook users from every imaginable demographic were BEGGING their FB friends to sign-up so they could wrangle their virtual piglets or whatever.

My original vision for this concept was basically fans could unlock exclusive content and promotions in-game. Additionally, people attending CMA Fest could use the app to discover virtual content using tools like QR codes that unlock real life meet-and-greets, performances, giveaways, or what-have-you. Of course this idea would now employ Pokemon GO style location-based, augmented reality technology. What if you could find merchandise wearables or food items in-game on Lower Broad (like side-scrolling beat-em-up Streets of Rage-style turkey treats, but for your real life health meter) and then pick them up from event vendors or participating partners? Maybe you could sign-up nearby businesses like Acme Feed & Seed or Hard Rock Cafe?

There is a lot of consumer gold (and DATA) to ethically mine with this concept. Of course, Cybersecurity & Data Security would be of paramount importance to defend against bad actors like Russia or...400 lb. hackers in New Jersey.

*You could apply this idea to any large arts & music festival like Bonnaroo, Coachella, etc.