‘Change-seeking robot’ Miquela signs with CAA
Miquela, a singer, model, influencer and robot, has become the first-ever virtual client to sign with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
The CGI-generated avatar, who was previously signed to WME, will be represented by CAA in all areas, including music, TV, film, brand strategy and commercial endorsements.
Created by robotics and artificial intelligence startup, Brud, Miquela was introduced to the world via her Instagram account in 2016. The avatar now has 2.2 million followers on the platform and almost 600,000 on TikTok.
Miquela, or Lil Miquela, as she is also known, has released a number of singles, including a recent collaboration with (human) singer Teyana Taylor called ‘Machine’. Software and pitch-correction tools are used to create Miquela’s vocal performances. It is unknown who provides her voice.
Described as a “change-seeking robot”, Miquela is currently raising money for the MusiCares Covid-19 relief fund on her Instagram page.
“Over the last few years, we’ve watched the team at Brud create a true multi-hyphenate in Miquela”
Non-human artists have appeared in all kinds of forms in recent years. Japanese vocaloid Hatsune Miku, who takes the holographic form of a blue-haired teenager, has performed live in Asia, North America and Europe. The vocaloid was due to play this year’s Coachella festival, which has now been postponed to October due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lil Mayo, an alien-meme-turned-Instagram-influencer, ranked in third place on IQ’s Radar Station chart in January. The alien puppet’s single ‘Be Gone Thot’ has almost 14m streams on Spotify and over 11m on YouTube.
“Over the last few years, we’ve watched the team at Brud create a true multi-hyphenate in Miquela,” says Adam Friedman, CAA global client strategy executive. “We are excited to jump in and help her navigate the world of television and film, and also see a unique opportunity for innovative, forward-thinking brands to align with a culturally relevant, icon-in-the-making.”
Founded in 2014, Brud has raised US$6.1m in funding from investors including Spark Capital, BoxGroup, Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund.
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Hi, Ticketmaster: TM integrates with Samsung’s Bixby
Ticketmaster has partnered with Samsung for concert discovery and ticket sales via the latter’s voice-activated virtual assistant, Bixby.
The integration – the latest in a long line of Ticketmaster partnerships with third-party apps, including Facebook, Spotify, YouTube and Bandsintown – will, using Ticketmaster’s API, allow Samsung Galaxy Note 9 users for events by artist, sports team, location or event dates: for example,“Hi, Bixby, find concert tickets in Los Angeles”, or “Hi, Bixby, what sporting events are happening in New York this weekend?”.
From the results returned, fans can choose a show or sports match and purchase tickets. The service is now live in North America, initially only on the new Note 9.
“By opening our platform over the past several years, Ticketmaster has greatly expanded our inventory’s reach”
“Ticketmaster is constantly looking for new ways to make it easy for fans to discover events and buy tickets, and voice is an exciting technology,” says Jared Smith, president of Ticketmaster. “By opening our platform over the past several years, Ticketmaster has greatly expanded our inventory’s reach, and we’ve built a best-in-class list of third-party partners.
“Bixby offers yet another avenue for fans to tap into the largest selection of live events available. We’re excited about this partnership with Samsung because fans will see a personalised experience based on the artists, teams and events that they love the most.”
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