FIGARODIGITAL.CO.UK
Start-ups, upstarts and digital disruptors: we profile the people helping to shape modern marketing Marketers Who Matter
JUSTIN COOKE TUNEPICS
JC: Probably seeing users that I love and admire use the platform. Jamie Oliver, Sir Richard Branson and Sir Paul Smith are all on it, and there are young artists and musicians that I’m listening to that just find it and instantly understand the power of music and emotion.
Justin Cooke is Founder and CEO at Tunepics, one of the world’s fastest growing social networks. Before that he was CMO at Topshop, following a six-year stint at Burberry. He tells us about his aspirations for the social network that lets users share music and images.
What does an average day at Tunepics look like? JUSTIN COOKE: I wish it existed— every day brings varying degrees of excitement, exhaustion, dreaming and debating. Being a start-up you are always one week away from being broke, and that’s happened a few times, so you learn to take each day as it comes but to never stop believing.
Since the platform launched in May 2014, what’s been your most stand-out moment?
The London Evening Standard has called Tunepics the “first British social networking hit”. Is this an important concept to you? JC: I think it’s exciting that people see us as a British success story—we’ve always had the best artists, writers, musicians and actors and I think we can have the best technology too.
The idea of mixing colours, images and music is pretty emotive. How do you view the role of emotion in social sharing? JC: We think we can redefine emotion in the digital space. Everything is so one-dimensional at the moment, which doesn’t make sense when you look at how we live our lives and the way we interact with other human beings. We were one of the first apps on the Apple Watch and we see a real opportunity to connect people in a
In Britain we’ve always had the best musicians, writers and actors. I think we can have the best technology too
8 issue 25 july 2015
totally new way. Imagine if you could send a song to someone and see its impact on their heartbeat, or if you could feel someone’s tears through the Taptic Engine on your wrist. All of the senses are connected, so when you play someone a song or show them an image it ignites your sense of smell or touch. That’s really powerful. What’s amazing is when you can see that 200,000 people in Taiwan are listening to Adele at 4.23pm and it makes them feel inspired—that kind of data is so valuable. Imagine if we shared that with Apple and Spotify and how it could help curate music purchase habits.
Looking back over your career, is there any one project or campaign you’re particularly proud of? JC: So many, I’ve been so blessed. I think Art of the Trench because it was the beginning of redefining Burberry in the digital space. At Stella McCartney we made a show invite that was a Mr Men book, and I just thought that was so cool and unique. So Stella, and of course Tunepics, because it’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned and worked on.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about the current state of digital marketing? JC: It’s time for change—never stand still.
INTERVIEW ESTELLE HAKNER
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
