THE RUBBER BAND

Short List
TitleTHE RUBBER BAND
BrandSINGAPORE RAFFLES MUSIC COLLEGE
Product / ServiceRAFFLES MUSIC EDUCATION
CategoryB03. Consumer Services
EntrantDDB GROUP SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
Entrant Company:DDB GROUP SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
Sales Promotion/Advertising Agency:DDB GROUP SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

Credits

Name Company Position
Neil Johnson Ddb Group Singapore Chief Creative Officer
Joji Jacob Ddb Group Singapore Group Executive Creative Director
Thomas Yang Ddb Group Singapore Creative Director
Adrian Yeap Ddb Group Singapore Copywriter
Khoo Meng Hau Ddb Group Singapore Art Director
Rowena Bhagchandani Ddb Group Singapore Chief Client Officer
Fuse Adventures In Audio Fuse Adventures In Audio Sound Design
Samantha See Ddb Group Singapore Producer
Kimie Ong Ddb Group Singapore Producer
Jason Kay Momentum Director
Momentum Momentum Post Production

The Brief

Singapore Raffles Music College (a partner of the London College of Music, University of West London) offers world-class music education by working with distinguished musicians. People of all ages and skill levels can enroll in a breadth of courses from beginner lessons to professional music degrees. However, the problem was that people deemed the college to be “elitist” and “highbrow”. Therefore the task was to promote its music courses and how Raffles made learning music fun and easy.

Describe how the promotion developed from concept to implementation

We wanted to show that with the right tools and help, it’s easy for anyone to make music. So we created a an uncommon musical instrument from the common CD case and put the world’s most recognisable tunes at people’s fingertips. With that, Raffles Music College demonstrated how, through The Rubber Band, the ability to make music can be surprisingly easy and fun.

Describe the success of the promotion with both client and consumer including some quantifiable results

Within 5 days, its beginner music course was oversubscribed. The Rubber Band garnered a 43% response rate and raised enrollment enquiries of its courses by sixfold. In the end, the most successful direct mail in the college’s history not only turned heads but also changed how people saw Raffles Music College.

Explain why the method of promotion was most relevant to the product or service

Music schools sending CDs that display the musical talents of its students and alumni are common practise and expected. So instead, we let the audience display his own musical talent by turning the typical CD case into a clever, customisable musical instrument. Thus, by engaging the audience in a simple yet fun music-making process, we demonstrated how music is at their fingertips, both literally and figuratively.