Phantom Of The Opera songsmith Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Really Useful Group is targeting US entertainment consumers with an upcoming move to become a proper online content destination, we have learned. In a refresh of its rudimentary website, the stage, music, movie and magazine group plans to let registered users build their own personalized spaces on the site, themed around a variety of musical shows, plus post reviews and blog entries through a new “Backstage” area. They will also get audio and video content and other news. The new site will also offer a download store with recordings from shows and a monthly podcast hosted by Lloyd Webber’s creative director Tris Penna.
Really Useful’s digital director Douglas Glen told paidContent:UK: “The US represents our second biggest online audience – we’re looking to build upon this. For example, Phantom Of The Opera was the number one show in Las Vegas. With content brands as strong as ours, we’re looking to cater to the passion of our existing, loyal base who are eager to remain engaged with our content and, at the same time, attract a whole new audience who may not be as familiar with the length and breadth of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s catalog.” Really Useful has also licensed secondary-ticket marketplace Viagogo to sell some of its tickets.
Photo Credit: Tracey Nolan, some rights reserved