Emerald Creative Content

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Hardstop Records

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Hardstop Records is an independent musical label based in Chicago. We develop the local music community by signing only Chicago artists, play in Chicago only venues and record in Chicago studios. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Emerald Creative Content to accomplish?

• Emerald teamed up with Hardstop from the very beginning to help build up their brand and presence to attract the right musicians and promote their music throughout the city of Chicago and beyond.

SOLUTION

How did you find Emerald Creative Content?

Referral

Why did you select Emerald Creative Content over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Emerald Creative Content were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Hardstop utilized Emerald Content to acutally create the brand and identity of Hardstop Records. They were essential at rasing awareness when the label had no artists or real content to present. 

With three artists on the label we lean on Emerald to:

-Promote shows and events

-Provide relevant industry blogs and awareness to the Chicago music community

-Press Releases, post show impact, campaign metrics 

-Provide a local resource for newer artists on logists on working with a label

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Created a social media and SEO campaign to attract Chicago artists, resulting in hundreds of submissions and 3 bands being signed to the label.

Increased organic website traffic by 345.2% over the course of 1 year.

Built an organic following of 2.6K followers from 0 followers, with average organic monthly impressions around 45K across channels.

Increased organic social media traffic by 127.6% over the course of 1 year.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

On every level of engagement Emerald Content has prioritized Hardstop Records core offering to its  local artists. 

They are 100% available, they work 24 hours a day, experts at what they do and are not only great professionals but just great teachers. They have taken an unknown, new music label into a well respected, sought after and powerful voice in Chicago's independent music community. 

What was your primary form of communication with Emerald Creative Content?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We have established a great working relationship where I feel no subject is off the table. We exchange ideas and strategy but also can talk about what emerald is up to, what they are working towards and their own journey in the social media enviornment. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Emerald Creative Content could have done differently?

One of the best things about Emerald is their ability to adapt. I have always been so impressed with their work but I know I can come to them with off the grid ideas and they will give me something better than I imagined.