IHeartComix
Industrymarketing
FounderFranki Chan
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
OwnerFranki Chan
Websiteiheartcomix.com

IHeartComix (stylized as IHEARTCOMIX) is a creative marketing agency and content studio that creates immersive "experiential marketing" events promoting film, TV and music projects.[1] The company creates campaigns for projects from studios and labels such as Marvel Studios, Lionsgate, Disney, Interscope, and Adult Swim.[2]

Founding

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Franki Chan founded IHeartComix in January 2004. Originally from Indiana,[3] he had been a musician[4] and promoter-DJ in Seattle, where he had an indie record label called IHeartComix and hosted parties with his friend Steve Aoki.[3][5] In late 2003 he moved to Los Angeles[6] with the goal of becoming a comic book artist.[7]

IHeartComix the agency has its roots in Los Angeles' indie-dance scene; its first job was promoting a party at Beauty Bar in Hollywood. In its early years it promoted events at Sundance, South by Southwest, and for corporate events,[2] and worked with artists and producers such as Skrillex, Diplo, and Aoki. Chan and Aoki worked together as a DJ and promotion team from 2004–2006.[4]

The IHeartComix website began in 2005 as a music blog and evolved into a publisher of editorial content supporting the company's events. The site operated until the mid-late 2010s.[8]

Check Yo Ponytail

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Beginning in 2006 IHeartComix produced a weekly LA party called Check Yo Ponytail which featured established artists such as Skrillex, Andrew W.K., Metronomy, Wavves, and Blonde Redhead, as well as emerging artists[9] often in their Los Angeles premieres, such as Justice, Crystal Castles, and Blood Orange. The series also produced a video series on Pitchfork, national tours,[10] a Seth Rogen TV pilot[2] and a 2013 event with the Rolling Stones. The series ran until 2014.

2006–2011

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The company became a leading event producer in the LA club scene,[11] expanding to produce more event series[12] as well as standalone events at conferences including San Diego Comic-Con[13] and CMJ. During this period it also partnered with Scion to produce radio shows and music releases.[14]

2011–2016

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In the 2010s IHeartComix further expanded to launch a variety of IHC-branded series, concerts, and DJ events, including the four-day Austin Party Weekend during SXSW.[15] The company began live streaming and working with agencies for clients including Adult Swim,[16] Pabst and Ninja Tune. In 2016 it began a charity event series called LA Gives Back benefiting local LA charities and the homeless.[17] After a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the series resumed in 2023.[18][19]

Transition to creative marketing agency

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The company evolved into a creative marketing agency beginning in 2014. It partners on events and event series with Sundance,[20] Marvel Studios,[21] Amazon Studios and others, and for artists such as The Flaming Lips, Lil Nas X, and Flying Lotus.

Record labels

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IHeartComix has operated two record labels, which sprang from its discovery of artists through its events. IHeartComix Records operated from 2005–2011, releasing albums and singles. Its first album release was the 2006 self-titled debut album from Matt & Kim.[7] Other releases included albums from Juiceboxxx, Toxic Avenger, and Acid Girls[22] along with remixes from The Bloody Beetroots, Flosstradamus, Brodinski, and Le Castle Vania.

The company's singles-only IHC 1NFINITY label operated from 2014–2019, signing deals and distributing music from artists including Chela, Pictureplane, Gavin Turek Mark Redito[23][24] and JPEGMafia. The label featured a "shared video universe" inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[25]

2018–Present

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As a creative marketing agency the company develops 20 to 30 projects per year, including events, social media campaigns, content pieces, and stunts. Projects in this period have included an imagined Wakanda cultural food event for Marvel's Black Panther at New York Fashion Week;[2] a release party for Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever album; immersive environments for the third Guardians of the Galaxy film and for the Rolling Stones' album Hackney Diamonds,[2] and at Comic-Con for the comedy series Twisted Metal;[5] and, for Olivia Rodrigo's 2024 tour, a traveling "tour bus" experience for fans.[1][26] In 2020 the company launched RELEASED! Hosted by Zack Fox, a livestream series on Twitch.[27] The company also continued to release music in the 2020s, including from Walt Disco, JPEGMafia feat. Eyas, Designer Drugs, Juiceboxxx, Totally Michael, Acid Girls, Heartsrevolution, and Protokoll.

References

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  1. ^ a b Arman Lorenzo Burias (31 July 2024), Olivia Rodrigo Brings GUTS World Tour Bus Experience to Fans, Design Rush, retrieved 6 August 2024
  2. ^ a b c d e Steve Appleford (19 January 2024), "How IHeartComix's super creativity took the event company from the L.A. music scene to Marvel", The Los Angeles Times, retrieved 9 May 2024
  3. ^ a b Hipsters Heart Him, LA Weekly, 16 May 2008
  4. ^ a b Jeff Weiss (25 September 2013), IHEARTCOMIX THROWS SOME OF THE BEST PARTIES IN TOWN, LA Weekly, retrieved 10 May 2024
  5. ^ a b Claire Hoffman (28 July 2023), 4 Tips for Producing Successful Pop Culture Events, Bizbash, retrieved 9 May 2024
  6. ^ Nick Douglas (15 February 2019), I'm Franki Chan, Founder Of IHEARTCOMIX, And This Is How I Work, Lifehacker, retrieved 10 May 2024
  7. ^ a b Chris Chafin (25 September 2015), How A Quiet, Failed Comic Book Artist Conquered Hollywood's Nightlife Scene, Fast Company, retrieved 9 May 2024
  8. ^ Isabelle, TOM GREEN INTERVIEWED THE MAKERS OF "20 YEARS OF MADNESS" AND SO DID WE, IHEARTCOMIX, archived from the original on 2015-10-22, retrieved 14 August 2024
  9. ^ CHECK YO PONYTAIL, Broadway World, retrieved 7 August 2024
  10. ^ 'More Than a Show' Doc Chronicles Check Yo Ponytail Concert Series (Video), Hollywood Reporter, 3 June 2013, retrieved 14 August 2024
  11. ^ Charlie Amter (31 May 2007), "Livening Up His Saturdays", Los Angeles Times, retrieved 14 August 2024
  12. ^ "The Shot: Brides of the Boogie Monster", Los Angeles Times, 10 April 2010, retrieved 14 August 2024
  13. ^ Umberto Gonzalez (23 July 2023), Party Report: The Best Comic-Con Parties of 2023 (Photos), The Wrap, retrieved 14 August 2024
  14. ^ I Heart Comix: Scion CD Sampler, Vol. 21 [Remixed Various Artists] at AllMusic
  15. ^ Lauren Nostro (10 March 2015), Here's the Full Lineup For IHEARTCOMIX's Austin Party Weekend, Complex, retrieved 14 August 2024
  16. ^ WINNERS ANNOUNCED: THE 2021 EX AWARDS AND EDTAS, Event Marketer, 6 October 2021, retrieved 14 August 2024
  17. ^ Katie Bain (11 December 2023), Holiday Charity Dance Bash L.A. Gives Back Is Returning With a Secret 'Mega Headliner', Billboard, retrieved 9 May 2024
  18. ^ Grant Gilmore (11 December 2023), IHEARTCOMIX Announces Return of LA GIVES BACK, EDM Identity, retrieved 6 August 2024
  19. ^ Cameron Holbrook (28 November 2018), LOS ANGELES PARTY CREWS COMBAT HOMELESSNESS WITH THIRD EDITION OF LA GIVES BACK, Mixmag, retrieved 14 August 2024
  20. ^ Nate von Zumwalt (18 January 2016), Flying Lotus, Neon Indian, Dan Deacon and more to Perform at the Sundance Film Festival, sundance.org, retrieved 14 August 2024
  21. ^ Claire Hoffman (20 April 2023), Coachella 2023: 40+ Steal-Worthy Event Ideas From the Creativity-Packed Music Festival, Bizbash, retrieved 14 August 2024
  22. ^ Diana Benanti (30 April 2010), Interview: IHEARTCOMIX founder Franki Chan Talks Dancefloor Killers, Fillers and New Music Trends, Riverfront Times, retrieved 6 August 2024
  23. ^ Rhian Jones (9 March 2017), CAROLINE STRIKES DEAL WITH IHEARTCOMIX LABEL, Music Business Worldwide, retrieved 10 May 2024
  24. ^ Miles Raymer (7 October 2014), IHEARTCOMIX announce new singles label and all-star tour, Entertainment Weekly, retrieved 6 August 2024
  25. ^ Video on YouTube
  26. ^ OLIVIA RODRIGO FANS HOP ON THE BUS, Hits Daily Double, 9 April 2024, retrieved 9 May 2024
  27. ^ Nick Harley (8 July 2020), Comedian Zack Fox To Debut A Wild Live Variety Show With Guest Phoebe Bridgers, Den of Geek, retrieved 14 August 2024
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Official website: iheartcomix.com


Category:Marketing agencies