Hot Cherry
Hot Cherry is a London based, boutique online PR and marketing firm established in 2001 by Harry Cymbler, the former head of PR at Tower Records, Europe.
Hot Cherry's clients include Channel 4, E4, Sony PSP, Tower Records, Microsoft, Franz Ferdinand, Sony Pictures Television International, Ford, Institute of Contemporary Arts, National Union of Students, Electrolux and LG Group.
In 2007, Ford hired Hot Cherry to launch 'Where are the Joneses?', an interactive online sitcom. The script of each two to five minute episode was collaboratively written by viewers via wikis and social networking sites such as mySpace, Facebook, Flickr and blogs, with each character having their own Twitter feed. The faux-documentary style video was filmed daily on location and is also available via YouTube.
Hot Cherry developed the International Viral 'Oscars' called 'Germ' which allowed the public to compete with creative agencies around the world. In 2007, the agency, in collaboration with Channel 4, created 'Outrageous and Contagious', a viral exhibition at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Commenting in The Independent, Brian Sewell, broadcaster and art critic, said the show was a waste of time and "not worth bothering with". "It's all best ignored," said Mr Sewell. But Ekow Eshun, artistic director of the ICA, defended the decision to mount the exhibition. "Technology has had a democratising effect. It now offers ordinary people the chance to react instantly to, and comment on, events," he said. "It is a fascinating phenomenon. And it is important for us to hold on to this moment and frame it. We have provided a snapshot of the current state of this art form."
In March 2009, Adam Gee, Channel 4's award-winning New Media Commissioner, joined Hot Cherry's board as Non-Executive Director. Gee joins James Booth, former CEO of digital marketing technology specialists Tangozebra, who joined the board in October 2008.
References
- Brian Sewell and Ekow Eshun talk about the world's first viral exhibition at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts
- Germ, the International Viral Oscars
- Channel 4's Adam Gee in The Guardian talking about his new role at Hot Cherry
- Channel 4's Adam Gee in Net Imperative talking about his new role at Hot Cherry