CASE STUDIES

Amerakin Overdose is a masked industrial nu-metal band that has cultivated a loyal fan base, and were eager to increase engagement by expanding their reach to capture a wider audience with their laest releasae “Artifical Infection,” a concept album that has a strong emotional/narrative that emphasizes a transformation from manipulation and decay to empowerment and liberation.

OBJECTIVE 

The primary objective was to increase brand awareness by leveraging an organic, content-driven approach that directly engaged fans. By focusing on telling their story and building community, we captured the attention of our target audience on platforms where short-form vertical content thrives. Our strategy was designed to promote deeper connections with fans in a way that felt authentic and personal.

STRATEGY

Our strategy focused on driving traffic to the fan email list while boosting engagement on social media.To establish the band’s presence, the marketing strategy prioritized broadening overall brand awareness rather than focusing on individual tracks. First we identified a target audience that aligned with the spirit of Amerakin Overdose and the nu metal genre. To address this, we broadened our approach to connect with alternative fan groups who resonate with  their edgy aesthetics, and overt theatrical energy. Next we included audiences drawn to visceral, emotionally charged lyrics that confront themes of rebellion and identity.

METHOD

Balancing metal music with these segments proved to be a distinctive challenge. By prioritizing community engagement through active interactions—commenting, liking, and sharing posts—while leveraging dynamic short-form content to connect with fans, we identified two primary target segments: fans of industrial nu-metal and cosplay/mask culture, (e.g., horror enthusiasts and wrestinling fans and fans of goth and industrial music.) Efforts spanned social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and the nu-metal community on Reddit, maximizing visibility through algorithmic engagement. Key metrics included email sign-ups, physical album sales, follower growth, and Spotify streams. By focusing on promoting the entire catalog rather than individual tracks, we were able to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign holistically and assess its influence on the band’s presence across multiple platforms.

PROMOTION

We announced the summer tour alongside the pre-order promotion, offering signed copies of the CD and featuring the names of fans who pre-ordered. We kept fans engaged with regular updates and shared user-generated content, leveraging the buzz around the release. We implemented a waterfall release schedule for the first two singles, and secured placements on blogs, podcasts and radio. On the day of the album release, we shared clips of each track and highlighted the hook daily for a month, while also documenting the summer tour on social media.

PROBLEM

“Artificial Infection” is a concept album that explores how social media erodes interpersonal relationships, contributes to addictive behavior, and facilitates the spread of misinformation. A key challenge in promoting the album was communicating these themes to new listeners in a way that captured attention and encouraged deeper engagement. In an algorithm-driven environment where audiences often consume music passively and in short-form contexts, translating a complex conceptual narrative into accessible messaging presented a significant marketing challenge.

To address this challenge, the campaign introduced the call-to-action “GET INFECTED,” inviting fans to reflect on how social media behaviors have “infected” their own lives. This framing encouraged audiences not only to engage with the music but also to participate in a shared conversation around the album’s themes, shifting listeners from passive consumers to active participants.

RESULTS: 

• Email Sign-Ups: Over 500 new email sign-ups were gained.
• Album Sales: 500 physical copies sold, with 300 pre-orders recorded.

• Social Media Engagement: A 30% increase in engagement across platforms.
• Streaming and Followers: In the first six months, the album achieved 72,000 Spotify streams, and Spotify followers grew by 38%.

Merciless World is a hip-hop label that manages three rap groups: FunkDome, Brothas Of Tha Funk, and Unc Orignal (the original members of the influential, internationally known rap group Tag Team Crew). In 2026, Merciless World faces a “visibility paradox,” where the group’s narrative and legacy are buried within algorithm-driven platforms. The traditional strategy of relying on a major album “big reveal” has become less effective in a market that favors continuous single releases and interactive content. At the same time, their authentic legacy is being diluted by AI-generated content that mimics their aesthetic. In response, the groups have leaned into raw, lo-fi lip-sync videos shot on cell phones, producing viral-friendly content while releasing data-driven singles designed to feed platform algorithms.

Objective 

Our goals were concerned with bridging the gap between “Golden Era” aesthetics and modern algorithm-driven discovery. By focusing on the “Funk” and “OldSchool 90s Hiphop” niches through consistent, daily storytelling on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, we sought out to capture the attention of the 30–55 demographic. 

Strategy 

We did this by using a three-pronged growth strategy engineered from a funnel to turn casual listeners into “Merciless” fans.This strategy transformed short-form content into a powerful engine for community growth on YouTube. 

1. Precision Google Ads (Video Views)
2. Demand Gen Google Campaign (Subscribers)
3. Social Media short form content creation  (The Culture Loop Paradox)

Method 

FunkDome and Brothas of Tha Funk are funk-rap groups known for a cartoony, afrofuturistic funk-forward aesthetic that’s deeply nostalgic as Unc Original is a Boom Bap group reminiscent of 1990s hip-hop culture. Our targeted Google Ads strategy utilized high-intent keywords and affinity audiences to place this visually rich content directly in front of genre enthusiasts, effectively converting nostalgic curiosity into a consistent stream of low-cost watch time.

Problem

Results 

The most significant result was seen on YouTube Shorts, with the release of the single “Speak Funk Or Speak Not. It successfully converted 45,713 impressions into a channel-leading 8,389 views, resulting in over 166 hours of watch time. Beyond reach, the video proved to be a powerful growth engine where viral-style performance, highlighted by a single 30-second clip yielded 65 new subscribers, and proved that a low-cost, high-reward tactical approach can effectively bridge the gap between initial brand awareness and long-term fan engagement. Each Group invested ~Daily Average Spend~$6.50 a day in Google Ads over a 6 month period.

• Gained 2,406 new subscribers ($0.49 per subscriber)
• Earned 157,633 total views
  • 131,582 views ( 83.5% came directly from ads
• Cost per view: $0.0091 (less than 1 cent per view)
• Produced 1,835.8 hours of watch time
  • 1,720.1 (93.7% came from ads)
  • Cost per watch hour: $0.69/hour

• Gained 2,313 new subscribers ($0.52 per subscriber)
• Earned 208,624 total views – 
  • 182,190 views (87.3% came from ads)
  • Cost Per View – ($.0065)

• Produced  1,808.5 hours of watch time 
  • 1,655.6 (91.6% came from ads)
  • Cost per watch hour: $0.72/hour

• Gained 1,886 new subscribers ($.53 per subscriber)
• Earned 83,902 total views
  • 59,112 views (70.5% came from Ads)
  • Cost Per View ($.016)
  • Produced 785  hours of watch time 
    • 572.6 (72.9% came from ads)
    • Cost per watch hour: $1.27/hour