You don't have to like Pharrell to know that the guy is a smart businessman. Just when you think he's stepped out of the limelight, he finds ways to stay trending, relevant, and top-of-mind in the entertainment industry. But does that make him a savvy content marketer as well?
With the recent announcement that he'll be collaborating with Penguin Books to turn "Happy" into a series of children's picture books, I'd say he's got a real knack for the field. Efficient marketers know that if a piece of content has proven successful, it's wise to repurpose it. It not only produces greater reach, but also hits target demographics that may not have been previously served. The more content served, the more value given.
Pharrell clearly has it right:
"I'm humbled by the global success of 'Happy,' but especially in awe of the song's young fans. My collaboration with Penguin allows me to continue a dialogue with these children in a fresh, new way. We're both committed to feeding the curiosity of young minds with imagination."
Not only has the artist mastered his content strategy through repurposing, but also curation. If you didn't hear anything about his show GIRL at Galerie Perrotin in Paris, it was a carefully crafted collection of remixed pop art with a thematic view of women. The collaborative process not only highlighted the artists and their reversal of pop culture, but marked Pharrell as a thought-leader and person of caliber within the art community. He even went on to curate the NBA 2K15 Soundtrack.
Much like curating content in the sphere of social media and blogging, the benefits to recognizing strong content and adding your own value are bountiful. Pharrell has made himself invaluable as the go-to source for all things hip, staying top-of-mind through content marketing and curation. Are you using content and curation to ensure you're the go-to source in your industry?