Screenvision Media, a national leader in delivering video advertising and content partnership opportunities for cinema exhibitors, presented their 2024 Upfront. Approximately 500 advertisers, media buyers, and industry professionals gathered at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Midtown Manhattan to hear about the power of cinema and its ability to increase brand sales and deliver quality impressions.

Upon arrival, guests were treated to welcome drinks and snacks, Screenvision trivia, and exclusive movie trailers. Virtual attendees joined the livestream, and in-person attendees gathered in the Frederick P. Rose Hall to hear remarks from CRO of National Ad Sales Christine Martino. CEO John Partilla then took the stage for an engaging one-on-one conversation with actor and producer Alec Baldwin.

Following the stage presentation, attendees flowed into the Ertegun Atrium and Appel Room for cocktails, music from DJ L3NI, a movie-themed photo booth activation, and a surprise performance from Fitz and the Tantrums!

Upon departure, guests scanned a QR code to reveal a Fandango gift card so they could savor the magic of the big screen long after the Upfront.

Empire oversaw and coordinated all event logistics and timelines for the pre-reception, program, and post-reception. Our team utilized the Upfront logos to develop a unique brand identity that was woven throughout the entirety of the event. Creative elements included program graphics and animations, furniture and decor selections, and digital and print signage.

Empire’s program, technical, and talent teams collaborated closely with Screenvision Media to produce the main stage program and the post-reception headliner performance.

Empire is proud to produce the Screenvision Media Upfront for the sixth year and is a leading producer of Upfronts and Newfronts for the advertising-supported media industry.

‍

In celebration of Smile Train's 25 years of lighting up the world with smiles, the 25th Anniversary Gala aimed to reflect on the journey, honor the stars who have supported the cause, and look ahead to a bright future. Over 300 guests gathered for an inspiring evening featuring a cocktail reception, seated dinner, star-studded “blue carpet,” and an honoree program, all celebrating this milestone in cleft care.

The event kicked off with a unique “Pup-Jito Lounge,” sponsored by Brutus Broth, where guests had the opportunity to take photos with cleft-affected puppies and enjoy a signature Pup-Jito cocktail, creatively tying into the theme. Hosted by Jeannie Mai, the program featured heartfelt tributes to luminaries such as Naomi Glasses, Sister Shoba Lonappan, and Kimora Lee Simmons. Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO of Smile Train, shared the inspiring news of the organization's 2 millionth surgery.

Grammy-nominated artist Jordin Sparks performed a mix of her hits, energizing the crowd and setting the stage for the afterparty with DJ Jazzy Jeff. Notable VIPs like Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, and Elizabeth Gillies joined the celebration, adding to the event's star power.

The gala garnered widespread media coverage, generating over 8 billion digital impressions and sparking post-event buzz in publications such as People Magazine, Essence, and The Wall Street Journal. Good Morning America also amplified the event’s reach through social media.

Empire was proud to lead the creative direction, secure the venue, manage on-site talent, and ensure flawless technical production and program execution. Working closely with Smile Train and strategic partners, we helped make their 25th Anniversary Gala an unforgettable celebration of their incredible work and future vision.

Empire presented Barenaked Ladies for a private corporate group in Washington, DC on May 8, 2024. The super fun and engaging quartet put on a great show filled with upbeat hits including “One Week”, “Pinch Me”, “If I Had $1,000,000”, and “The Big Bang Theory Theme”. As usual, the band requested information about the corporate client in advance and worked some of the executives and other issues relevant to the company into the show in a comedic way, which the attendees loved.

Recommending and contracting headline talent has been a core expertise of Empire since its inception and remains a valuable part of our overall event production services.

Empire is honored to have produced the 28th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City for the 20th consecutive year. Clips from the show are available to view here.

Empire booked Amber Ruffin (from The Amber Ruffin Show on Peacock and Late Night with Seth Meyers) to host, and she kicked off the show with a tech-savvy monologue.

As always, the Webbys honored a variety of the internet’s best, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Keke Palmer, Shannon Sharpe, Laverne Cox, Kara Swisher, and many more. The Webbys are the internet’s highest honor, and the show is renowned for allowing winners just five words for their acceptance speeches. Nevertheless, this year’s winners showed that five words are sometimes all you need.

After a roaring round of applause for Lifetime Achievement Award winner Kara Swisher, she took the stage to put on her famous aviator sunglasses and used her five words to confidently say “I Ain’t Done, Tech Bros”. And after winning Podcast of the Year for “Wiser Than Me”, Julia Louis-Dreyfus got her point across with, “Listen to old women, MOTHERFU#*ERS!!!”

The show also included poignant moments highlighting how the internet helped bring greater attention and continued dialogue to women’s reproductive rights with a featured moment on Plan C, before Meena Harris presented an award to Tracy Droz Tragos and Francine Coeytaux.

Following the show, attendees headed uptown to Marquee for the highly anticipated afterparty, where Empire presented Natasha Diggs and Bad Colours to spin and keep the dance floor packed.

Empire produced nearly all aspects of the event, from the red carpet to the show itself to the afterparty. Partners this year included David Korins Design, who led on all things design, and Sunshine Sachs, who worked to create a buzzy red carpet and media room.

Empire is honored to have been chosen to produce every live Webby Awards event since 2005, and we consider the Webby Awards team part of the Empire family.

For more information on this year’s Webbys, check out #Webbys across Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to catch up on the fun!

Suntory hosted Experience the Season—Six Seasons in One Sip, an immersive event for its Japanese craft gin brand, ROKU, at Tokyo’s newly opened Azabudai Hills complex. In order to bring this benchmark experience to life, Empire was called upon to craft this brand activation and ensure a smooth opening of the exhibition.

To fully Experience the Season, we employed spatial art installations that engaged all five senses, immersing guests in Japan’s spring, summer, autumn, and winter through dynamic soundscapes, evocative lighting, and curated scents. As they explored the seasonal shifts reflected in ROKU’s unique botanical elements, attendees enjoyed ROKU Gin Soda alongside four seasonal variations—cherry blossom, sudachi, ginger, and yuzu.

To generate buzz, opening day featured an exclusive media event, highlighted by a captivating live session with actors that drew significant press coverage. The result was an unforgettable brand experience that deepened ROKU’s connection to its audience while celebrating the artistry of Japanese craft gin.

Allen Media Group turned to Empire to bring its 2024 Upfront to life—a high-impact showcase of its brand portfolio, new programming, and advertising opportunities. Hosted by Founder, Chairman, & CEO Byron Allen, the event welcomed 200 national advertisers to Avra Rockefeller Center in New York City for an exclusive look at the company’s vision for the year ahead.

To elevate the Upfront experience, Empire partnered with Allen Media Group’s marketing team to craft a fresh, modern aesthetic. We developed a bold creative direction, scripting, and dynamic motion graphics to enhance the on-stage presentation. Our team also provided expert stage management, technical production consultation, and on-site staffing to ensure seamless execution.

Featuring key executives and network talent—including Michael Senzon (President, Digital, Allen Media Group) and Weather Channel meteorologists Jim Cantore and Stephanie Abrams—the program delivered a compelling, visually striking presentation that underscored Allen Media Group’s influence in the media landscape.

The result? A polished, engaging Upfront that captured the company’s innovative spirit and set the stage for another year of growth and success.

For the ninth consecutive year, Empire served as Target Corporation’s production partner for their Financial Community Meeting—an annual presentation by the company’s leadership to analysts and media.

Target announced their 2024 growth plans, earnings, and recent accomplishments, along with strategies for continued growth for 2024 and beyond.

After a networking breakfast, Target CEO Brian Cornell took the main stage to provide his thoughts on the company’s growth in 2023 and his perspective for the upcoming year, highlighting Target’s partnerships with Apple, Starbucks, CVS, and Levi’s, as well as growth in the company’s owned brands such as Good & Gather, Gigglescape, and Cat & Jack.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Target’s leadership team engaged in an Investor Q&A segment, which was immediately followed by a series of one-on-one Q&A interviews with media.

Empire worked closely with Target’s team to plan and execute each component of the event. Empire oversaw permitting, venue management, technical production, programming, budgeting, creative design, catering, and virtual and in-person American Sign Language interpreters.

Empire is proud to work with Fortune 50 corporations like Target to produce their most important business communications events.​

Pratt Industries, America's fifth-largest corrugated packaging company and the world's largest privately-held, 100% recycled paper and packaging company, recently unveiled its newest facility in Austell, Georgia. The Super Sheet Factory Grand Opening event celebrated this milestone, drawing over 200 political leaders, stakeholders, and clients from the greater Atlanta area.

Empire played a central role in organizing the event, including setting up a presentation space for speeches by Pratt Industries Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt; Georgia Governor Brian Kemp; and others. Empire also managed logistics for key attendees. To guarantee another successful celebration and opening, Empire secured the acclaimed 14-time Grammy-winning artist Dan Tyminski and his band.

In collaboration with Pratt Industries, Empire managed all technical, logistical, and contractual aspects of the event, contributing to a memorable kickoff of their latest endeavor.

Tasked with securing and managing technical production and talent for an exclusive VIP event, we successfully booked GRAMMY-nominated artist Charlie Puth and UK-based DJ duo Jungle. Hosted at the iconic The Nines nightclub in NoHo, New York City, the intimate event treated close friends and family to a night of live music and celebration.

Charlie Puth delivered a surprise performance on grand piano, playing hits like "We Don’t Talk Anymore," "Attention," and "See You Again," while taking song requests from the lively crowd. Jungle followed with an electrifying DJ set that carried the energy into the early morning.

The result? An unforgettable evening and a delighted VIP client. Empire Entertainment is the leader in producing bespoke private concert experiences for intimate audiences.

Empire was honored to support Visy to produce an event to recognize Australia’s food and beverage industries in Melbourne.

The dinner featured Visy Chairman Anthony Pratt; Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; and a live performance by global pop superstar Katy Perry.

Upon arrival, guests were received at registration with a warm welcome and directed to enjoy cocktails and canapés, where they mingled and enjoyed an elegant, all-female string quartet playing classical arrangements of modern pop songs.

After the cocktails, guests sat down for their dinner service with remarks by Anthony Pratt; Prime Minister Albanese; and Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan.

Katy Perry took the stage following the dinner service and performed her greatest hits for an hour-long performance that had everyone on their feet. She played with her full band and delighted the audience with hits like “Last Friday Night”, “Roar”, “California Gurls”, and “Firework”.

Following Katy’s performance, there were closing remarks, drinks, desserts, and DJ Femme a.k.a Natalie Neville spun tunes while guests took the opportunity of a meet-and-greet with Katy Perry.

Empire was responsible for securing Katy Perry and managing her logistics and related technical production. Empire worked closely with Visy’s executive leadership, marketing, and operations teams to plan and execute this important event.

Empire was proud and delighted to support Visy in the success of this event. Empire is a leading producer of private concert events throughout the world.