SwissQprint launches new flatbed generation
swissQprint’s fifth generation of flatbeds has been touted by the company as “the new era of flatbed printing,” featuring faster speeds and more colour channels than previous generations
The release of the soundtrack for the box-office smash Wicked has been announced with a “gravity-defying” 96-sheet billboard display
To tie in with the release of Wicked to UK cinema screens, and the launch of the musical’s official soundtrack, a large-scale out-of-home (OOH) billboard has been unveiled in London.
The 96-sheet billboard was designed by OOH agency DIABOLICAL, a subsidiary of parent company BUILDHOLLYWOOD, for the Universal Music Group.
The build features the films protagonists, Glinda and Elphaba (played by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo respectively) as separate “cut-out” features to the main billboard, giving the display a seemingly three-dimensional aspect. The title ‘WICKED’ is also separated from the main board, with glowing emerald and pink and lighting set behind it.
The end result is what BUILDHOLLYWOOD describes as “a creative billboard in the heart of London, that truly defies gravity”.
Having operated for over 30 years, DIABOLICAL creates a range of OOH advertising for major music labels, artists, and management. Through parent company BUILDHOLLYWOOD, it has access to a portfolio of sites in 11 major UK cities. Recent projects include campaigns for Coldplay, Linkin Park, Kneecap, Dua Lipa, and Beyonce.
The OOH campaign is only one part of a vast marketing campaign for the film by production company Universal. It has been reported that Universal has partnered with more than 400 corporate brands to create products and tie-ins alongside the release of the musical, including Starbucks, Lego, Gap, and H&M.
Wicked debuted as the number one film worldwide at the box office. In the US and Canada, the film earned a reported $114 million in its opening weekend, setting a new record for the biggest opening for a musical adaptation.
In the UK & Ireland, it debuted with a £13.7m haul, the biggest opening weekend of 2024.
Wicked: The Soundtrack has also already topped the charts in America. The CD edition of the soundtrack sits atop Amazon’s bestselling list on its CDs and vinyl charts.
