Disney marks 100 years with new music-themed store – in the metaverse
Disney is providing a virtual way to discover, listen to, learn about and purchase soundtracks and songs from Disney’s catalog.
Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the founding of Disney, the Disney Music Emporium immersive virtual shopping experience is now open, running on technology from experiential e-commerce platform Obsess. The virtual experience provides a selection of Disney film and TV soundtracks on CD and vinyl formats.
The digital store also offers rich content, including a timeline with musical highlights from 100 years of Disney history. Shoppers can click to learn about and listen to music from Disney’s 1928 debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, “Steamboat Willie,” the first cartoon released with synchronized sound; as well as 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and 1940’s “Fantasia,” with a score performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
The century-long virtual timeline also highlights music from movies and series such as “Dumbo,” “Bambi,” “Cinderella,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” “The Mandalorian,” and “Encanto.”
Disney Music Emporium virtual experience shoppers can also directly connect to the “Disney Hits” podcast, as well as curated Walt Disney Records playlists featuring songs from the entire Disney film and TV catalog on the streaming service of their choice through the virtual store.
Disney is significantly increasing its metaverse with this new virtual store. In a spring 2022 U.S. consumer survey from market research platform Suzy, among the 58% of respondents who had seen at least one brand in the metaverse, Disney tied with Coca-Cola as the fifth-most-viewed brand (Meta/Facebook placed first).
“We are excited to collaborate with Obsess to launch an exciting new shopping experience for our Disney Music Emporium store. As we prepare to celebrate 100 years of Disney, this is the perfect way to create discovery and fun for our guests,” said Ken Bunt, president of Disney Music Group.
“We’re so excited to bring the wonder of Disney music to fans in a new way and for Disney Music Group to use the Obsess platform to create this immersive Web3 experience,” said Neha Singh, Founder and CEO of Obsess. “As Disney prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, this Disney Music Emporium virtual environment honors the company’s musical history while providing visitors with a thoroughly modern brand and sensory experience.”
Charlotte Tilbury introduces social shopping with Obsess
Vertical beauty retailer Charlotte Tilbury also operates a metaverse shopping site in partnership with Obsess. Charlotte Tilbury initially launched the digitalized version of a brick-and-mortar store, leveraging Obsess technology, on its e-commerce site in November 2020. Charlotte Tilbury virtual store is an immersive, three-dimensional shopping environment where customers can explore, shop, receive personalized advice and product recommendations, join live events with Tilbury and special guests, and watch makeup and skincare tutorials.
Utilizing a virtual 3D Shop with Friends solution, Charlotte Tilbury customers can also opt to invite others to join them for a virtual store experience by clicking a button and sending friends and family a link to the virtual store by email or text.