Hello kait!
It appears that NJ State Lottery did have an RFP for their
advertising. According to a release dated July 15, 1999, the NJSL
awarded a two-year $7 million advertising and public relations
contract to the team of Grafica, Inc. and Spector & Associates, Inc.
The release states that they "bested five other state-based agencies
competing for the Lottery account."
Details regarding the campaign can be found in the following releases
which I found at Lottery Insider. The first release below is from the
News 2000 section (about 2/3 of the way down the page) and the second
and third are from the Lottery News 1999 section (about 4/5 of the way
down the Lottery Insider page.
LotteryInsider-New Jersey
http://www.lotteryinsider.com.au/lottery/njersey.htm
MDI Brings Ray Charles Music to New Jersey for Custom Lottery
Advertising Theme Song
HARTFORD, Conn. (July 14, 2000) -- MDI Entertainment, Inc. announced
today that it has completed a second achievement in its revolutionary
licensing program that allows state lotteries to team up with the
legendary Ray Charles.
The New Jersey Lottery and its advertising agency Grafica, Inc.
developed a campaign incorporating the singing talents and trademark
voice of the incomparable Mr. Charles. A special song forms the sound
track of television and radio commercials for New Jersey. The
distinctive signature of Mr. Charles deep and raspy singing voice is
"branding" the lottery with a new advertising slogan: "For every
dream, there's a jackpot."
"Ray Charles is a living American legend, and we are so pleased to
have his universally recognized voice as a backdrop for our
advertising," said Virginia Haines, Director of the New Jersey
Lottery.
MDI President and CEO Steve Saferin said Director Haines and the
creative minds at the New Jersey Lottery seized the opportunity to
brand their new theme with the unmistakable voice and style of Mr.
Charles.
"This is just the second venture for MDI with Mr. Charles, but we
believe it has ushered in a whole new category of entertainment
licensing services. The magic of Ray Charles has a wholesome and
universal appeal, and he has so many talents to offer to our clients,"
Mr. Saferin said.
The New Jersey Ray Charles project brought together an impressive team
of talented people. The song lyrics were created by Jon Harcharek of
the New Jersey Lottery's advertising agency, Grafica, Inc. The music
for the song was composed by Victor Vanacore II, famous conductor of
orchestras for Johnny Mathis, Barry Manilow and Ray Charles. The
back-up vocals were provided by Michael Bolton's singers. Musicians
participating in the recording session included Wayne Bergeron, Mike
Vaccaro and Andy Martin.
Earlier this year, Mr. Charles sang Georgia on My Mind and played a
speaking role with children in TV spots highlighting the good things
Lottery profits fund in his native Georgia. His services were provided
under MDI's exclusive license.
SOURCE: MDI Entertainment, Inc.
New Jersey Lottery Orders Seven Games from MDI; MDI to Assist Lottery
in its 30 Anniversary Celebrations
HARTFORD, Conn. (Dec. 15, 1999) -- MDI Entertainment, Inc. announced
it has signed a contract with the New Jersey Lottery that commits the
lottery to introducing seven games featuring MDI's licensed properties
in Years 2000 and 2001. Steven Saferin, MDI's President & CEO, stated
``This agreement, our third in the last 60 days, continues to validate
our strategy of marketing partnerships with lotteries keyed to a
stream of licensed games, introduced at the rate of about one each
quarter. We are gratified that the New Jersey Lottery, one of our best
customers, has committed to this on-going strategy. This Agreement is
evidence of that commitment.''
The lottery will print a minimum of 5.4 million $2.00 tickets for each
game and allocate a minimum of 8% of their prize fund for the purchase
of merchandise related to the various brands.
In addition to the licensed games that the lottery will introduce, MDI
will provide the lottery with six Corvette vehicles from 1970 and 2000
to use in conjunction with its 30th anniversary celebration in 2000.
MDI will also provide the services of Ray Charles for the production
of commercials to support the anniversary celebration and other
promotions throughout the year.
``Based on those minimum commitments, the contract will have a minimum
value of $3.6 million,'' stated Saferin. The Lottery will select the
seven licensed games from MDI's existing and future inventory. The
first game the Lottery will introduce will be Jeopardy!® in March of
2000. It will be followed by Louisville Slugger® in April and Betty
Boop(TM) in July.
SOURCE: MDI Entertainment, Inc.
CONTACT: Steven Saferin, 860/527-5359 www.mdientertainment.com
New Jersey Team Awarded $7 Million State Lottery Account
CHESTER and SHORT HILLS, N.J. (July 15, 1999) -- The New Jersey State
Lottery awarded a two-year $7 million advertising and public relations
contract to the team of Grafica, Inc. and Spector & Associates, Inc.
Grafica, one of New Jersey's fastest growing full-service advertising
and marketing firms, located in Chester, NJ, and Spector & Associates,
an award-winning public relations firm with offices in Short Hills, NJ
and Manhattan, bested five other state-based agencies competing for
the Lottery account.
The Grafica/Spector team will be responsible for handling all aspects
of advertising and public relations for all Lottery online games and
instant win games, as well as the Lottery's latest offer ``The Big
Game,'' a multi-state lottery with grand prizes starting at $5
million, drawn twice weekly. In addition, the Grafica/Spector team
will develop a marketing campaign to celebrate the New Jersey State
Lottery's 30th anniversary in the Year 2000.
Best known for its exceptional client service and truly effective
marketing counsel, Grafica is a full service ad agency providing
insight and innovative solutions to a select list of blue chip
clients. In addition to award-winning work in all disciplines,
including national brand advertising, direct marketing, sales
promotion and package design, the 14-year-old firm was one of the
first in the nation to harness the Internet -- launching Grafica inter
active in 1994 to guide clients to new mediums and opportunities.
Spector & Associates, founded in 1991, is recognized as one of the
nation's premier corporate public relations firms, producing
breakthrough creative work on behalf of clients, with a goal of
achieving a high level of positive awareness and distinct corporate
identity. Spector & Associates has become known for offering their
clients creative and innovative solutions to their communication
needs. Recently rated ``one of the northeast's brightest public
relations boutiques'' by Inside PR magazine, Spector & Associates
offers a full-range of communication services including corporate
communications, community relations, financial relations and Web site
development.
Since its inception in 1970, the New Jersey State Lottery has
contributed over $10 billion to State education and institutions.
Currently, the New Jersey State Lottery offers players a wide-variety
of entertaining instant games and six different computerised online
games. As the State's fourth largest revenue producer, the New Jersey
State Lottery saved taxpayers over $642 million in fiscal year 1998 by
returning game proceeds to important educational programs and
state-run facilities. In addition, the New Jersey State Lottery
awarded an unprecedented $868 million in prizes to 52 million winners.
On average, six thousand businesses throughout the Garden State
prosper from their partnership with the New Jersey State Lottery.
SOURCE: Spector & Associates, Inc. Press Release
google search terms: New Jersey State Lottery Anniversary
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