Ernie Ball has a hit in Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone, a documentary series focusing on the sonic journeys of today’s most interesting and compelling guitarists.
The series, co-developed with AT&T’s AUDIENCE Network, was created by Dustin Hinz, Ernie Ball executive vice president of marketing, and is part Ernie Ball’s culture marketing initiative that also includes the Web series Ernie Ball String Theory and other proprietary content across different media. Ernie Ball is the only musical instrument brand featuring original episodic TV programming, underscoring the company’s commitment to and ability to create innovative tools to support the musical art form and artists.
Episodes to date, each 60 minutes long, include in-depth features on blues legend Buddy Guy, Social Distortion’s Mike Ness and The Cult’s Billy Duffy, and an episode with country wunderkind and five-time GRAMMY® nominee Hunter Hayes premiered July 22. Several more episodes are planned through 2016, featuring such figures as Tom DeLonge (Angels & Airwaves, Blink 182), James Valentine (Maroon 5), Butch Walker and others. The Buddy Guy and Mike Ness episodes were recently acknowledged with five Silver Telly Awards (the Tellys’ highest honor) and 15 Bronze Telly Awards.
Dustin Hinz joined Ernie Ball in February 2015, as part of company President Brian Ball’s strategic business plan. Hinz brought with him nearly two decades of experience producing broad-scale award-winning marketing campaigns, television series and digital programming, most notably as creator and executive producer of Guitar Center Sessions and the acclaimed documentary Slash: Raised on the Sunset Strip. Hinz’s longstanding partnership with DIRECTV and AUDIENCE Network served as a springboard for Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone.
Hinz notes, “The Ball family is passionate about amplifying stories and artists that represent the endless creative drive that is core to who we all are as musicians. With Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone, we highlight the journeys, sonic origins and influences that shape the sound of today’s most influential guitar players, while continuing to inspire music fans by inviting them into an often unseen world of their heroes’ creative process.”
DIRECTV and U-verse customers can watch Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone on AT&T’s AUDIENCE Network on U-verse Channel 1114 and DIRECTV Channel 239. They can also live stream it on the DIRECTV App and U-verse App for smartphones and tablets, directv.com and uverse.com.
