Crafting immersive narratives that harmonize sound and vision, amplifying the essence of music and entertainment.
A music and entertainment creative agency collaborates with artists, record labels, entertainment companies, and brands to develop and execute creative strategies. These agencies offer services such as branding, content creation, marketing, and visual production, all tailored to amplify the client's presence in the industry. The goal is to create authentic connections between the artist or brand and their audience through innovative and engaging content.
A cinematic still from John Smith’s "Hold On" music video, featuring RIOT’s signature blend of visual storytelling and artistic innovation. Watch the full video.
At RIOT, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the music and entertainment sectors. Our approach is rooted in collaboration, creativity, and a deep passion for storytelling. Our services include:
RIOT is a full-service creative agency specializing in music videos, live sessions, album artwork, brand campaigns, and full creative partnerships with record labels. Whether you need a cinematic video, a visual identity for your release, or a complete content strategy, we deliver high-impact creative tailored to the industry.
We do both. We collaborate with major and independent record labels on full-cycle campaigns, but we also work directly with artists, bands, DJs, and producers to bring their creative visions to life. Whether it’s a single project or a long-term partnership, we shape our approach to fit the needs of the artist or brand.
RIOT offers full music production services, including single, EP, and album recording, with MUG5 producing. We can handle everything from tracking and mixing to mastering, ensuring your music sounds as powerful as it looks.
Yes! We specialize in remastering, up-rezzing, and enhancing legacy music videos and live performances. Whether it’s restoring archival footage or giving an older release a modern polish, we ensure your content is optimized for today’s platforms and audiences. We are also open to creating music videos for older songs that never had them, offering a new avennue for people to listen to those songs.
Absolutely. We capture high-fidelity, cinematic live sessions at studios, venues, or remote locations. Whether it’s an acoustic set, a full-band live recording, or a hybrid visual concept, we ensure the energy and authenticity of your performance translates on screen. Our studios have the technology to record, capture and live stream sessions should that be what you;re looking for.
Once we agree to collaborate, our music video process starts with a creative consultation to define the vision, style, and narrative. From there, we handle concept development, pre-production, filming, editing, and post-production. We collaborate closely with artists and labels to ensure the final piece reflects the song’s energy and artistic identity.
RIOT is more than a creative agency and production company—we’re a full-scale creative partner. We develop content strategies, branding, promo campaigns, and visual assets that elevate record labels, festivals, streaming platforms, and entertainment brands.
To kick off a project, visit our contact page and tell us about your vision. Whether it’s a single video or a full campaign, we’re ready to create something unforgettable.
For The Xcerts, Hold On to Your Heart was an anthemic love letter to the grand, aching romance of 80s pop, drenched in neon nostalgia and widescreen emotion. And RIOT didn’t just film a music video. We built the visual identity of an entire album cycle—a world where every song had its own moment, its own story, its own film.
Some records transcend mere sound; they create immersive worlds. The Xcerts' "Hold On to Your Heart" is one such album—a vibrant homage to '80s pop, brimming with emotion and nostalgia. RIOT had the honor of crafting the visual narrative for this album, producing a series of music videos that encapsulate the essence of each track.
The challenge was clear: translate The Xcerts’ soaring, cinematic sound into a visual language that felt just as evocative, just as large. Over multiple videos, we built a connected world of color, emotion, and energy, each piece a chapter in the album’s visual story.
In May 2017, we embarked on a journey to Brighton to collaborate with The Xcerts on "Feels Like Falling in Love," the lead single from their album. Directed by Chris "MUG5" Maguire at The Brighton Studio, the video explores themes of heartbreak and hope. Featuring actress Lucy Griffiths (known for "True Blood" and "Preacher"), the narrative delves into the duality of love's highs and lows. Our involvement extended beyond the video; we revitalized the band's brand identity, refreshing their logo to reflect their evolving sound. The single's artwork, derived from a striking scene in the video, showcases drummer Tom's crossed drumsticks forming an "X," symbolizing the band's unity and energy.
Watch The Xcerts' "Feels Like Falling In Love"Returning to Brighton in September 2017, we collaborated on "Daydream," the album's second single. This video, also directed by Chris "MUG5" Maguire, offers a playful yet introspective journey into the mind of lead singer Murray Macleod. The storyline follows band members Jordan and Tom as they rush to retrieve Murray, who is submerged in a bathtub, lost in his thoughts. The visual narrative employs vivid, surreal imagery to blur the lines between reality and imagination, culminating in a dynamic performance that leaves viewers pondering the nature of daydreams.
Watch The Xcerts' "Daydream"Concluding our visual trilogy, "Hold On to Your Heart" stands as the most emotionally resonant piece. Filmed in a single day with a minimalist approach, the video focuses on Murray's heartfelt performance against the backdrop of Brighton's diverse locales—from graffiti-adorned cityscapes to the serene beach. The unpredictable weather became an unplanned collaborator, with shifting skies enhancing the video's raw and authentic feel. This final chapter encapsulates the album's core message: enduring hope amidst adversity.
Watch The Xcerts' "Hold On To Your Heart"Through these three distinct yet interconnected videos, RIOT and The Xcerts crafted a cohesive visual narrative that mirrors the album's sonic journey. Each video offers a unique perspective, collectively painting a vivid portrait of "Hold On to Your Heart."
With three music videos, interconnected aesthetics, and a unified storytelling approach, we helped shape the album's entire visual world. Every frame, every shot, every color choice was designed to feel like The Xcerts sounded—big-hearted, cinematic, nostalgic, and alive.
Packshot for The Xcerts’ single "Feels Like Falling In Love," designed by RIOT Creative Agency
Our creative partnership with The Xcerts extended beyond music videos. We undertook a comprehensive rebranding of the band's visual identity, including a subtle yet impactful redesign of their logo. This refreshed emblem, featuring carefully crafted typography and layered, three-dimensional cut-outs, symbolized the band's evolving sound and image. Our creative direction also encompassed the design of single artwork and art direction for the album cover. Notably, the single's pack shot, derived from a scene in the "Feels Like Falling in Love" video, showcases drummer Tom's crossed drumsticks forming an "X," capturing the band's unity and energy. This cohesive visual narrative ensured that every element, from the logo to the album art, resonated with the album's themes and the band's artistic vision.
At RIOT, we excel in crafting holistic visual identities that transcend traditional media, enabling audiences to not just hear the music but to fully immerse themselves in the artist's world.
In a world paused by a pandemic, creativity found new pathways. Old Sea Brigade and Luke Sital-Singh's collaborative EP, "All the Ways You Sing in the Dark," stands as a testament to artistic resilience. RIOT had the privilege of directing and producing the visual narratives for the EP's singles, transforming limitations into innovative expressions.
Released during the early months of global lockdown, "Call Me When You Land" resonates with themes of separation and yearning. Directed and edited by Chris "MUG5" Maguire and Nastassja Simone, the music video captures the essence of travel and human connection at a time when both were scarce. Utilizing aerial landscapes and intimate portrayals, the visuals evoke a sense of elegant escapism, perfectly aligning with the song's emotive core.
Amidst the quietude of a socially distanced summer, "Summertime Low" reflects the introspective mood of the season. To create its accompanying video, we devised a "locked-off lockdown" concept. Camera packages were sent to Ben (Old Sea Brigade) in Nashville and Luke in Los Angeles, enabling them to self-film in their personal spaces. This approach offered an authentic glimpse into their worlds, with each artist bringing a unique perspective to the shared experience of isolation.
Watch 'Summertime Low'For the third single, "Amaranth Moonlight," we embraced a nostalgic visual style. We provided the artists with a Sony Hi-8 camera, renowned for its vintage charm and user-friendly design. This choice, combined with an old-school title generator for the video's text, resulted in a warm, retro aesthetic. The randomness of filming locations added an element of spontaneity, culminating in a genuine and heartfelt portrayal that resonates with the song's intimate tone.
Watch 'Amaranth Moonlight'Beyond music videos, the challenge of live performance during lockdown led to inventive solutions. Collaborating with Old Sea Brigade and Luke Sital-Singh, we orchestrated a live EP performance utilizing Zoom. By optimizing network configurations, we achieved near-zero latency, delivering a seamless and engaging experience. To enhance the visual dimension, bespoke GoPro 360 camera packages were sent to both artists, capturing multiple angles and preserving the energy of live music within the confines of their homes.
Watch the Innovative Live EP PerformanceThrough these projects, RIOT and the artists demonstrated that creativity transcends physical barriers. By embracing innovative techniques and adapting to unprecedented circumstances, we crafted visual and auditory experiences that resonate deeply, offering solace and connection in a time of isolation.
From its inception in 2004 to its current status as a pioneering music video streaming platform, AltSounds has been at the forefront of musical discovery and innovation. RIOT has been instrumental in this journey, contributing to its growth and transformation over the years.
Founded in Washington D.C. in 2004, AltSounds began as a platform dedicated to promoting emerging artists. In the era of Myspace, it offered a digital stage for musicians, featuring an extensive library of tracks, including exclusive content unavailable elsewhere. This initiative revolutionized user experience and artist exposure, setting the stage for AltSounds' future endeavors.
As the music industry evolved, so did AltSounds. Relocating to Wales, it transformed into a dynamic music blog during the rise of the blogosphere. With a global team of over 50 passionate writers, AltSounds provided music features, album reviews, concert chronicles, and festival coverage, bringing the music world closer to its audience. This period was marked by significant achievements, including high-profile event coverage and interviews with musical icons such as Yoko Ono, Slash, Wayne Static, and The Lemonheads.
The new AltSounds TV logo and visual identity, designed by RIOT for 2024, bringing a striking neon aesthetic and refined brand storytelling to the world of music video streaming.
In the creative hubs of New York City and Amsterdam, AltSounds conceptualized its next evolution: AltSounds TV. This platform shifted the focus to curated music video streaming, allowing the music to speak for itself. With a sleek redesign in 2017, optimized for mobile devices and enhanced user experience, AltSounds TV became a haven for discovering musical gems across all genres.
Throughout this journey, RIOT has been a steadfast partner, contributing to AltSounds' creative direction and technological advancements. From the initial website design to the development of AltSounds TV, RIOT's expertise has been integral in shaping the platform's identity and user experience.
As AltSounds approached its 20th anniversary in 2024, it stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of independent music platforms. With RIOT's continued collaboration, AltSounds remains committed to celebrating the unique, the bold, and the new in the ever-evolving music landscape.
In a groundbreaking fusion of music and sports entertainment, RIOT partnered with LA Galaxy to create electrifying teaser films featuring world-renowned DJs Afrojack and Alesso. These collaborations not only heightened the anticipation for pivotal matches but also redefined the fan experience by integrating high-energy performances into the soccer arena.
On July 4, 2024, the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium became the epicenter of an unforgettable event. Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Afrojack was set to perform during the LA Galaxy's high-stakes match against their crosstown rivals, LAFC. To capture the magnitude of this event, RIOT crafted a mesmerizing teaser film that transported viewers into an interstellar journey, symbolizing the explosive energy Afrojack brings to his performances. The visuals, rich with cosmic imagery and dynamic motion graphics, culminated in a crescendo that mirrored the intensity of the upcoming match and the celebratory atmosphere of Independence Day.
Watch the LA Galaxy: Afrojack Teaser FilmKicking off the 2024 season with unparalleled excitement, multi-platinum DJ and producer Alesso took the stage during the LA Galaxy's opening match against Inter Miami CF at Dignity Health Sports Park. RIOT's teaser film for this event was a masterclass in building anticipation. By blending futuristic visuals with Alesso's signature soundscapes, the film encapsulated the dawn of a new season and the unifying power of music and sport. The narrative wove together elements of the cosmos and the soccer field, creating a seamless transition from the vastness of space to the intimate fervor of the stadium.
Watch the LA Galaxy: DJ Alesso Teaser FilmIn both projects, RIOT meticulously incorporated the LA Galaxy brand throughout. Subtle yet impactful placement of team logos and colors ensured brand consistency while enhancing the overall aesthetic. The sound design was intricately tied to the DJs' musical styles, creating an immersive experience that resonated with both soccer enthusiasts and music fans. This strategic fusion amplified the reach and appeal of the events, showcasing LA Galaxy's commitment to delivering multifaceted entertainment experiences.
These collaborations exemplify RIOT's dedication to pushing creative boundaries and crafting narratives that transcend traditional sports marketing. By uniting the electrifying worlds of professional soccer and electronic dance music, RIOT and LA Galaxy set a new standard for fan engagement and event promotion.
At RIOT, we believe that the fusion of music and visual artistry has the power to transcend boundaries and create immersive experiences that resonate deeply with audiences. Our journey through diverse projects—from crafting compelling music videos during unprecedented times to orchestrating dynamic collaborations between global artists and sports franchises—exemplifies our dedication to pushing creative limits and redefining what's possible.
Our approach is rooted in a profound understanding of the unique narratives each artist and brand embodies. By embracing innovative technologies and fostering close-knit collaborations, we transform visionary concepts into tangible realities that captivate and inspire. Whether it's through the lens of a camera, the stroke of a design, or the orchestration of a live event, RIOT is committed to delivering unparalleled creative solutions that elevate the music and entertainment landscape.
As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our mission to pioneer new avenues of artistic expression and audience engagement. We invite you to join us on this exhilarating journey, as we continue to craft the extraordinary and set new standards in the world of music and entertainment.
