Sunset Strip Business Association (SSBA)

Sunset Strip Music Festival, LLC The Sunset Strip Business Association is the managing partner of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, LLC (SSMF). Created to promote, perpetuate and preserve The Sunset Strip music experience. The sixth annual Music Festival occurred August 1-3, 2013. The three-day festival kicked off Thursday, August 1 with a celebration of 2013 SSMF honoree Joan Jett, who performed a full set with her band The Blackhearts after she received the Elmer Valentine Award. The evening featured stories about Jett from iconic Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, comedian Margaret Cho, guitarist Pat Smear and Carmen Electra. The venues hosted performances by Ours (Roxy), Enuff Znuff (Whisky) and Palaye Royale (Viper Room). The Sunset Strip was transformed into a premier outdoor concert venue with two main stages and a new Viper Room outdoor stage. Linkin Park, Awolnation, Wale, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Warren G, Logic, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh, Asher Roth, Finch, Street Drum Corps, Orgy and more performed on the outdoor stages and in The Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go-Go. The music festival received coverage in local, national and international media outlets, including Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, KTLA, LA Weekly, OC Weekly, Orange County Register, Guitar World, LAist, Getty Images, WireImage, Clear Channel, Pollstar, Revolver, Venues Today, etc.

The Sunset Strip Business Association (SSBA) is a nonprofit corporation run by Sunset Strip business owners in West Hollywood with approximately 200 members comprised mainly of businesses in the hotel, restaurant, retail, valet/parking and nightclub industries. Created in 2002, its directive is to manage the Sunset Strip Business Improvement District (BID) under contract with the City of West Hollywood. The goal of the Association is to provide security, street maintenance, public outreach and marketing of "The Strip."The SSBA contracts with Block-by-Block to provide up to 10 uniformed, highly visible security personnel who provide a presence on Sunset Boulevard seven nights per week. Working closely with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the City of West Hollywood, the Sunset BID Security Ambassadors aim to improve the quality of life for residents and member businesses. Security Ambassadors are responsible for completing daily activity reports. The following are the results for the 2013/14 (July - March: Visitor Assistance 41,206; Business Contacts 17,502; Homeless Outreach Contacts - 82; and Motorist Assistance - 62.The SSBA contracted with Social Vocational Services (SVS) to supply additional cleaning and maintenance services to the Sunset Strip BID. SVS employees provided street cleaning along the entire length of the District on Sunset Boulevard and into the adjoining neighborhoods five days per week - Wednesday through Sunday. During 2013/14 (July March) 2,303 SVS collected bags of trash. Of the trash collected 15 tons were recycled.

The SSBA works with member businesses to promote and market The Sunset Strip throughout the year with press releases, media pitches, special promotions and events. Some PR campaigns that received media attention included: Sunset Strip GuitarTown - A public art exhibit that features 10-foot tall art guitars placed along the boulevard that celebrate The Sunset Strips history. GuitarTown also provides visitors an interactive walking tour of the boulevard. The guitars have also helped increase foot traffic with visitors stopping to take photos with the guitars. A range of artists participated in the 2013 installment, including Linkin Parks Mike Shinoda, tattoo artist Kat Von D, tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle, who was close friends with Janis Joplin, sculptor Eugene Daub, who recently created the Rosa Parks sculpture for the U.S. capitol, and jewelry designer Kathy Rose. Local business owners, art aficionados and music fans raised $40,611 at The Sunset Strip GuitarTown charity auction held Feb. 21 at Bonhams. The proceeds benefited Music for Relief, the nonprofit organization founded by members of Linkin Park to support disaster relief, provide aid to survivors of natural disasters and support the prevention of such disasters via environmental programs. The auction was covered by numerous media outlets including the CBS Sunday Morning Show. It received more than 6 million viewers nationwide.Sunset Strip Holiday Promotions - Compiled list of special offers and events hosted by businesses along The Strip to publicize activities to L.A. area residents. The list includes activities from New Years Eve concerts at music venues to special holiday dining menus/offers. The goal is to showcase the various events taking place along The Strip during the holiday season. Valentines, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holiday Dinners and Shopping and New Years Eve lists were created and promoted on TheSunsetStrip.com and Facebook.Sunset Strip Market - A seasonal weekly farmers market features organic and conventional California growers as well as artisan food purveyors takes place Thursday nights at the City of West Hollywood public lot (8755 Sunset Blvd.) The Market also featured live acoustic entertainment, beer and wine tasting, chef dinners and chef shopping program. The goal of the Market is to build community and further economic development. The weekly event attracts 500 people. Sunset Strip Market was named the best after hours Market in LA by Timeout.com. The Market also received coverage in Patch, Wehoville, LA Weekly, LAist and Daily Candy. Social Media - SSBA aggressively promoted The Sunset Strip as well as the programs, activities and events through its social media efforts. Facebook fan page for The Sunset Strip has 32,000+ fans and SSMF has nearly 65,700 fans. Twitter accounts @TheSunsetStrip and @SSMF have more than 43,000 followers. Sunset Strip VIP All Access Pass - VIP All Access Program designed to encourage travelers to stay at Sunset Strip hotels. Hotel visitors from the Andaz West Hollywood, The Grafton, The London West Hollywood, Mondrian, The Standard Hollywood, Sunset Plaza Best Western and the Sunset Marquis were entitled to free admission to the live entertainment venues on The Sunset Strip, including: The Comedy Store, House of Blues, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room, the Rainbow and Whisky A Go-Go. TheSunsetStrip.com - The official online resource for information and news on restaurants, shows, shopping, nightlife and everything that is The Sunset Strip. The website features weekly picks showcasing the top shows and entertainment events on The Strip. Additional content includes photo galleries, interviews with local personalities and artists, and calendar of events. The website is promoted through Google and Facebook. On average the website receives more than 13,000 unique visitors and 24,000 page views a month.Sunset Strip Street Pole Banners - The Association also developed a street pole banner program for the Boulevard designed to identify the Sunset Strip and raise revenue through sponsorships. The revenue generated is used to enhance the existing goals of the Association. More than 120 banners line the 1.3 mile stretch of The Strip.