“Spotify visits the 80’s.”
Poolsuite FM Case Study
Find out how Marty Bell turned his 80’s themed playlist into a whimsical and viral Aha listening experience.
Opportunity:
Marty Bell knew his playlist wouldn’t get the attention it deserved simply floating around on Spotify. So he decided to build a standalone experience to reach a wider audience.
Aha Experience:
Poolsuite FM is a retro-inspired website that is dedicated to Marty’s groovy playlists. The site’s design captures the 80’s vacation vibes of the playlist and turns the webpage into a time portal.
In Marty’s own words: “I thought ‘I could build a playlist and share it with people. But everyone shares playlists that barely anyone listens to. I need to build an experience around it to make it spread.’”
First you’re brought to the welcome page, where you’ll instantly notice the pixelated design, the original Macintosh typeface and the charismatic 80’s cultural references. I even got a laugh out of the domain ending in .net, a throwback to when those domains were in vogue.
As soon as you enter the actual website, the needle drops, the music starts playing, and the chill retro vibes suck you into a different decade. Every single element is meticulously crafted to deliver a nostalgic reaction. And that’s the reaction that drives the entire experience.
The music belongs to a different decade and happier weather. Poolsuite TV - the embedded video player that loops retro snippets of Baywatch-esque videos - almost smells of sunscreen. The language, the font, the advertising… everything Marty and his team touch delivers a positive and nostalgic sensation.
The magic of the Poolsuite FM experience comes down to the sheer authenticity and care paid to the experience. Marty and his buddies designed the site and experience for themselves, so they knew what they wanted down to the last megapixel. And they delivered on their mission.
Marty created an authentic experience that took people to a different and warmer time. In doing so, he built a cult audience with millions of listeners. Today, the all-star team Marty assembled works on the project for free in exchange for the excitement of building something remarkable! And they’ve grown the business from a side-hustle to a revenue-generating brand through sunscreen, a members-only club and a top-ranked substack newsletter.
Garrett’s Takeaways:
AhaX is always possible. Marty turned a Spotify playlist into an incredibly engaging and viral experience. AhaX potential is often hidden in plain sight!
AhaX differentiates. In the end, Marty’s playlist on Spotify and his playlist on Poolsuite FM is the same music. One would’ve gotten a few listens, the other got millions of listens. The difference is the experience.
Shout your identity from the rooftops! Poolsuite FM succeeded because it screams “cool 80s vacation,” something that nobody else is screaming as loudly.
Stay excited! Marty & co. follow their passion and keep things light. Internally, this keeps the team motivated and keeps the creative juices flowing. Externally, this keeps the brand positive and even attracts top talent for free. See Marty’s thoughts on this subject here.