World Music Radio

Doner and sister agency Wolfgang have joined forces with five-time Grammy Award™ winner and Academy Award™ winner Jon Batiste for the launch of his latest album, World Music Radio. The album will be released on August 18th on Verve / Interscope Records with his current hit single “Drink Water,” which is available now.

Working hand in hand with Batiste, Doner and Wolfgang spent months helping hone and articulate Batiste’s musical vision into an unique visual world that would be the throughline for the entire album campaign and be representative of his creative intentions. This remarkable collaboration touched all campaign elements leading up to the launch and beyond, including album artwork, music videos, visualizers, social content, merchandise, PR imagery and limited edition vinyl.

The album has a unique concept and distinctive look that features Jon as his alter ego, Billy Bob Bo Bob, an interstellar traveling griot. The fictional character narrates the album, taking listeners on a sonic journey around the world at the speed of light. Buckle up and enjoy…

When Doner and Wolfgang first met with Batiste, he talked about his ongoing struggle with “genre” and being pigeonholed as an artist. He saw his new music as an opportunity to take listeners on a journey that crosses genres, challenges conventions and breaks barriers in hopes of sparking healthy discussion and inspiring people to embrace different musical styles, traditions and cultures. Similarly, Doner and Wolfgang recognized this as an opportunity to work outside the conventions of advertising, creating a wide and eclectic range of materials. Wolfgang joined the Doner Partners Network late last year and the group has been focused on embracing creativity in a broader sense, looking for new and unexpected ways to break through and connect with audiences.

Realizing that there were parallels between Jon and the agency's creative goals along with their like minded thinking, made for the perfect partnership.

“Wolfgang and Doner truly became creative partners in the building of World Music Radio. The entire process was as if I was cracking open my heart and mind, along with the music and sharing it with them, they in turn helped me piece it all together. I look at the work we created and marvel at how ideas in my head and conversations we had truly came to life,” said Jon Batiste. “So much of our creative partnership was about empowerment, them empowering me and me empowering them, really creating such a tremendous level of trust, which I think helps to create the greatest art.”

“When Jon described his vision for the album it immediately struck a chord with me," said Doner and Wolfgang Chief Creative Officer Colin Jeffery. “Being South African, I am all too familiar with the term “world music” and grew up frustrated by its broad and somewhat meaningless definition. This was an amazing opportunity to reexamine and help redefine the genre.”

“Being a musician myself, being able to marry that aspect of my life with the love of visual storytelling was extraordinary particularly with someone of Jon’s caliber,” added Doner Executive Creative Director Justin Bilicki. “His music offers people a doorway into his boundless creative world and collaborating with him on expressing his vision was truly an honor.”

World Music Radio is Batiste’s first follow up to 2021’s We Are, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. A concept album that looks to reexamine and redefine the term “world music,” WMR features guest artists Lil Wayne, Lana Del Rey, Kenny G, JID, Fireboy DML, Camilo, NewJeans, and producer Jon Bellion alongside Batiste.