Zefr Taps Song To Push Sales

Zefr, which helps brands and publishers manage video assets across social media channels, is gearing up for a big sales push.
 
To lead the charge, the company has hired Rick Song, former executive vice president at Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, as global head of media solutions sales.  At Clear Channel, Song is credited with leading the launch of national digital ad sales for popular Web radio platform iHeartRadio.
 
Song is expected to scale the company’s ad efforts and deepen its relationships with top brands and ad agencies. Agency partners like Wieden+Kennedy and the Starcom Media Group use Zefr’s BrandID service to identify brands’ fan-uploaded content -- as well as competitor content -- and connect brands with receptive audiences.

Setting itself apart from other software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, Zefr specializes in content that brands and fans upload to YouTube.

Zefr also manages and monetizes professional rights for top studios and labels like Warner Bros., Sony Music, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM and The Weinstein Co. (Named Movieclips at the time, rights management was actually Zefr’s original business model when it launched in 2009.)
 
Zefr claims to have increased revenue by 100% for three consecutive years with the help of clients like Adidas, Hasbro Studios, "Saturday Night Live" and Real Madrid.
 
Hoping to maintain its momentum, the company recently took $30 million in funding from Institutional Venture Partners, along with existing investors such as U.S. Venture Partners, Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital and Richmond Park Partners.

Prior to Clear Channel, Song was at Microsoft Advertising for six and a half years, last serving as the GM, Eastern US Sales.

Zefr has also brought on Michael Saperstein, former vice president at entertainment network Machinima, as head of media sales (East, Central, Canada). In his new role, Saperstein is responsible for leading all aspects of sales, advertising operations and sales marketing.
 
Earlier in his career, Saperstein held multiplatform sales positions at NBC Universal, Electronic Arts, Popular Science and Universal McCann & MEC Agencies.
 
To date, Zefr has raised about $53 million from investors.
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