Showcasing the Industry’s Growing Positive Impact on People, Culture and the Economy to State and Federal Policymakers
Washington, D.C., February 15, 2022 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the selection of Curley Company (Curley) as its Agency of Record (AOR) following a competitive search for a partner with deep integrated communications expertise to showcase the industry’s growing impact on people, culture and the economy.
This new partnership follows recent news that overall consumer spending on video games in the U.S. totaled $60.4 billion in 2021, an 8% increase over 2020. Strategic areas of focus for the effort include workforce and education, digital wellness, consumer protection, marketplace access and operations, and foundational issues such as protecting innovation and defending the freedom of expression.
“The growth and impact of the video game industry over the past year underscores the sustained trends we have seen for several years, namely that people of all ages and demographics are playing video games for joy, connection, competition, education and mental stimulation as well as much-needed stress relief,” ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said. “We look forward to working with the Curley Company to articulate the many ways the video game industry drives a dynamic and growing entertainment ecosystem that not only provides engaging interactive content, but also spurs local economic growth through live esports competitions, educational opportunities and high-wage careers.”
The ESA/Curley Company partnership kicked off in January and is grounded in the agency’s deep expertise in reaching policymakers and building reputation and public trust among key stakeholders. Curley Company is an award-winning, woman-owned and led Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications firm, founded in 2002 by Jennifer Curley. Curley clients range from Fortune 100 companies and large trade associations to start-ups and nonprofit organizations.
“Clients continue to hire Curley to provide smart strategic counsel, advance their messaging and make an impact among thought leaders in Washington, D.C. and beyond – and they grow with us because we deliver with a focus on our values. We’ve built a reputation with clients of delivering results and being a true extension of their teams,” said Founder & CEO, Jennifer Curley. “We’re proud to partner with the ESA team at such a transformational time, building on our shared values of creative storytelling, innovation and inclusion.”
In 2021, Curley Company experienced significant organic client growth (79%), explosive digital advocacy growth (300%), and the firm’s trade association practice grew double digits, making up approximately 40% of the firm’s client roster.
Key objectives for the public affairs partnership include:
- Elevating the video game industry’s awareness among policymakers, focusing on workforce and education, consumer protection, and marketplace access and operations
- Bolstering the recognition of the positive impact of the industry on people, culture, and the economy
- Building a broader base of support from partners to showcase the positive impact of the video game industry
The public affairs strategy spans federal, state and, at times, global public policy. The partnership also includes strategic communications support for the ESA Foundation.
For more information on the ESA’s policy priorities and how the video game industry is driving economic opportunity, visit https://www.theesa.com/.
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About the ESA
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA.
About the ESA Foundation
The ESA Foundation awards scholarships to the next generation of industry innovators and supports schools and nonprofits that leverage interactive entertainment technology to create meaningful opportunities for America’s youth. It seeks to harness the power of the video game industry to create positive social impact and supports geographically diverse projects and programs benefitting grantees of all ages, races and genders. For more information, visit the ESA Foundation’s website.
About Curley Company
Curley Company is an award-winning, woman-owned and led Washington, D.C. based strategic communications firm, founded in 2002 by Jennifer Curley. The agency is known for delivering smart communications strategy in Washington and beyond and has been recognized by PRWeek (2021, 2020) and PRovoke Media (2021) as a finalist for Boutique Agency of the Year in North America and ranked by the Washington Business Journal as a top PR firm in Washington for the past four years. Curley clients range from Fortune 100 companies and large trade associations to start-ups and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit CurleyCompany.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
