Last Sunday's The New York Times Magazine features an article by Clive Thompson about online fan management and how it's changing the game for bands, authors and other artists. It's a great read and one with lots of lessons for brands that desire a grass roots connection with their advocates. Performing artists these days, particularly new or struggling musicians, are increasingly eager, even desperate, to master the …
BBH Woos The Distribution Channel
According to Ad Age, Miller Brewing Co. has named British-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty agency of record for its flagship Miller Lite brand, following a competitive review. "They are passionate about the beer business. And, with their previous experience working with the nuances of a three-tier system, we know that they will make great partners as we accelerate the momentum of our flagship brand," said Randy Ransom, …
How Do You Lemon Your Widmer?
Portland's Sasquatch Advertising has unleashed Lemon Your Widemer, a viral video site for its client Widmer Brothers Brewing. The site promotes Widemer's Hefeweizen, a German style beer served with a slice of lemon. …
Rosenthal Says Actors, Writers and The Audience Are “Exploited” By Product Integration
Phil Rosenthal, creator and executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond testified before Congress on behalf of the Writers’ Guild and Screen Actors Guild. He denounced product integration and did so quite elegantly (even though this issue is primarily a battle for compensation, and not about big bad brands forcing themselves on entertainment elites). [via New TeeVee] …
Brands Are Made of Ideas. Tires Are Made of Rubber.
L.A. Times has a story about a multinational brand caught in the middle of a larger story about crime, nature, globalization, history, imperialism and poverty. The setting is Liberia, the African nation emerging from 14 years of civil war. The brand is Japanese-owned Bridgestone. Bridgestone is in Liberia for its natural resources. Rubber is Liberia's biggest export and Bridgestone's Firestone plantation, which is …
Continue Reading about Brands Are Made of Ideas. Tires Are Made of Rubber. →
Cable Imitates Interweb. Hopes Ad Dollars Will Follow.
According to The Wall Street Journal (paid sub. req.), the ability to direct ads to viewers' specific interests which is driving the growth of Internet advertising, could also fuel the new ad opportunities on cable platforms. Cable operators, through which a majority of Americans watch TV, are developing a new generation of marketing platform, including video-on-demand and interactive ads that marry traditional TV …
Continue Reading about Cable Imitates Interweb. Hopes Ad Dollars Will Follow. →
JPG Magazine Dirt
Derek Powazek, the founder of JPG Magazine and long time member of the technorati has been forced out by his business partners. Believing as he does in radical transparency, he chose to detail some of the sordid details on his blog. Unfortunately, issue 10 will be the last one that Heather and I will have a hand in. We are no longer working for JPG Magazine or 8020 Publishing. Why? The reasons are complicated, and …
Crispin Loses Its Virginity
According to Adweek, Virgin Atlantic Airways has placed its creative and media account, held by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, into review. While the Miami-based MDC Partners agency was invited to defend, it will not participate in the review, the client confirmed. "Commercial objectives require a new approach to strongly position our brand and service offerings in a competitive marketplace," said Chris Rossi, Virgin …