New York Times advertising writer, Stuart Elliott, gets off a gem of a lead in today's paper: Anolther ghost brand is seeking to shed its ectoplasm and become more corporeal. It's hard to resist reading a story with such an auspicious beginning. …
It’s Grind Time In Chicago
A leader in the promotion and delivery of urban/hip-hop digital music content, Chicago-based XtraMedium is launching a new text service called ‘Street Tags’ on its Aspire Music Network. Street Tags text messages are sent out to individuals who want to learn more about and stay-in-touch with artists, producers, and businesses such as theaters, restaurants and other retailers. Street Tags are powered by qtags™, a …
Asacker’s Mustard-Based Webcast
GuruBBQ is Tom Asacker's new joint. Every Wednesday he debuts a new episode, fully smoked and tenderly basted. When viewing this week's show, one will undoubtedly note Asacker's fine taste in ad blogs. Thanks for the shout out Tom! Addressing the lighthearted nature of his on-camera pursuit, Asacker says: If you want the "aha's" of discovery and great ideas, then you must have the "ha ha's" that come with the …
Awards Aren’t Important, But Cocktails With Friends Are
Drunken debuachery in Chicago. I'm stunned. Lewis Lazare and his bow tie attended the fourth annual Chicago Creative Club Awards recently. What he found there disturbed him. Here's what he found: Hundreds of local creatives who were well on their way toward total inebriation. As they have at CCC shows in years past, members of this city's ad industry proved they have no respect for their peers, their creative output …
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BYOBiz
Vermont's Champlain College--a private, baccalaureate institution that offers professionally focused programs balanced by a liberal arts foundation--has created a brilliant program for budding entrepreneurs. It's called BYOBiz, or "bring your own business." According to Burlington Free Press, 15 students started in the program this fall. National Public Radio's Marketplace says one student in the program, Ben …
DDB Taps Insiders To Lead Chicago Shop
Lewis Lazare keeps us up to date on who's doing what on the 38th floor of Chicago's "Big Stan," a.k.a. the Aon Center. Paul Tilley has prevailed. On Monday, DDB/Chicago announced Group Creative Director Tilley, 39, will assume the top creative post at the beleaguered agency with the title of managing director, creative. Tilley will become one of a new three-person management team that also includes James Lou, 37, as …
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The Jihad Is Over–In Ohio, At Least
Not exactly a surprise ending. From NBC4 in Columbus, Ohio: A car dealership's tongue-in-cheek radio advertisement declaring "a jihad on the automotive market," will not be aired, according to a press release issued on Monday from the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. An official with Dennis Mitsubishi told CAIR-Ohio that the dealership has issued an apology for any misunderstanding caused by …
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No Escape From Commercial Space
The Escapist has an interesting feature on online guerilla marketers, or OMGs. Disguising himself as just another consumer turning to the internet for entertainment, advice and counsel, Jack prowls community forums looking for an opportunity to share his "opinion" of his clients' products and services. But his task isn't easy. Part of the reason many consumers are turning away from television in the first place is …
