Marketing Pop Culture

"I want to be the one who's in. . .control"

Like Janet Jackson proclaiming her independence 20 years ago, brand marketers are seemingly shaking off the talent agencies and branded entertainment specialists who’ve cropped up to guide them through Hollywood over the last few years. Advertising Age (subscription required) released the results of a survey on branded entertainment it conducted among senior-level executives from blue chip companies.

Sparks: April 27, 2006

• Starcom Chief Proclaims Death of the TV Upfront
  John Muszynski asks: Does the TV upfront market make any sense given that content is now available on multiple screens?
• When Wal-Mart Looks Across the Consumer Landscape, Here's What It Sees
  Ira Mayer's coverage of CMO John Fleming's keynote address at Advertising Age's American Consumer Conference.  Ad Age covers the address here.
• MySpace.com as Online Shrine
  Howard Rheingold's blog posting this item on a NY Times piece that chronicles the growing "impact of virtual connectivity that increasingly pervades our lives."
• Reebok Moves Away From HipHop
  New positioning to be focused around athletes and performance.  Gee, isn't that the positioning taken by every other sports apparel company?  Thanks to ProHipHop.com for the heads up.
• Heard of Mobisodes?  Get ready for the Mobizine!
  Trend site PSFK provides some links to info about a music magazine for your phone, that is if you live in the UK.  God, but they are SO far ahead of us when it comes to mobile technology!

Technorati tags:

TV Upfront, Wal-Mart, Reebok, lifestyle marketing, MySpace.com, mobizine