The Media Room

2009 - A year to reflect on why I love music

2010-01-05T18:48:00.004-06:00

I am a creature of habit. When I get scared, sad or uncertain, I tend to run to the things that I know will make me feel safe, happy or reassured. That’s why with all the change that I experienced in 2009, I didn’t seek out the next best new artist, I let them either come to me or I stuck with what I knew. That is why for my end of 2009 list, I am going to reflect on those that helped me end the year with a little Sanity and Peace towards the upcoming new year.

Listen Here

Syd - Have you ever been so addicted to someone’s music that no matter what, you can’t seem to turn it off? That is the way I feel about Syd. He has also been a huge inspiration in our life and some of the decision to finally change certain things in it. But when he released his 5 song EP, “Upswing”, in 2009...a whole new level of admiration began for me. His newer sound was upbeat and it pumped happiness into my veins. It put that urge to dance and sing back in my life. Jeff and I also helped promote his remix contest this year for his song “The Pattern”. Between the contest and it being my 2 year old nieces’ favorite song, I probably heard that song close to 200 times. But if it shuffled through my mp3 player right now, I would still listen and you would probably see me dancing like no one was watching.. isn’t that what life is all about anyway?

Lisa Piccirillo – My husband will tell you that the first time he heard ‘You Never Say’ it brought tears to his eyes. And if you listen to the song the way you are meant to listen to music, I can assure you it will do the same for you. Lisa’s voice will draw you into a hypnotic state where you forget your past, your present, where you are, where you are going…It will put you in a drug-induced trance, with serenity being the drug; the best kind. Her song “Momentum” hit new levels for me when I caught it playing through my ear buds as hundreds of people were being laid off at place of employment. I had put both of my ear buds in and cranked up the music so loud and pounded away at the keyboard as I had done several time before. When the shuffled selection of song had finished playing, I took out my earbuds and looked around. It was quiet all around, and I felt Peace for a second.. I had hoped that those that were laid off felt the same Peace also, because now there was no more waiting it out for them.

Brian Bergeron – I found Brian through a chance click on myspace a few years ago. Back then it was just him and his guitar, something that had been very common during those times. People were getting tired of the John Mayer want-to-be’s, even if they sounded nothing like John Mayer. There was something different about Brian though, but I couldn’t place my finger on it then. It wasn’t until I heard his first full length release “We’ve Got to Find an Easier Way” that I was able to put into words the way I saw Brian’s talent. I had found a true up and coming artist. I was bursting with pride when the tracks first came through my MP3 player. He had evolved so much and come so far in such a short time. He had found his sound and we were there listening and promoting while he was doing it. It was an amazing feeling.

Taylor Davis – “ I wish I was better, I wish I had it all figured out, I little bit skinnier with more money in the bank, maybe everything would work out. I’m too hard on myself, it’s impossible to live up to everyone else.” Taylor will tell you he wrote that song during one of his low points when he was staying on his friends couch in New York. So it would seem fitting that I would use it to help me through some of my darkest times. Taylor is different than anyone else on our list. He is the first local artist that we have ever supported. There is a different sense of Pride that comes from watching someone from your own area make it musically. You understand first hand how big of a deal it is when they play at certain venues and when you hear them on the radio, its awesome to know that you might have helped with that a little. Its also nice to be able to go see his shows just about whenever we want to…and to have him come to several of our house parties puts the icing on the cake.

Rogue Wave – If you love something, set it free... If it comes back, it's yours, If it doesn't, it never was yours.... That is how I feel about Rogue Wave, well sorta, in a less creepy way. Rogue Wave decided to take a break from touring and music back in 2007 when their drummer, Pat Spurgeon underwent a kidney transplant (d-tour - a documentary about this ) and their lead singer, Zach Rogue, injured his back. But that time really helped me reflect on their music and how different it was from anything else I had ever heard. It’s like another melancholy sound that pumps energy through you and you can’t help but move. And if you are one of the lucky ones to have seen them live, then all you have to do is close your eyes and you can envision the energy that the guys project to the audience. We have never missed a Texas show. I even caught an earlier flight from a business meeting in Detroit to get back to a show in Denton. I.LOVE.THIS.BAND. I will promote them until I can’t speak anymore, until I am no longer able to type and far after people stop listening to me in hopes to find that one person who is willing to listen to them with new ears… because Rogue Wave worked hard for it, because they earned it… and they deserve it.

Chad Perrone – Chad wrote a song that will forever be a staple in my life during 2009. “Like Riding a Bike” shuffled through my MP3 player when I was trying to decide what was worth fighting for in my current life. What was really important and what was just weighing me down and keeping me from moving up to my next level. What was my next step going to be and was it going to get me to my ultimate goals/dreams or was it just going to take me down another dead end road. I still cry every time I hear the song, and am crying right now just writing about it. It was, and still is, a very powerful song for me. Even though I don’t like where we are currently in our lives, I know we are on the right path. I know that a lot of credit is given to a few words that started on a piece of paper, but to know that those words came from someone else’s hard time in their life is what I think I about. Knowing that we are not alone in making tough decisions, starting over, working hard to get to your dreams…that is what I hear when I listen to that song. And for that I am so thankful.

Plushgun - I remember exactly what I was doing the first time I heard Plushgun. I was sitting on my floor getting ready to pack up and go to a friends wedding in California. They were hosting subterranean on MTV2. We were clearing out our TIVO and Jeff was fast forwarding through it to see if there was anything good on there before it was deleted. Then he pushed play and said, "hey, look who it is!"…it was one of Syd's drummers, Matt Bogdanow, who was now playing drums with Plushgun. Their song "Just Impolite" was on and as I listened to it, I felt that I could actually like this band…but we left for the wedding and nothing was said about it again. 2 months later, they were coming to town and we were going to see their show, so I decided to pick up their CD and give it another listen. It only took that one time and I was addicted. Then I saw them live and everything really clicked. I had wondered how they were going to get their punk-alternative-electric sound to compare to the sound from the CD, but they did... and they did it even better. As Matt's robotic hands motioned out the drum parts to an unbelievable fast paced electronic keyboard melody, Dan jumped around the stage and sang his little heart out not missing a beat to even breath. Taylor was right there beside Dan filling in the guitar parts where needed and making sure the whole stage had been touched. The crowd had been infected and were all jumping in one marching beat. It was amazing…THEY are amazing! Plushgun became the band that I put on repeat on my MP3 player, put both earbuds in and just let it blare as the world around me went silent. Taping my foot, head bobbing and other involuntary "moves" projected from my body as their music played over and over and over in my ears. When I was sad, I played them and they made me happy.

Patrick Thomas – Patrick is a new artist to me. I was introduced to him and Lisa through the CO-OP music label. Patrick wrote a song that he simply labeled “Track Ten”. Jeff fell in love with the song first and then suggested I really listen to it. Over the last few years, with the help of the news, I had started to become a little paranoid and frightful of living in this world. When I heard this song, I felt like chanting it in the streets: “Yeah, I’ve got to start living, got to start giving a shit…” It wasn’t a protest song, but maybe a wake up call to enough people to start paying attention to things around them and making the simple changes in their life and stop being so selfish. That is really all we need to make this world a better place. I would like to see this philosophy posted on billboards and written as graffiti on walls or with people marching down the street with these lyrics posted on their protest signs. I challenge you all to listen to this song and not want to make a change in their life…I double dare you.

Guster – I saved the most important one for last. This blog would not exist if it weren’t for Guster. They truly helped us find our love for music. They were the common ground for my husband and me when we couldn’t find it anywhere else. They have always been a starting point when we have lost our way. They have countless songs that play through my head for inspiration to keep going when I feel I have met the end of line. “Come Downstairs and Say Hello” gives me hope that at any point my life can change direction. “Hang On” keeps my eyes focused ahead for that light at then end of the tunnel. “Window” reminds me that sometimes you do need someone’s help for you to see the good out of life…someone to follow right behind and help push you along…or someone to just walk beside you and hold your hand through it all. But the song that started it all, the song that hangs on the wall of my cubical that I reference SEVERAL times a day is “Happy Frappy”. It reminds me that everything I could ever need, I already have.

2009-06-11T19:29:00.001-06:00

Yes Man - Staring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel

2009-04-30T19:18:00.014-06:00

Pause the music player below before watching

I found inspiration today in the last place I ever thought I would... a Jim Carrey movie on a 4 hour flight from Boston to DFW. Yes Man was the feature film and I made a quick decision on if I wanted to listen to my comfortably pleasant song selections on my MP3 player or did I want to take a chance and spend 2 hours watching a movie that I might not like. Why not I thought, it’s not like I haven't heard the same music a thousand times before. And I am so glad I did.

Yes Man is based on a true story and 2005 book by British humorist Danny Wallace (who has a brief cameo in the film). It’s the story of Carl Allen, played by Jim Carrey, who is stuck and a rut and is going no where with his life. He runs into an old friend, played by John Michael Higgins, who appears to have gone a little nuts with passion and is invited to a seminar about how to change your life by saying "yes" to everything. He goes to the seminar and after much convincing he agrees to go through with the program. The leader also throws in a little scare tactic and tells him that if he lets himself down and says No, that bad things will start happening. When Carl’s first "yes act" leads him to Allison, played by Zooey Deschanel, he puts the plan into motion; Saying Yes= good returns. This movie could be exactly what America needs right now. Yes, this is a common theme but this might be what America needs right now, A little bit of humor, mixed with the want to follow through with your hearts desires... or at least listen to your heart a little and take a chance once in a while.

I probably would have eventually watched this movie, if only to watch Zooey Deschanel. I just LOVE her. She is such a talented actress and this movie lets you in on a little secret if you haven't heard yet.. she can sing. She references in the movie how she loves having only her handful of fans that she can name out in the crowd at her shows. This is such an ironic twist because I hear people talking about her music more and more now a days and I am sure she is selling out venues. Which to me is a little insincere because this movie was like a shameless promotion for her music career. But I really can't blame her for using networking to get her life to where she might really have always wanted it to go. And trust me I am not saying she is not a talented musician. She has a great voice and is worth checking out.

Overall, this movie is the perfect balance to the all time favorite feel good movie. Taking us back to Jim Carrey’s other films with this similar feel like Truman Show or Liar Liar. This movie will probably not be up for an Emmy or make it to any top ten lists but It is def worth a watch and I can guarantee that you will not be completely disappointed.

'We've Got to Find an Easier Way" Brian Bergeron

2009-04-24T09:05:00.008-06:00

After many months of planning, funding, and recording, Brian Bergeron has released his first full length album, "We've Got to Find an Easier Way". ‘Let Me In’, the opening track, sets the mood of the album by giving you some insight that you'll be experiencing something new from the singer-songwriter. Which is a feat he has accomplished fairly early in his career , sooner than most singer songwriters trying to imitate John Mayer or Jason Mraz. This first full-length is exploding with talent, culminated from several EPs under his belt that had him searching for this very sound.

Brian has crafted some new songs and dusted off some old tunes to both please old fans, and draw in new ones. And it succeeds with what feels like an effortless transition into the growing up he’s done musically and lyrically. With tinges of alt-country and summoning the likes of Ryan Adams, Wilco and Josh Rouse, Bergeron bounces from tune to tune and fills them with a bittersweet-but-upbeat mood.

'Gracie', which gives us the line that named the album, sounds like it came right out of a Nashville roadside honky-tonk and conjures images of sawdust floors and two-stepping, while managing to keep a sense of pop to it. It may be THE standout of the album, along with "Tell My Story", for those looking for the tune that could really hook you into his work. The uses of warm piano and lap pedal guitars drive the former feeling home, but the earnest lyrics that speak more of hope than loss, pull the listener into toe-tapping right along with the chorus before you even know the lyrics. This is my personal favorite.

Slower songs like 'Missing' and 'Sisters' still deliver a strong hand and rely more on the 'alt' than 'country'. They're peppered in between faster tunes like a well crafted mixtape, and serve to pull the energy down to the appropriate level to catch your breath from the rockers.

‘I Promise You Relief’ is probably the most heartfelt song on the album. Brain’s ability to harmonize with the strong piano melody is perfect. I get chills when the piano breaks in towards to the end and takes over the song.

Brian Bergeron is starting off in the right direction with a strong, solid release, produced by fellow Boston musician Will Dailey. It should be noted that Dailey does a wonderful job producing this album, as well as guide Brian and merge his own suggestions and talent on the CD. It's a solid blast of music from beginning to end, and shows that Dailey has got some talent in a range beyond just creating his own tunes.

What this album, as a whole, provides what seems to be the culmination of several years of ideas and attempts at getting just what one wants of their music. The tunes are well-crafted, catchy when they need to be, pensive when they should be, and all together well-rounded.

Brian’s approach to funding this CD was by asking for sponsorships from fans, family and friends. It’s a practice that has been done before by artists like Jill Sobule…and a great idea, I might add. It allows fans to really be involved in making the product. And with that involvement they will (hopefully) feel more pride for the album and use that pride to market and promote the album for the artist. Done correctly, it could be a win/win solution.

The closer, "The Restless Release", is a perfect bookend to the cd, with what sounds like a cowboy's dust bowl ballad. It seems to come from a time and place that other bands like Two Gallants have drawn inspiration from, but that hasn’t been really tapped into too heavily yet. Ideas like this are what push Bergeron’s music just past the ‘guy with a guitar’ type of sound. Almost as if calling out, the song ends with the line "...and how I hope you'll come back." If future projects are as good as this one are delivered to his listeners, I'm sure he'll have no problem getting that to happen.

Check out more on Brian Bergeron at any of the following:
Official Website
Myspace
Facebook
ILike
Twitter

You Never Say - Lisa Piccirillo

2009-04-09T21:33:00.012-06:00

If you have not heard of Lisa Piccirillo, you are missing out. Here is your chance to hear a few of her songs and move her up the charts at Yellow House Media. Lisa was featured on their site a few weeks ago and slowly climbed the charts to #1 with 'You Never Say'. It has now slipped to #2 but really deserves to stay in the #1 spot, so help us get it back there. 'You Never Say' is not only written perfectly for anyone trying to decide which road to go down in their romantic life but her voice mesmerizes you and brings you to near tears with the emotion she projects. Listen and vote here http://tinyurl.com/dmjo65

Lisa will also be the featured artist for a Boston-based radio show/podcast called "women in music" for the week of April 14. Laney Goodman keeps her ear out for the best in women's music...and we are thrilled that Lisa was chosen for her program, which reaches listeners all over the country, and her podcast, which has approximately 10,000 downloads per month! Lisa will also be featured on the homepage next week

Visit Lisa at any of the following links:
Myspace
Facebook
Co-op Sounds

The Big Town -Syd

2009-03-28T14:03:00.012-06:00

Spring is here... well in some parts of the world anyway. If you are anything like me, you have cabin fever and are craving some good foot tapping and head bobbin' music (preferably without the smokey bars, drunk woo-hoo girls and dude-guys ).

Last weekend we ventured down to SXSW to mingle with the best of the best. We were down there to do a few interviews for Redjoint.com. The experience was loud, unorganized and crowded...but we were still able to walk away with 90% of the interviews we set out to do. I am hoping these interviews will be edited over the next few weeks and posted.

Until then I would like to share what we are currently listening to and what we are looking forward to in our small little world of music.

Syd has put out a new 4 song EP,Upswing . Musically, this is a step in a new direction for Syd. We started to see his sound evolve from the traditional 'guy - guitar - love song' sound with his last album, The Way We Found It (2007) , but Upswing shows a whole other level of talent that any early follower hopes to see when they discovered an artist. This album is the perfect merger of all generations of rock. You can hear hints of influence of early 80's rock genius' like Rick Springfield, Joe Jackson, The Cars with a mix of 90's alt rock like Weezer & Cake ring through each song. Easier on you is what all love songs should be. The type that you can rock out to when you have been hurt and the type that you would blare on a jambox outside a window to win back the love of your life. But it could also be the type of song that you would find yourself bobbing your head, blaring out open windows and rocking out in traffic. Mallory is up next telling the story of one of his best friends finding the love of his life by chance during a concert and having to let himself take that chance on love. Knowing the story behind Mallory is one of the best and most endearing parts of the song. This song is going to surely be the hit for any true romantic and I see it being part of any wedding song list. When The Big Town starts up, you immediately hear the creative use of voice echos, bass and electric guitar. The best example of this use of creativity is during the bridge when the echo of the voice against the crunch of the guitars will bring you close to headbanging status. This energy will lead you directly from there into The Pattern. It doesn't matter how bad of a day you have had, I dare you to try to not smile when the this song begins. With its catchy "oh-oh-whoa-whoa's " and foot taping beats it will be a favorite among all ages. I am even sure to bet there is air drumming during your first, second and 100th time of listening. The first time I played this song, my 18 month old niece started singing and dancing. This EP has it all. And what is even better, is it is currently being offered as a free download by Co-op Sounds, which Syd also co-founded. This is one that you will not want to pass up.

Be sure to check back for our review of Brian Bergeron's latest album, We've got to Find an Easier Way which is set to be released on April 25th.

syd's New EP - Upswing - FREE DOWNLOAD!!!

2009-03-03T19:04:00.000-06:00

All Time High (Syd)

2009-01-29T19:05:00.008-06:00

We thought it was about time to resurect this blog.

First post - Jeff's amazing video's he did for Syd from the footage while he was on tour. This was also Jeff's way to tell me that we have a crappy video camera and that its time to get one of those new and fancy hard drive video camera.

So please enjoy and give my hubby some love on what you think of the videos - He worked very hard on these.

Debate Exposes Doubt (Death Cab For Cutie)

2007-07-10T11:11:00.000-06:00

Have you seen this commercial yet?What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see this is probably the same thing that I thought of “That is not even possible” Hummer makes you believe that you can customize your vehicle to whatever you want without limitations. This of course is not true. I did notice that as the vehicle launches off the pier it states “do not attempt” it doesn’t state “underwater option not available.” Ever since Beavis and Butthead “encouraged” children to burn down their living rooms and Barbie commercials made people believe that their doll would walk and dance on their own, every ad has to state the obvious. I read a great article about it in Dallas News that stated what the majority of us say when we see the obvious stated... DUH!!! As for the Hummer commercial, I would love to see the sales persons face the 100th time that he is asked “Can I get the underwater option on my customizable Hummer? “ And through gritted teeth they reply with “That was just a commercial, don’t you want a car wih real options?”

New Slang (The Shins)

2007-07-10T09:56:00.001-06:00

Everyone has a website now. I actually search online for products and information before I go to the store itself. I have a whole internet folder with 50+ links to my favorite stores all over the world. But now websites have started integrated entertainment with the sell of their products, my husband calls it branded entertainment. Check out websites like m&m.com, skittles.com and who can overlook Disney.com. While researching their products, you can build your own avatar, play games, listen to music or watch video clips. Some companies have even started hitting you with advertising 1-2 punch by enticing you to visit their website to get the full idea of the ad you just spent 30 seconds watching. Other times, the site will offer exclusive clips or “webisodes” that further explain the product or draw you into a story further. Several years ago, one underground web hit were the “Terry Tate: Office Linebacker” series from Reebok…which my husband tuned in online multiple times to watch. I even have seen sitcoms advertising real sites. During an episode of the NBC show Scrubs, one of the characters, Todd, had a t-shirt that had “theToddTime.com” written on it. We tried to check it out immediately afterwards, and it took us two days to be able to access the full site because of how much traffic it was getting. These days, 20+ years after Tommy Tutone made 867-5309 the most prank-called number in history, people are still curious enough to see what’s real.

Center of Attention (Guster)

2007-07-10T08:42:00.000-06:00

I recently saw one of the oddest forms of advertisiCCng on tv yet. I was watching ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ on TBS the other day, and they stopped the program at random points to advertise The Bill Engvall Show. According to the little man that was in the corner of my screen promoting this show, ‘The Bill Engvall Show’ has a similar plotline but seems less “New York” and more “Middle America”. The basic premise behind the ad, however, was this: They froze the show that was airing in mid-sentence and had the star of the new series pop in to plug his new show. The first time I saw it, I thought the show was over and he was using the credit time to promote his new show. But when the show started up again, I noticed the show was not yet over and realized that I had just experienced a new type of advertising.
In doing this, the ad immediately draws your attention to the program being advertised by forcing you to see what caused the interruption. In an era where commercials can be fast-forwarded with our digital recorders and channels are surfed away from the minute a show ends, this new ad technique makes the viewer stop and pay attention for a few seconds.
While slightly annoying, it served its purpose and delivered its intended message. The spoiled tv watcher in me, however, hopes this doesn’t become the norm. One of my favorite reasons for having a Tivo is my ability to skip an ad I’ve seen over and over again…as some stations (TBS, I’m looking your way) have been known to do.

In Harmony in Silver (Cold War Kids)

2007-06-20T09:15:00.000-06:00

Last Friday the sequel to "Fantastic Four" opened up nationwide and did pretty well in the theaters, raking in about $58 million at the box office. It featured the four superheroes taking on an intergalactic enemy called “Silver Surfer” who is sent to scope out Earth as a potential meal for an even bigger bad-guy who eats entire planets to stay alive. Sounds decent, right? Well, once the Surfer is finished battling the comic book heroes, it looks like he’ll be taking on the US Government.

Fox Studios and The Franklin Mint had partnered before the movie’s premier to alter 40,000 quarters (to be distributed amongst every state in regular circulation) to promote the movie. Now, most movie promo items are pretty clever and inventive. This one seemed a little less exciting, yet collectible for fans. The entire setup for this promo was that a person would find one of these coins, enter the code on the back at the movie's website and *possibly* win a chance to see an early screening of the movie. But, what really propelled this promo item to the top of the want list was that it immediately became illegal. Which, in essence, made an already collectible item even more sought after. Don’t believe me? Just check out eBay and see for yourself.

It seems that the folks at Fox and Franklin never got the OK from the US Mint, and those guys their money very seriously. The Mint made it clear that they, in no way, endorsed this promo or gave any ok to do it. And, furthermore, defacing money is actually punishable by a fine. No word has been announced whether that penalty will be enforced to the studios yet or not. But, no matter what happens, it seems that the promo had its intended goal: drumming up interest in the movie beyond the normal advertising.

Think About It (The Whatnot)

2007-06-20T08:34:00.000-06:00

Have you ever watched a commercial and loved it, but just don’t know why? Or maybe you did…in the back of your head. And maybe that’s exactly what the ad is going for.

Case in point: Go Meat!

Hillshire Farms meats has had an ad campaign running for a little while now that really sticks in the back of your mind and attempts to give you a chuckle at the same time. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials where someone is enjoying a meat-based product and some sort of rally-cry/chant begins to reward the eater with their decision. At first, I saw these commercials and thought they were ok. My husband, on the other hand, loved them. In time, I’ve warmed up to them all thanks to the very simple goofiness of them.

But, what the advertisers were doing with this set of ads is aiming for a more female audience. By using the cheers, they are specifically targeting the inner-cheerleader in all of us. Company reps state that the image of meat has always been a masculine one, and are trying to focus these ads on the other gender. After all, it’s women who have been proven to the majority of grocery shopping in American households. Advertisers have almost always catered to this, albeit more aggressively in the past when a woman’s “place” was in the home.

But, this ad doesn’t sit back and focus solely on the stay-at-home wife and mother as it does women in general. The commercials almost always feature a woman as the center of the action, enjoying the Hillshire Farms product amid the (sometimes invisible) cheering section. By tapping the inner-cheerleader in all of us, the commercial cheers its way right into our brains in an attempt to get the women of the world to enjoy a turkey sandwich as much as their male counterparts.

Where the Humans Eat (Willy Mason)

2007-06-19T20:06:00.000-06:00

While you should be asleep
But are wide awake
Fast Food restaurants
Know just what to make

They target the late shifters
The teens, the all nighters
The commercials are enticing
All thanks to the writers.

The midnight snacks
Are all there if you crave
There waiting at the drive through
That is now open late

Don’t eat late at night,
Is what we have been told
But burgers and fries
Are what’s being sold

You scarf down your meal
Then lay down for the night
Is it any wonder
Our health just isn’t right

So when the TVs on late
And it’s begging you to eat
Just turn the thing off
And get a good night sleep.

Picking Up (Syd)

2007-06-13T12:39:00.000-06:00

Dallas has never really been on the cutting edge or music, in my opinion. Sure, we get a lot of concerts…but they are all very mainstream. Dallas seems content to stick with the norm.

Now, I never thought I’d say this about a Clear Channel venture, but something good has changed on the radio in Dallas. KZPS (92.5 on the dial) has ditched it’s classic rock format and moved in a new breed of “Outlaw Country” as it’s format. What does this mean to the listener? Well, you’ll stop hearing the same three Jethro Tull songs over and over again and instead will be set up with music as widely ranged as Bob Dylan, The Old 97’s, ZZ Top and Willie Nelson (who serves as the stations spokesperson). Think, heavy on the Southern-Based blues, rock and alt-country and you’ve got the format in a nutshell.

Now, what makes this all a little more different is the fact that the station is starting out to air…well, without commercials. Instead, the station has opted to have blocks of programming sponsored by different companies throughout the day. Basically, they are going with an integrated marketing approach in which the DJ would discuss the company and it’s product during a break, rather than dot the entire hour with varied commercials.

The concept isn’t new, by any means. In fact, most tv and radio was originally sponsored by a single product. Soap Operas, after all, got their name from this practice. But, ditching the over-commercialized annoyance that is modern-day radio is certainly a change of pace. It’ll be interesting to see how the decades-old concept works on the idea that it is new and “cutting edge”. All I know is that I’m glad for the change when listening to one commercial for, say, Southwest Airlines, than the same annoying Kia ad 45 times a day.

Raised by Wolves (Voxtrot)

2007-06-12T19:32:00.000-06:00

You know those Geico Cavemen? Yes, the ones that are not exactly the stereotypical cavemen, but more high-class than most of us. Well, it seems like they are getting their own sitcom on ABC. They've come along way from the proverbial cave and into several factes of our daily lives.

The ad series has already spawned a website, and now a pilot has been picked up by the network that will focus on three cavemen living their thirty-something lives and facing prejudices in modern day America. Sounds like a decent show, but you’ve got to remember that this is…or was…an advertisement. It was originally set up as a way to get consumers to purchase a service and now we’re blurring that line between selling and entertainment. Personally, I like the commercials…but am not sure I’m ready for a full-blown tv series.

If you look at the history of ads, not many have been made it to entertainment programs…especially successful ones. Max Headroom and The California Raisins are great examples of what can happen when an ad has a mass appeal and becomes a successful tv show. On the flipside, Baby Bob, who sold Quizno’s subs had a tv show for a very short time that went nowhere.

So can a thirty-second ad be a ratings-successful show? And the question remains: how much of a factor will Geico play in this show? I suppose we will find out when the sitcom hits the airwaves in the fall of 2007. Talk about taking tv advertising to the next level!

Rockin the Suburbs ( Ben Folds )

2007-06-06T08:48:00.000-06:00

When it comes to indie music, the next big thing may be right around the corner and you wouldn’t even know it. Due to the marketing of big-label artists, many struggling bands have been forced into obscurity in the past. But, not long ago, the world entered a new phase in music making with the rise of the internet and music hasn’t been the same since.

There was an article in the NY TIMES recently about musicians and the advent of the internet that further explored this dynamic by taking to some of these self-made Do-It-Yourself ‘rockstars’. Specifically, the article focused on New York-based singer Jonathan Coulton. Coulton was a computer programmer a few years ago who liked making music in his spare time but figured he’d never get anywhere if he didn’t just make the leap to full time music-making. He quit his job and started posting a song a week on his personal website. Cut to a few years later, and he is making between $3,000 and $5,000 a week doing what he loves, all from his home and never having to deal with a label.

Much of the record industry will blame the internet for destroying music as we know it, from mp3s and Napster to albums ‘leaking’ to the public before they are supposed to be released. And, truth be told, there has been a decline in record sales overall. But people like Coulton and other indie bands, are relying on this same medium to turn them into overnight success stories.

These bands use grass-roots marketing approach, and get a hand from their fans to get their music out there…and the fans love being a part of it. The level of barriers between a musician and a fan used to be vast. Now, with only a mouse click and an email, you can be in contact with some of your favorites. Your fans are your audience, your consumer and your biggest critic….it’s nice to see artists out there who want to jump right to that market and skip the middle-man mentality of a label.

Maybe the labels should take a look at themselves before blaming MP3s for their lack of sales.

Different Names for the Same Things ( Death Cab For Cutie )

2007-06-05T19:59:00.000-06:00

With taglines like “You can do it, we can help” (Home Depot) and “Let’s build something together” (Lowes) it is obvious that customer focus is the main idea in these stores; the type of customer is where the difference begins.

Until recently Home Depot was typecast as dingy dark warehouse that people in paint covered overalls visited. They realized that they needed to have more of a stable customer base since home building booms would not always be in high demand. With the new Do it herself and Kid’s workshops they have started to market the whole family. Home Depot also offers products based on regional needs as well as offer 250,000 special order products, just in case you still can’t find what you’re looking for. They also have their own tool rental company and since it is self owned, they have more control over the price.

Lowes was more for the trendy couple that wanted to renovate, update or redecorate their home. With their detailed product signs, it gave everyone the confidence to find exactly what they needed with little help. The cleaner wider isles make the store visually more appealing. They have always offered how to workshops and project centers for those less knowledgeable. In addition to their regular weekly ads, they also give you the opportunity to sign up and receive their project catalog in the mail. This catalog gives several ideas of improvements and even calculates the total price based on their materials and prices. Their spring catalog had just come out and I saw a few individuals referencing this while I was in the store.

The difference between marketing strategies between Lowes and Home Depot are not as obvious to the everyday deal seeker as they are to their loyal customers. When I asked one customer why they shopped at Lowes, they came back with the simplest form or loyalty out there “Because I am a fan of their NASCAR driver.”

Nourshiment Nation (Rogue Wave)

2007-06-04T19:49:00.000-06:00

I have always thought that the marketing execs for McDonalds were geniuses. There wasn’t one child out there that did not know that the golden arches = happy meal = toys = playground. It was like Christmas all wrapped up in one red and yellow building handed to you by an overly happy red headed clown. And of course how many parents caved under the loud scream of peer pressure brought on by their young ones and ended up stuffing their faces with big macs and quarter pounders several times a week because their children did not understand that mommy was ( or should have been ) watching her weight. On the other hand, how many children should have to worry about calories, better yet, know what they are? I don’t think any of us realized how bad this processed goodness was for us until the 2004 release of “ Super Size Me “. Before that movie, we were the basic suckers for the McDonalds marketing techniques. I spent at least 4 meals a week during each of their Monopoly campaigns. Honestly believing that the next super sized fries was going to have my winning Monopoly piece. It has been a year since my husband and I watched this eye opening documentary and it has been equally long since we have been to McDonalds. You would think that this movie really affected the sales of McDonalds, no way. This didn’t stop children from screaming for the ever-so-tasty chicken nuggets. So McDonalds retaliated with a healthier line of food marketing towards all of us who had seen this movie and were more aware of what they had been feeding us. As a result do you think we will see McDonald’s bankruptcy anytime soon? Not if they keep up the same marketing techniques they have always had.
If "Titanic" couldn’t keep people off boats, "Super Size Me" won’t keep people from McDonalds.

Coffee and Cigerettes (Augustana)

2007-06-04T18:50:00.000-06:00

At 13, after stealing one of my dad’s packs of cigarettes, I realized that no matter how cool the kids made it seem, smoking was not for me. That was until I saw this ad and I actually said “ I would start smoking to carry around those as accessories “. Which is what I would guess RJ Reynolds would hope thousands of other women across the world would say. I thought that the cigarette companies were supposed to keep the glamour out of smoking? But don’t think that RJ Reynolds is not getting some heat over this. And although it is obvious that they are trying to market the female smoker, there are a lot of women’s groups that feel that it is exploiting their gender. As one interviewee stated in a New York Times article “More women die of lung cancer than breast cancer, by a wide margin yet the tobacco companies still “want to increase their market share among women.” And although you are not able to legally buy cigarettes until you are 18, it seems that the advertising for them is marketing a much younger audience. Can anyone argue that this is not on purpose? If a 30 year old women who has never smoked, joked about changing her view on the idea, How much of an impression would this make on a an already easily influenced teenage girl?

Come downstairs and say Hello (Guster)

2007-06-02T13:41:00.000-06:00

This is the year of milestones for me. Not only did I just turn 30 in April, I will be married for 10 years in June. Professionally, I will have full circle with my company.

I started Mercedes Benz Financial in 1999, a few months before the merger to Chrysler was completed and DaimlerChrysler Financial was formed. And just a few months ago we found out that the companies are going to divorce and separate back to the original. With this split, I will be staying on the Chrysler Financial side of the business. I started with Mercedes and I am ending with Chrysler. It’s probably the most interesting thing that I have gone through in my professional career and although I am extremely excited, I am also a little nervous about the changes and loosing the opportunity to see friends and confidants that for so many years were just a few steps away.

It wasn’t until my 30th birthday that I finally decided what I wanted to do when I grew up. However, I had no idea how to get to there; Just an idea of how to get closer. I decided to keep my major in business since it could be considered a catch all but I added a minor in Marketing. I already market and advertise for my party planning business, Know Surprises. My husband and I love to market our favorite musicians on a daily basis. I currently run a fan based website, SydFans.com, for fans of one of our musician friends. As I looked back on my life, I had always a little of a natural at marketing things that I love, so how could I go wrong?

As I thought more about my new found path in life, I wondered if I was as much a natural as I thought I was. What if one day I am given the task to market something that I am not able to find interesting, would I be able to convince others that it was the next best thing, even if I didn’t think it was?

So over the next 10 terms until I get my degree, I will be soaking up as much marketing knowledge as I can find room for in my brain. I will even plan on forgetting some of the math related classes in order to make more room. I hope all of you will stop by frequently and say hello and offer your advise and knowledge.