The Commercialization of Eminem

Jumping on the sponsorship bandwagon, Marshall Mathers will launch a line of clothing branded, Shady. The line will include t shirts, jeans, and sweatshirts and will launch in July. Will we see Marshall in ads promoting the line? Who knows but it will be interesting for sure. [via Brachman.com]

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Demographics: The Hipster Goes Mainstream...and Becomes a Parody

The line between "under the radar" cool and "isn't this cool" cool is a very thin one. Too far under the radar and any cool factor you have is pointless because no one knows about it. You are just "odd". Too many people saying "isn't this cool" leads to "that's not cool anymore". Coolness trends come and go and now it seems time to say goodbye to another one. Of course, the fact that we are even talking about it, makes it long dead for some time now.

The so-called "Hipster", loosely defined as someone who is 18 to 34 who embraces obscure bands, independent films, and used clothes, is now dead. This according to Robert Lanham, author of the 'The Hipster Handbook'. Just like its predecessor, 'The Preppy Handbook' published in 1980, Lanham , breaks down the Hipster demo into various subgroups such as "The Clubber", The Schmoozer", "The Loner", and "The Unemployed Trust Finder" then paints a picture of them..."Loners are usually very pale and thin . . . [they] choose careers in programming, video editing and other technical skills. Loners know that a little self-loathing can be charming and use this to their full advantage, saying things like, 'This is the first time in three weeks I've gone out on a weekend; I'm so lame.' "

It's obviously done with humor but makes the clear sign that the Hipster demo is dead and something new is yet to follow. As these things go, it surely exists already. And if anyone has a name for it, please let me know. I was once cool and lived "The Preppy Handbook" life (if that can even be called cool) before the book existed and embodied that whole definition. Now, unfortunately, I am not cool enough anymore to know these things before they happen.
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Google Buys Blogger

Blogger, the software that powers the site you are now reading has been bought by Google. It couldn't have been soon enough. While Evan Williams, Blogger's founder, has done a great job creating weblog software for the masses, the road has not been without its potholes. I hope this buyout infuses some much needed cash and development into the platform.

Blogger is weblog software that allows you to easily publish a website and to link to other bloggers. It has made for some very economically viable operations such as Gawker and Gizmodo. It will be very interesting to see how the Google/Blogger relationship transforms the blogoshpere.

More from Google Village and Executive Summary and Nick Denton and Jason Kottke.

This is one of those moments in time that we will look back on and say, "Wow, that was the start of it all."
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Interpublic Merges Bozell and Lowe

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Interpublic Group of Cos. Inc. IPG.N , the world's second-largest advertising group, said on Friday it will merge its Bozell unit, which created the "Got milk?" campaign, with the New York office of Lowe & Partners Worldwide to strengthen operations.

Interpublic has been weighing bids for its market research group NFO to help it provide relief to its cash-starved balance sheet. On Monday the company said it was borrowing an extra $500 million.

Interpublic shares fell more than 10 percent this week as its stock touched 10-year lows. Analysts cited concerns over costs from the new credit, loss of the Coke Classic account and legal fees related to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the company.

Interpublic said on Friday that the Bozell brand will be retired and the resulting agency will be known as Lowe New York. Bozell is also based in New York.

Gary Goldsmith, Lowe's U.S. chairman and chief creative officer, and Paul Hammersley, chief executive for Lowe in New York, will retain their current responsibilities.

Tom Bernardin, previously president and chief executive of Bozell, will join Lowe as president and chief operating officer in New York.

Lowe & Partners was founded in 1981 and is currently ranked fourth among worldwide agency groups, Interpublic said. It has offices in more than 80 countries. New York is its flagship office.
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