Feed Company Drops Stats on Zune 'Masks' Effort

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Hey, remember that Zune Masks spot? Feed Company, which seeded it on YouTube and elsewhere, sent us metrics on how well it fared.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 9-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Research, Trends and Culture, Video, Viral



Xiaxue Was iJustine Before Justine Became iJustine

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Back in 2004, Singapore resident Wendy Cheng, aka Xiaxue was just a blogger. But a very popular blogger. in Singapore, at least. Then, in 2005, a t-shirt company LocalBrand approached her to become their brand ambassador. It was sort of a big deal back then for a brand to tap the popularity of a blogger.

Xiaxue was sort of like iJustine before iJustine became iJustine.

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by Steve Hall    Apr- 9-08    
Topic: Trends and Culture, Video, Viral



'Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis' Brings Garish Colors Out in Soccer Match

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Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, a movie that plays on southern French stereotypes about northerners (the "Ch'tis"), beat France's beloved La Grande Vadrouille record at the box office with over 17 million views, according to Gael Clouzard of Influencia.net.

Those that don't know what it means to be a Ch'ti got a quick education at a soccer match involving northerner team Lens, when a group unrolled a banner reading "Pedophiles, unemployed and inbred, bienvenue chez les Ch'tis."

Ohhh. So being a Ch'ti is kinda like being a redneck on South Park. Got it.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 7-08    
Topic: Bad, Consumer Created, Outdoor, Trends and Culture, Video



Social Media Kicks the Ass of Old Media

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Who's This Pompous Idiot?

Want to hear an interesting conversation about social media and it's impact on marketing, advertising, public relations and journalism? Want to know how the role of public relations is changing in the world of public relations? Want to explore the differences in mentality between new media and old? Want to now whether or not it's sinful to publish a story before every last detail of the story is known? Want to know why readers, who are now commenters, are so important to the whole of the story? Then give this podcast a listen.

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by Steve Hall    Apr- 7-08    
Topic: Opinion, Social, Trends and Culture



Why Buy a Whole Song When You Can Have Little Bits of One?

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Radiohead, the same band that stuck it to the man by letting you download its last album on a pay-as-you-wish basis, will SELL you wee-bitty-bits of its song Nude so you can make your own remix on Garageband. Hrm. Okay.

The Nude stems (bass, voice, guitar, strings/fx and drums) are available on iTunes. You can upload a remix and get widgets to encourage people to vote for yours from your website or profile. Oh, and here's the Facebook app.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 3-08    
Topic: Online, Promotions, Trends and Culture



Ten Social Media 'Rules' Explored, Debated

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Thanks to all the Emerson College students and everyone else who showed up last night at the Bordy Theater in Boston for the panel on social media. It's nice to see interest in what's going on in the space and its encouraging that people think it's important enough to talk about. Thanks to everyone who came up to speak with me after the panel (including you who loved the Boy Bootie story:-) ). And to all in Twitter Row, watch out. I'm following you now! @SarahHutton, @amyyen, @AmandaMooney, @pamelump, @MariaGarcia, @WillWheeler (sorry if I've missed anyone).

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by Steve Hall    Apr- 3-08    
Topic: Industry Events, Social, Trends and Culture, Word of Mouth



Chrysler Weds Political Correctness With Web 2.0, Renames Focus Group

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We just love how the same old thing gets a new name every few years. Retard? Mentally Impaired. Handicapped? Physically Challenged. Midget? Little Person. Indian? Native American. Oriental? Asian. Stewardess? Flight Attendant. Waiter/Waitress? Food Server. Mankind? Humankind. Mailman? Letter Carrier. Unemployed? Job Seeker. Boob flash? Wardrobe Malfunction. Genocide? Ethnic Cleansing. Garbage Man? Sanitary Engineer.

And now. Focus Group? On-Demand Customer Collaboration. Well that's a fucking mouthful but that's what Chrysler's labeled its foray into web 2.0-enabled conversational goodness with the launch of ChryslerListens. Yup, Chrysler now gives a shit what its customers and potential customers think.

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by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Brands, Research, Trends and Culture



You Know You Want More Spitzer Fodder

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In light of the public misery (and promotional creativity) that buying an expensive hooker can wreak, the PR team of 02138 magazine (a pub for "Harvard influentials") have seen fit to tell us that Monsieur and Madame Spitzer scored the cover for the "Power Couples" issue.

They were chosen for their "influential careers and continued commitment to maintaining a strong and lasting relationship" -- their words, not ours. (Can we get a quote on that from Hillary?) We're sure the choice has nothing to do with all the traffic they'll score from bored gossip-mongers that frequent sordid sites like ours.

Read the article -- and see more sappy grayscale images -- at the 02138 website.

Silda's hawt. (We hope we look like that, pre-op, after 40.) Why the compulsion to pay for the Grail, Eliot?

by Angela Natividad    Mar-23-08    
Topic: Magazine, Political, Trends and Culture



Future of Advertising Predicted by Leo Burnett Futurist

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Leo Burnett London Futures Editor Ben Hourahine thinks he has the answers to the future of advertising. Some of what he says makes sense. Some just reinforces the notion advertising will accost anything it can get its hand on. There are no easy answers but at least it's being talked about.

One thing is clear. Marketers and advertisers will never again have the power they once had. There will never again be another M*A*S*H TV moment. Fragmentation will continue to the point of individualized advertising. Advertising, itself, won't really be advertising at all. It will be an information repository people can refer to when they are interested in a particular brand or product.

by Steve Hall    Mar-18-08    
Topic: Agencies, Opinion, Trends and Culture



Hybrid Car Owner + Mac User = Contender for Global Dominance

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A new study by Mindset Media -- the new propagandists on the block -- finds hybrid car drivers are "more creative" (78 percent more likely) and "less dogmatic" than the rest of the population.

Add to that: "more open-minded, more spontaneous, and more assured of their ability to lead others."

Mindset also sent us this profile for Hybrid car drivers. (Try not to be fooled by its similarity in appearance to the Periodic Table of the Elements -- that's what they want!)

Mindset Media recently also found that Mac users are self-centered, more likely to buy organic food and more likely to pay for music online.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-12-08    
Topic: Research, Trends and Culture