Tuesday, June 27, 2006
A story in twenty words or less?
My good friend, writer Brian Lewandowski forwarded this: Bob Sassone (of AOL's TVSquad and Slashfood fame) asked a gaggle of writers to tell a story in 20 words or less. The results can be seen in this week's issue of Professor Barnhardt's Journal (http://www.professorbarnhardtsjournal.com)...it got me thinking about the (lost?) art of choosing the right words to tell a story. In advertising, we do this fairly well out of necessity...but what if everyone chose their words as carefully? On one hand, conversations would become more meaningful - but would emotion be lost? Anyway, the 20-word stories are interesting reading.
In a related news item, Maurice Saatchi suggested last week that since media has become so fragmented, advertisers should reduce their brand positioning to one word (i.e. Google = Search). Didn't we used to do this? I remember the examples of "Porsche = fast" and "Jello = fun" from Marketing 101 back when I was in college, in the day.
Stacy
My good friend, writer Brian Lewandowski forwarded this: Bob Sassone (of AOL's TVSquad and Slashfood fame) asked a gaggle of writers to tell a story in 20 words or less. The results can be seen in this week's issue of Professor Barnhardt's Journal (http://www.professorbarnhardtsjournal.com)...it got me thinking about the (lost?) art of choosing the right words to tell a story. In advertising, we do this fairly well out of necessity...but what if everyone chose their words as carefully? On one hand, conversations would become more meaningful - but would emotion be lost? Anyway, the 20-word stories are interesting reading.
In a related news item, Maurice Saatchi suggested last week that since media has become so fragmented, advertisers should reduce their brand positioning to one word (i.e. Google = Search). Didn't we used to do this? I remember the examples of "Porsche = fast" and "Jello = fun" from Marketing 101 back when I was in college, in the day.
Stacy
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks
Having grown up on the east coast, I love my Dunkin Donuts regala coffee in the AM - so it's with great interest that I've been following the new DD ad campaign: "America runs on Dunkin" - designed with a national takeover in mind. Apparently, Dunkin's is poised to take on the big boys - expanding across the country and tripling its size in the next few years. And this new campaign's tagline reflects a brand positioning that is almost diametrically opposed to their biggest competitor: Starbucks. While Dunkin's campaign is focused on helping Americans to get things done, Starbucks steadfastly holds onto their position of 'the third place' - the place where you take a break from your home and work lives and enjoy time to yourself - in their tv spots.
So Dunkin's campaign is about motivating people to do more, and Starbuck's urges people to take a moment out and relax. One could argue that Starbucks seems to espouse both messages, as giving you permission to take time out to enjoy Starbucks intimates that you've done something to deserve it.
Both campaigns have appeal among their target audiences, which are in fact, very different. As stated by Baba Shetty of Hill Holliday, the agency that created the campaign, Dunkin's target is "the everyday folks who get things done. They're unpretentious, comfortable just being themselves, and like to order their coffee in small, medium or large, thank you very much. They're busy people who use Dunkin's to get fueled up for work or play. They don't have time to linger, because they've got things to do. But they do like to have fun. This is their brand."
Starbucks targets, according to an early (1992) research study, are "more sophisticated consumers that are health conscious, like to travel and identify with gourmets."
So there are psychographic and probably demographic differences among the two groups when you look at them in this way.
But unlike the old days of brand consumerism where you had "your" coffee shop, or your brand of X, many people today identify as consumers of both brands and the choice depends on the experience one is looking for vs. a distinct target group one identifies with. I.e..: on my way between the gym and grocery store, I drive through Dunkin's to grab a medium regala to take with me on the road. I usually keep a few dollar bills in the car for tolls, so I can almost guarantee I'll have cash readily available to speed through Dunkins ($1.63 here in the northeast). On the other hand, when I have writing to do, when I'm meeting someone, when I've had a crap day and think I deserve a special something - it's Starbucks for me without question...and the $3+ for my grande double-pump soy white mocha seems a pittance to pay for my momentary happiness.
This idea manifests itself in other categories as well: it's common knowledge that Target, Macy's, and Barney's peacefully co-exist in some consumer's brand portfolios. So it shouldn't surprise that the same holds true in a truly experiential category like coffee shops. And it seems the market can support an array of coffee shop brands. But I wonder, when Dunkin Donuts goes national and is literally located on the same block as Starbucks, will a consumer like me be confronted with the choices of loyalty and betrayal? Will this more obvious competitive environment force the consumer, once again, to brand loyalty?
As always, love to hear your thoughts and predictions on the coffee wars and brand loyalty in general.
And kudos to our friends at Hill Holliday! The new campaign is getting lots of press and positive reviews. And they've supported the launch with a blog where you can read more about the concept and leave your feedback. You can read the blog here.
Having grown up on the east coast, I love my Dunkin Donuts regala coffee in the AM - so it's with great interest that I've been following the new DD ad campaign: "America runs on Dunkin" - designed with a national takeover in mind. Apparently, Dunkin's is poised to take on the big boys - expanding across the country and tripling its size in the next few years. And this new campaign's tagline reflects a brand positioning that is almost diametrically opposed to their biggest competitor: Starbucks. While Dunkin's campaign is focused on helping Americans to get things done, Starbucks steadfastly holds onto their position of 'the third place' - the place where you take a break from your home and work lives and enjoy time to yourself - in their tv spots.
So Dunkin's campaign is about motivating people to do more, and Starbuck's urges people to take a moment out and relax. One could argue that Starbucks seems to espouse both messages, as giving you permission to take time out to enjoy Starbucks intimates that you've done something to deserve it.
Both campaigns have appeal among their target audiences, which are in fact, very different. As stated by Baba Shetty of Hill Holliday, the agency that created the campaign, Dunkin's target is "the everyday folks who get things done. They're unpretentious, comfortable just being themselves, and like to order their coffee in small, medium or large, thank you very much. They're busy people who use Dunkin's to get fueled up for work or play. They don't have time to linger, because they've got things to do. But they do like to have fun. This is their brand."
Starbucks targets, according to an early (1992) research study, are "more sophisticated consumers that are health conscious, like to travel and identify with gourmets."
So there are psychographic and probably demographic differences among the two groups when you look at them in this way.
But unlike the old days of brand consumerism where you had "your" coffee shop, or your brand of X, many people today identify as consumers of both brands and the choice depends on the experience one is looking for vs. a distinct target group one identifies with. I.e..: on my way between the gym and grocery store, I drive through Dunkin's to grab a medium regala to take with me on the road. I usually keep a few dollar bills in the car for tolls, so I can almost guarantee I'll have cash readily available to speed through Dunkins ($1.63 here in the northeast). On the other hand, when I have writing to do, when I'm meeting someone, when I've had a crap day and think I deserve a special something - it's Starbucks for me without question...and the $3+ for my grande double-pump soy white mocha seems a pittance to pay for my momentary happiness.
This idea manifests itself in other categories as well: it's common knowledge that Target, Macy's, and Barney's peacefully co-exist in some consumer's brand portfolios. So it shouldn't surprise that the same holds true in a truly experiential category like coffee shops. And it seems the market can support an array of coffee shop brands. But I wonder, when Dunkin Donuts goes national and is literally located on the same block as Starbucks, will a consumer like me be confronted with the choices of loyalty and betrayal? Will this more obvious competitive environment force the consumer, once again, to brand loyalty?
As always, love to hear your thoughts and predictions on the coffee wars and brand loyalty in general.
And kudos to our friends at Hill Holliday! The new campaign is getting lots of press and positive reviews. And they've supported the launch with a blog where you can read more about the concept and leave your feedback. You can read the blog here.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The role of the agency planner
Just about every agency that we deal with defines "planning" differently- both in terms of role and process. Every time we hear a new or variant definition, it inspires us to re-think our roles and push ourselves to evolve.
One of the best and most inspring descriptions we've heard of the planner's role is from our friend John Griffiths, British planner extraordinare and mastermind behind Planning Above and Beyond . John wrote:
"... account handlers develop campaigns that clients feel comfortable with. Creatives develop campaigns that are eyecatching, provoke reaction and discussion and win awards. But neither of these lead to effectiveness and neither leads to relevance to the audience. Enter the planner as the consumer representative - the 5th columnist whose job it is to counteract the tendencies of the other 2 roles. Another metaphor I've heard is the transactional analysis one where account handlers are parentalk, creatives childish, and the role of the planner is to restore adult to adult communication!
...we'd love to hear YOUR idea of the planner role in your agency.
Just about every agency that we deal with defines "planning" differently- both in terms of role and process. Every time we hear a new or variant definition, it inspires us to re-think our roles and push ourselves to evolve.
One of the best and most inspring descriptions we've heard of the planner's role is from our friend John Griffiths, British planner extraordinare and mastermind behind Planning Above and Beyond . John wrote:
"... account handlers develop campaigns that clients feel comfortable with. Creatives develop campaigns that are eyecatching, provoke reaction and discussion and win awards. But neither of these lead to effectiveness and neither leads to relevance to the audience. Enter the planner as the consumer representative - the 5th columnist whose job it is to counteract the tendencies of the other 2 roles. Another metaphor I've heard is the transactional analysis one where account handlers are parentalk, creatives childish, and the role of the planner is to restore adult to adult communication!
...we'd love to hear YOUR idea of the planner role in your agency.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
To give or not to give?
It seems most people fall into the "give" category with one special caveat: It must be an organization/charity they have an emotional and deep connection with. Evidence, the two fund raising events that I attended this past weekend. The first was the Annual Reggae Boat Ride hosted by the Jamaica Minnesota Organization on June 10th. This event is held to raise scholarships for high school students in Jamaica. The tickets were $30 dollars per person ($35 at the door). The boat was docked at the St. Croix river in Stillwater and there were people arriving from all parts far and wide across the Twin Cities. Not only was this event an opportunity to celebrate our Jamaican culture and heritage--live band and dJ/dancehall music--but it was for a cause that is near and dear our hearts--educating our children. So the fact that it was quite a haul to get there and the boat was only going out for a few hours, people happily made the journey for a greater good.
On June 11th, the Penumbra Theatre held their Annual Jazz Jam fundraiser at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. The Penumbra is one of the nation's premier black theatre companies and produces a variety of culturally relevant and thought-provoking plays. Tickets to the event ranged from $50 for general admission to upwards $400 for a table for four. Regardless of the cost of entry, the place was packed and jamming. During the silent auction portion, items were bidded on furiously and with great zeal. I even got in on the action and had the winning bid of $2100 for Season Tickets to the Vikings Home Games! Now normally I would not be in the business of buying season tickets, but because the success of the Penumbra Theatre is so vitally important--I was compelled and moved to outbid at any cost.
This gets me to my main thought of how companies can generate goodwill and loyalty among their clients and customers. People want to do business with companies they feel good about. One way to do that is to identify a charity that makes sense for your brand and contribute/support that cause in a meaningful way. It's a proven fact that, with all things being equal, people choose brands that are relevant to them and their lives.
Regardless of the state of the economy, people will rise to support causes that make a difference in the world.
How's your charitable giving going? We want to hear from you.
It seems most people fall into the "give" category with one special caveat: It must be an organization/charity they have an emotional and deep connection with. Evidence, the two fund raising events that I attended this past weekend. The first was the Annual Reggae Boat Ride hosted by the Jamaica Minnesota Organization on June 10th. This event is held to raise scholarships for high school students in Jamaica. The tickets were $30 dollars per person ($35 at the door). The boat was docked at the St. Croix river in Stillwater and there were people arriving from all parts far and wide across the Twin Cities. Not only was this event an opportunity to celebrate our Jamaican culture and heritage--live band and dJ/dancehall music--but it was for a cause that is near and dear our hearts--educating our children. So the fact that it was quite a haul to get there and the boat was only going out for a few hours, people happily made the journey for a greater good.
On June 11th, the Penumbra Theatre held their Annual Jazz Jam fundraiser at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. The Penumbra is one of the nation's premier black theatre companies and produces a variety of culturally relevant and thought-provoking plays. Tickets to the event ranged from $50 for general admission to upwards $400 for a table for four. Regardless of the cost of entry, the place was packed and jamming. During the silent auction portion, items were bidded on furiously and with great zeal. I even got in on the action and had the winning bid of $2100 for Season Tickets to the Vikings Home Games! Now normally I would not be in the business of buying season tickets, but because the success of the Penumbra Theatre is so vitally important--I was compelled and moved to outbid at any cost.
This gets me to my main thought of how companies can generate goodwill and loyalty among their clients and customers. People want to do business with companies they feel good about. One way to do that is to identify a charity that makes sense for your brand and contribute/support that cause in a meaningful way. It's a proven fact that, with all things being equal, people choose brands that are relevant to them and their lives.
Regardless of the state of the economy, people will rise to support causes that make a difference in the world.
How's your charitable giving going? We want to hear from you.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Brand elasticity
Question: What gives a brand permisison to launch a product line extension?
Answer: Its customers!
A brand can only branch out into new areas if it has established crediblity with its target audinece, and if that target audience gives it permission to branch out into a new, yet relevant area. A brand cannot- or should not - branch out into an area that conflicts with its core attributes.
Here are some recent brand extensions that we wonder about:
(???)
McDonald's recently started offering healthy food alternatives to its traditional quarter pounder and super-sized portions. You could argue that McDonald's brand was built on convenience, and if this is the case, that offering apple salads and yogurt smoothies doesn't inherently violate the brand attributes. BUT...so many of us have grown up knowing McDonald's as not just fast food - but BAD, unhealthy food - that we wonder if they'll ever really be credible as a brand that cares about our health. To be sure, the new products have opened McDonald's to a whole segment of customers who previously wouldn't eat there, so if increasing consideration and sales for the chain was the goal, they seem to have at least a temporary success on their hands. And, it's not as if they've introduced even unhealthier products to their brand - this is one example of a brand that can only improve its image in this particular area. "It's what I eat and what I do. I'm lovin' it" has been running since earlier this year.
(yay!)
Maxim magazine recently announced it will build a new casino in Vegas. In keeping with the brand promise, the casino will be fun and flirtatious, and positively indulgent for its patrons. This strikes us as a good example of a brand extension that has promise - especially since the magazine's average readership is men, aged 28: loosely speaking this group has high disposable income and seeks out adventurous and fun lifestyle-focused entertainment. The target will also attract men and women who aspire to be...umm, 28, and adventurous and flirtatious. The casino is slated to open in 2010.
(boo!)
This one we just don't like: Music licensing agency Signatures Network has secured exclusive licensing and branding rights to Woodstock, the 1969 peace, music and love festival. Woodstock, if you think of it as a brand, stands for individualism, intense creativity, respect for one's neighbor and stewardship of the environment as the brand's defining traits.
Signatures will develop Woodstock as a lifestyle brand that extends to apparel, accessories, home decor and other categories. While the original concert was a cultural milestone for baby boomers, Woodstock's licensed brand will be geared to all generations, particularly young people who've embraced recent retro '60s fashion trends, such as mod and peasant/boho looks. We can't help but think the brand's core followers will NOT be the ones buying these products, since inherently they are anti-commercialism and even anti-brand. We wonder what cultural effects this one will spawn..it can't be good. Will the name Woodstock take on a whole new meaning in the wake of this product launch? In fifty years, will "Woodtsock" be shorthand used to describe a company's hijaking of a brand for their market exploitation? I.e. "My company used to be cool, but then they woodstocked Earth Day." The line is scheduled to launch in 2007.
Comments? Arguments? Bring 'em on!
Question: What gives a brand permisison to launch a product line extension?
Answer: Its customers!
A brand can only branch out into new areas if it has established crediblity with its target audinece, and if that target audience gives it permission to branch out into a new, yet relevant area. A brand cannot- or should not - branch out into an area that conflicts with its core attributes.
Here are some recent brand extensions that we wonder about:
(???)
McDonald's recently started offering healthy food alternatives to its traditional quarter pounder and super-sized portions. You could argue that McDonald's brand was built on convenience, and if this is the case, that offering apple salads and yogurt smoothies doesn't inherently violate the brand attributes. BUT...so many of us have grown up knowing McDonald's as not just fast food - but BAD, unhealthy food - that we wonder if they'll ever really be credible as a brand that cares about our health. To be sure, the new products have opened McDonald's to a whole segment of customers who previously wouldn't eat there, so if increasing consideration and sales for the chain was the goal, they seem to have at least a temporary success on their hands. And, it's not as if they've introduced even unhealthier products to their brand - this is one example of a brand that can only improve its image in this particular area. "It's what I eat and what I do. I'm lovin' it" has been running since earlier this year.
(yay!)
Maxim magazine recently announced it will build a new casino in Vegas. In keeping with the brand promise, the casino will be fun and flirtatious, and positively indulgent for its patrons. This strikes us as a good example of a brand extension that has promise - especially since the magazine's average readership is men, aged 28: loosely speaking this group has high disposable income and seeks out adventurous and fun lifestyle-focused entertainment. The target will also attract men and women who aspire to be...umm, 28, and adventurous and flirtatious. The casino is slated to open in 2010.
(boo!)
This one we just don't like: Music licensing agency Signatures Network has secured exclusive licensing and branding rights to Woodstock, the 1969 peace, music and love festival. Woodstock, if you think of it as a brand, stands for individualism, intense creativity, respect for one's neighbor and stewardship of the environment as the brand's defining traits.
Signatures will develop Woodstock as a lifestyle brand that extends to apparel, accessories, home decor and other categories. While the original concert was a cultural milestone for baby boomers, Woodstock's licensed brand will be geared to all generations, particularly young people who've embraced recent retro '60s fashion trends, such as mod and peasant/boho looks. We can't help but think the brand's core followers will NOT be the ones buying these products, since inherently they are anti-commercialism and even anti-brand. We wonder what cultural effects this one will spawn..it can't be good. Will the name Woodstock take on a whole new meaning in the wake of this product launch? In fifty years, will "Woodtsock" be shorthand used to describe a company's hijaking of a brand for their market exploitation? I.e. "My company used to be cool, but then they woodstocked Earth Day." The line is scheduled to launch in 2007.
Comments? Arguments? Bring 'em on!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Cultural anthropology and business
If you're an agency planner, researcher, or marketer who is interested in cultural anthropology, check out the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA). NAPA has a long tradition of providing support and networking for classically-trained and practicing anthropologists. The Boston chapter, which is currently being formed and efforts spearheaded by Insight 303, brings together practitioners from academia and the business world to learn from one another. Corporations like IBM and Microsoft employ anthropologists to conduct ethnography, user-centered design labs, and field observation to help strengthen their connections with their customers. In fact, it's a growing trend for corporations to employ anthropologists alongside market researchers in team situations. By bringing together these two groups, we hope to create an amazing thinktank that benefits both disciplines.
If you're in the Boston area this week, stop by John Harvard's Brewhouse in Harvard Square at 7:00 PM. Call me (Stacy) for directions and more information (978) 361-7185.
If you're an agency planner, researcher, or marketer who is interested in cultural anthropology, check out the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA). NAPA has a long tradition of providing support and networking for classically-trained and practicing anthropologists. The Boston chapter, which is currently being formed and efforts spearheaded by Insight 303, brings together practitioners from academia and the business world to learn from one another. Corporations like IBM and Microsoft employ anthropologists to conduct ethnography, user-centered design labs, and field observation to help strengthen their connections with their customers. In fact, it's a growing trend for corporations to employ anthropologists alongside market researchers in team situations. By bringing together these two groups, we hope to create an amazing thinktank that benefits both disciplines.
If you're in the Boston area this week, stop by John Harvard's Brewhouse in Harvard Square at 7:00 PM. Call me (Stacy) for directions and more information (978) 361-7185.
Monday, June 05, 2006
The MySpace effect!
We've been doing a project with "tech-savvy" 20-somethings and learning a lot about this age group's relationship with MySpace. Both Faith and I have MySpace profiles, even though we're a bit outside the target age group (previously 14-29, but growing beyond that by leaps and bounds everyday). We also recently posted an Insight Grlls MySpace page, and are regular visitors, primarily so we can learn about this group more by observing them in a natural habitat. What we've found is that MySpace is changing the way people relate to the world, and each other in some very interesting ways. I.e.:
The art of the self-portrait...MySpace has almost singlehandedly created permission and in fact demand for self-portraiture. Frustrated artists now have an outlet to experiment with photos...and affordable digital cameras, scanners, and Apple- with
iSight built into new macs facilitates the trend by making it easier and quicker to take and post portraits any fledgling artist or artist wanna-be can proud of. We think this creative self-expression is a positive contribution to our artistic liberation...and the need to be artistic IS a human truth that we all share. Thank you, MySpace!
Another interesting note...MySpace has become a factor in breakups. When I say factor, I mean another thing to take into consideration when "elegantly exiting" what was once a beautiful relationship. You've seen that cell phone commercial about taking your bf/gf out of your phone after a breakup? Well, MySpace comes with its own set of mandatory actions as well. Witness: the famed Top 8 on which you can put your most special and/or high profile friends. While in a relationship, your s.o. is typically moved into the #1 spot. When breaking up, the dilemma ensues: do you move him/her down the list, to spot #7 or 8, or drop them from your Top 8 altogether? Maybe you should drop them off your friends list entirely and pretend you never knew them in the first place? An interesting quagmire to be sure...but it brings up a great point about technology, one that we've been wrestling with ourselves: see, we believe that technology can be beneficial to society inasmuch as it helps to bring human beings closer together. When it causes you not to pick up the phone, not to visit a friend, not to break up by having a good old-fashioned conversation, that's when we think it's gone too far. We're not faulting MySpace for any trend away from personal relationships - to be sure, the responsibility for upholding human contact still rests with...humans, after all. But we think pointing out potential dangers in using technology in human relationships will help us to have conversations and be more considered about our intentions with others. After all, don't we all want to have richer, deeper, more honest dealings with people in our lives? Another (obvious) human truth, just pointed out by Insight 303.
Lastly, we want to credit MySpace for making all bands' music accessible. We are champions of new and local bands, and it inspires us to know that any band with basic recording equipment (thank you, Apple, for Garage Band) can have its music heard by as many people as they can connect with via the huge network (38 million and growing) of MySpace subscribers.
MySpace claims some pretty high-profile subscribers from Tom Waits to Tina Fey to Coldplay...and just knowing they might
encounter the hot new act, two-rockers-in-a-garage-on-your-street, gives us all cause for optimism and inspires us to chase our dreams! And dreaming, after all...you know what I'm going to say: it's a human truth.
Readers, we'd love to hear what YOU think about MySpace's affect on our culture...feel free to post away!
We've been doing a project with "tech-savvy" 20-somethings and learning a lot about this age group's relationship with MySpace. Both Faith and I have MySpace profiles, even though we're a bit outside the target age group (previously 14-29, but growing beyond that by leaps and bounds everyday). We also recently posted an Insight Grlls MySpace page, and are regular visitors, primarily so we can learn about this group more by observing them in a natural habitat. What we've found is that MySpace is changing the way people relate to the world, and each other in some very interesting ways. I.e.:
The art of the self-portrait...MySpace has almost singlehandedly created permission and in fact demand for self-portraiture. Frustrated artists now have an outlet to experiment with photos...and affordable digital cameras, scanners, and Apple- with
iSight built into new macs facilitates the trend by making it easier and quicker to take and post portraits any fledgling artist or artist wanna-be can proud of. We think this creative self-expression is a positive contribution to our artistic liberation...and the need to be artistic IS a human truth that we all share. Thank you, MySpace!
Another interesting note...MySpace has become a factor in breakups. When I say factor, I mean another thing to take into consideration when "elegantly exiting" what was once a beautiful relationship. You've seen that cell phone commercial about taking your bf/gf out of your phone after a breakup? Well, MySpace comes with its own set of mandatory actions as well. Witness: the famed Top 8 on which you can put your most special and/or high profile friends. While in a relationship, your s.o. is typically moved into the #1 spot. When breaking up, the dilemma ensues: do you move him/her down the list, to spot #7 or 8, or drop them from your Top 8 altogether? Maybe you should drop them off your friends list entirely and pretend you never knew them in the first place? An interesting quagmire to be sure...but it brings up a great point about technology, one that we've been wrestling with ourselves: see, we believe that technology can be beneficial to society inasmuch as it helps to bring human beings closer together. When it causes you not to pick up the phone, not to visit a friend, not to break up by having a good old-fashioned conversation, that's when we think it's gone too far. We're not faulting MySpace for any trend away from personal relationships - to be sure, the responsibility for upholding human contact still rests with...humans, after all. But we think pointing out potential dangers in using technology in human relationships will help us to have conversations and be more considered about our intentions with others. After all, don't we all want to have richer, deeper, more honest dealings with people in our lives? Another (obvious) human truth, just pointed out by Insight 303.
Lastly, we want to credit MySpace for making all bands' music accessible. We are champions of new and local bands, and it inspires us to know that any band with basic recording equipment (thank you, Apple, for Garage Band) can have its music heard by as many people as they can connect with via the huge network (38 million and growing) of MySpace subscribers.
MySpace claims some pretty high-profile subscribers from Tom Waits to Tina Fey to Coldplay...and just knowing they might
encounter the hot new act, two-rockers-in-a-garage-on-your-street, gives us all cause for optimism and inspires us to chase our dreams! And dreaming, after all...you know what I'm going to say: it's a human truth.
Readers, we'd love to hear what YOU think about MySpace's affect on our culture...feel free to post away!
