The worse the show, the better the ad.
Last week the NY times reported that the most popular TV shows also have most ads skipped. It was “suggested that people watching hit shows were more likely to skip ads because they were more wrapped up in the show than other viewers. By contrast, people watching television they care less about are “not so focused on it. Some commercials come on, you may be a little distracted, they roll.” See this NY Times article.
- Posted 17 Jan 2010 ★ Permalink
They’re children they don’t know what they want...or do they?
I decided to have a quiet one this weekend, at home chilling out and doing absolutely nothing, inevitably this resulted in a Saturday of trashy films and several episodes of Sex & The City. By Sunday I had pretty much watched every film in sight and every episode of Sex & the City so finally I gave into the TV.
- Posted 3 Aug 2009 ★ Permalink
Twitter - a youth analysis
I am not going to waste my breath explaining what Twitter is or isn’t. What I want to talk about, is the HOW. How did twitter explode? Why did it explode? And the big question – are any young people on the damned thing?
- Posted 3 Aug 2009 ★ Permalink
They may have won the battle, but losing the war is inevitable
So the heavy hammer of justice has finally stamped an end to Joel Tenenbaum’s admirable fight against the Recording Industry Association of America and for his defiance this lone renegade now faces an eye-watering bill of almost $1m. Joel Tenenbaum went to court for the rest of us, went to court to try and change the law. Taking the stand for a crime we’ve all committed, this martyr of the Cyborg Generation it now preparing to declare bankruptcy. Although it’s worth mentioning perhaps the $675,000 is significantly less than the $4.5m originally demanded by the cohorts who control 85% of the States’ commercial music.
- Posted 3 Aug 2009 ★ Permalink
Pop-Sups
Sunday night is usually a non-entity in my life. I usually sit in a pub or watch crap Sunday night TV getting increasingly depressed by the prospect of my free time coming to an end for another 5 days.
- Posted 3 Aug 2009 ★ Permalink
A Lesson in Customer Relations, Courtesy of Blyk
So, the UK media has been abuzz this week with news that Blyk will be closing it’s consumer facing operations. They are entering into a partnership with Orange. I read all of this through news services and articles during the last 3 weeks…rumours, speculation, and then the announcement.
- Posted 30 Jul 2009 ★ Permalink
The MySpace Question
This week, MySpace made headlines when they were told to “refocus” and concentrate on their best qualities – ie. being an entertainment and music site. Considering that they managed to see a 22% decline in visits, when social network traffic in general was increasing by 9%, one can see the dilemma they are in.
- Posted 23 Jul 2009 ★ Permalink
The new urban pigeons
Everyone knows that sinking, panicky feeling when you see someone you don’t want to talk to. You avert your gaze, quicken your pace and pray silently that they don’t come running after you. The problem is that I’m not talking about bumping into embarrassing acquaintances from school, I’m talking about charity fundraisers or ‘chuggers’ as they are widely known.
- Posted 13 Jul 2009 ★ Permalink
The Modern Day Luddites Movement
I’m sure many are aware of the term Luddites however for those that are not. They were a social movement of British textile artisans in the early nineteenth century who protested—often by destroying mechanised looms—against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt were leaving them without work. The Industrial revolution of the early 19th century altered the shape of Industry forever.
- Posted 3 Jul 2009 ★ Permalink
Why PRETENDING to be young doesn’t work.
Did anyone watch Top Gear last night? Well just in case you missed it allow me to set the scene… Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond (they’re the presenters by the way) all decided to pretend to be 17 year olds boys buying their first car.
- Posted 29 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Media Consumption
Analysing the numerous journals we receive from our party heads, has got me thinking more in depth about peoples opinions and arguments and what forms these, especially when it comes to the world of current affairs.
- Posted 26 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Support for young people in the recession
We’re months into a recession and it’s still its taking its toll on just about everyone. It would appear very few people can escape it’s evil grasp.
There’s no denying people are losing their homes, redundancies are at an all time high and equally unemployment is ridiculously high.
All this doom and gloom got me thinking, is the recession really affecting everyone?
- Posted 15 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Crossing the Picket Line
You could be forgiven for thinking that London stood on the brink of meltdown with the “entire” tube network being closed for 48 hours, but the resolve of a few made sure this didn’t happened, in fact I got to work quicker today than it took me to get home last night when they were all ‘working.’
- Posted 11 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Young people and the recession
50% off, 2for1, Two Dine For £10 – The more savvy shoppers amongst us may not remember the last time we paid full price for anything.
- Posted 10 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Twitter – What are you doing?
In case you weren’t aware 2009 is the year of Twitter.
Twitter is a micro blogging site.
A micro blog is a statement, thought or opinion expressed in 140 characters…or less.
- Posted 8 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Ethics and young people
For a couple of years now there has been a general feeling that young people are bound to get greener and more ethical as environmental and inequality issues become increasingly publicised. Brands have been arming themselves for a backlash against any unethical practises and have in fact been actively seeking out ways in which they make this world a better place. Prevention is better than cure right? Because the youth market really care and they won’t buy our stuff otherwise right? Er….actually no.
- Posted 3 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Adidas
Today I read something awesome on NMA about brands using social media, which makes for a refreshing change from the horror stories of brands getting it oh-so wrong. So whats the news?
- Posted 2 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Becoming a victim of your own success
If you weren’t aware that this weekend was the final of Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) then quite frankly I don’t know where you’ve been. A ton of press surrounded the show but this year’s star, despite being beaten by the boys of Diversity, was most definitely Susan Boyle.
- Posted 1 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Batten down the hatches.
It’s not safe to go outside; there is a Swine Flu pandemic which will wipe out half of Britain that also threatens to reduce house prices, raise council tax and is claiming expenses on its second home in Mexico which it has flipped twice since the Greater Depression Recession started.
- Posted 1 Jun 2009 ★ Permalink
Wembley Play Off Final
May 14th Millwall win their first ever playoff tie in the history of the club. A day at the national stadium beckons. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would see Millwall playing at Wembley so soon after its opening.
- Posted 28 May 2009 ★ Permalink
Newspapers online
So lately we have been reading about the newspaper industry trying to find a viable way to make money off their online readers.
- Posted 27 May 2009 ★ Permalink
B-Boy events: an ideal society?
A few weeks ago I went to the B-Boy battle of the year UK at the O2 academy in Islington. I’ve never attempted any dance related activity (aside from attempting ‘the worm’ after a few too many…) but I can’t help but be intrigued by, not only the various acts within the ‘B-Boy umbrella’, but also the scene.
- Posted 13 May 2009 ★ Permalink
The best way to learn marketing?
Earlier this month I was invited to talk at Queen Mary’s Business Studies and Entrepreneurship course to the third year students. Of course I was honoured and humbled by this request as most of the students there were my age. I asked myself the question, what really stood between me and them? why was it not the other way round?
- Posted 8 May 2009 ★ Permalink
It's not what Facebook can do for brands
It’s a question which all brands seem to want to know the answer to – how can we credibly have a presence on Facebook?
It’s a tricky questions because the youth market of today are an increasingly cynical market and we see online communities as our space, our platform. From the time we were students we pioneered the growth of facebook – it belonged to us and when it opened up to the rest of the world we lost an increasing amount of ownership over it. This territorial emotion has created a fundamental challenge for brands who seek to tap into this powerful resource.
- Posted 1 May 2009 ★ Permalink
Virtual Achievers
I am incredible at fighting zombies, my friend manages Man Utd, another just won gold in all the events at the Beijing olympics and one is a DJ who plays out in clubs, has a radio show and does a bit of graphic design.
- Posted 15 Apr 2009 ★ Permalink
If you cant beat em join em
They just don’t understand and when I refer to ‘they’ I’m talking about everyone, everyone who isn’t into it or just doesn’t get it and when I talk about it I’m talking about, well online technology I guess…
- Posted 7 Apr 2009 ★ Permalink
Time to turn it down
This morning on the way to work I found myself getting increasingly irritated by the advertising around me. I don’t usually pay attention to the adverts on the train but with no copies of the Metro available at the station this morning, alas there wasn’t really much else to do.
- Posted 25 Mar 2009 ★ Permalink
The youth bulge
Lately, there has been a lot of online press about a study into teen porn habits. A recent “study” by CyberSentinel (who incidentally sell online monitoring software) has revealed that UK teens spend on average 1 hour and 40 minutes watching soft porn online.
- Posted 15 Mar 2009 ★ Permalink
What came first, recession or age?
Am I getting older or is the recession hype getting to me? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself recently as I see differences in my circle of friends’ behaviour. Two words spring to mind: dinner parties. Three dinner parties a week over the last month and I’m trying to work out why this sudden change?
- Posted 10 Mar 2009 ★ Permalink
Young activism
So in this post-Obama orgasmic glow, I think many people were surprised by the huge youth participation in the whole who-ha. Youth managed to make voting “cool”. Not that voting has ever been uncool, but a little bit of peer pressure never hurts.
- Posted 3 Mar 2009 ★ Permalink
21st Century Sisterhood
21st Century Sisterhood? Emily Pankhurst would be chaining herself to high-speed train tracks at the state of today’s female camaraderie.
- Posted 19 Feb 2009 ★ Permalink
Brand Subsites
Following an article I read on NMA dated 9.2.09 on youth online habits. It included the results of some research that found that teens were spending a certain amount of time looking for emotional support, weight loss tips etc etc. I could almost hear the sound of marketers taking this research out of context and adjusting,tweaking and adapting it to their brand…
- Posted 11 Feb 2009 ★ Permalink
Online advertising in a youth landscape
In campaign this month there was a section looking at online advertising and whether people actually pay attention to them. There were various stats looking at how online banners are proven to increase sales, and yet I couldn’t help thinking – are they missing the point?
- Posted 22 Jan 2009 ★ Permalink
The Come Down; the decline of London’s club scene
Whistles blown over-enthusiastically in your face at bus stops, plastic beer cups getting wedged onto your shoe, disheveled people hiding behind sunglasses on the Central Line at 7.00am on Saturday morning; like it or not, London is the clubbing capital of Europe, with its name in flashing strobe lights.
During the 90s, the London rave scene emerged proudly from dank, unstable warehouses to populate plush, high-watt mega-clubs. Clubbers were embraced by the capital, which rushed to provide them warm dancefloors, functioning bars and a continually flowing drinking water. They represented the 24 hour nightlife that drew international tourists to London like moths to the vodka-fueled flame. No longer were they queueing for piss drenched port-a-cabins, they were drying their hands in Fabric’s state of the art wind tunnels. The scene grew, the nightclubs were built, the people came and they danced with glow sticks, Cyber Dog t-shirts and enough rave-horns to deafen the most hardened of eardrums.
- Posted 5 Jan 2009 ★ Permalink
So what’s it like to be a young foreigner in London?
Well, aside from the dirty looks we get, and the great public transport, it’s pretty much like being at home.
However, all one has to do is pick up a copy of “the Metro” to see where the differences lie. I would love to say that the differences lie in the states of our economy (pfff, everyone’s economy is in the crapper), our leaders (your leaders steal money to pay nannies, our leaders steal cause they can) or even our language (I speak the Queen’s English), but the real difference is CELEBS.
Never have so many, known so much, about so few. I can’t pick up a paper without seeing some random “star”, and what their take on the latest fashion is. It seems to me, that many people here live their lives by what these celebrities may represent…the clothes, the clubs, the music…
- Posted 20 Dec 2008 ★ Permalink