Jaffe Juice

JWT Launches Billion-Dollar Re-launch

formally known as J. Walter Thompson has just come out the closet.

JWT Chicago Joins Offices Around the World to Mark Agency's "Birth Day" with Great Fanfare. New Creative and Performance Metrics, Corporate ID Introduced to Global Workforce

The sheer balls of relaunching as a billion dollar startup deserves my accolade today.

I wish them well and ultimately, the proof of the pudding will be in the tasting.

Moby is to Music what Eminem is to Candy

Ok, so that title made no sense, but what does make sense is to give props to Moby who is one of the most innovative marketers out there (the fact that he is a musician is incidental)

Moby has done many things in the past to promote his music such as give it away to commercials and movies such as "The Beach"

In his latest, foray he has placed a 7 minute free preview on iTunes (exclusive) for his upcoming album, Hotel.

Very Very Smart. Check it out.

The Discovery of Tapping

Discovery have hired my good friend, Andrew Snyder, who is truly one of the great ones. Discovery’s ‘er discovery is ESPN’s loss. I’m sure he’ll do really well there and above all, will help Joe Abruzzese move forward...

On a complete tangent, what’s the deal with the trades who – when reporting on a new hire – mention that company A has “tapped” person B. What exactly is a tap? Is it like a knighthood? Does Joe Torre tap a player when he has been called up to the Big Leagues?

To me, a tap (on the shoulder I would imagine) is a very subtle but underwhelming gesture. Why not a whack, a slap, a hug, a hoist, a toast…I don’t know, it just bugs me almost as much as a “pass” (I’ll fill you in on that peeve another day, but sufficed to say, if I’m pitching you, don’t every tell me you’re passing as I will fail you…or the very minimum call you out in Jaffe Juice)

Embassy Sours

I have to take a moment to express my disappointment at the TV campaign from Embassy Suites.

"They chose you for a reason; you chose Embassy Suites for a reason" is the unifying idea and call to action, accompanied by a proof point such as, "...like the two room suites."

The 30-second spot I saw was really humorous, but not until the 25th second or thereabouts was there even a hint of a) who the ad was for and b) any reason why a prospective businessperson should even remotely decide to find out more or select Embassy Suites.

Worse still...the final frames of the commercial featured a toll-free number and not the Website/URL.

This is one of those cases which is simply unacceptable - leaving out the website. It just doesn't make any sense.

30-second spots have got such an uphill battle to fight that 25 seconds of generic messaging won't cut it...arguably they might keep the viewer intrigued enough to keep watching (ONCE!) but will they put bums in rooms? I doubt it.

Communal Marketing in Play

Unbelievable story of how an unknown reporter, with a false name, working for a tiny organization (Talon News) gets a White House Press Pass AND gets to ask a completely politically loaded question.

Then, after incredibly controversy and the fact this reporter is linked to gay porn and naked pictures are sent around the Web, the site is forced to close down, albeit temporarily for a "redesign" (insert "bullshit" cough here)

This is communal transparency - you will be found out sooner or later.

Study: Web Users Turn Away From Broadcast News

Washingtonpost.com Research study

OK, so WP.com produces a self-serving study which states the people who use the Web...use the Web (as opposed to TV) for things like news. Seems though that the Web versus Newspaper (read: Washington Post) portion of the study got left out :)

Anyway, it makes total sense given the fact news is 24x7 on the Web versus the "appointment viewing" offered by Television.

Also doesn't hurt that TV News is neither fair not balanced anymore....

Step 1: See a weird

Step 1: See a weird TV ad with no branding whatsoever except a URL: getroyfamous.com - definitely think it's a Burger King ad and that Crispin is losing their edge

Step 2: after forcing down

Step 2: after forcing down puke in the form of another fake flog, I get to (trumpet sounds) the corporate website wihch is really just the V-cast Verizon partnership in the form of a fairly interesting competition

WSJ.com - Viacom Posts $18.44 Billion Loss On Radio, Advertising Charges

WSJ.com - Viacom Posts $18.44 Billion Loss On Radio, Advertising Charges: "Viacom Posts $18.44 Billion Loss
On Radio, Advertising Charges
By JOE FLINT
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
February 24, 2005 3:00 p.m.
Viacom Inc. took an $18 billion fourth-quarter write-down on its radio and outdoor-advertising units, acknowledging weak market conditions confronting both businesses, while also forecasting tepid growth for the overall company in 2005."

Classic misdirection away from television to the dogs or goats of radio and outdoor (which, make no mistake deserve their fortunes)

No mention whatsoever of the Internet, Gaming (except for theme parks - try again), Mobile etc - you get the picture.

Who's laughing now? Clue: His name starts with a M and ends in an EL.

P.S. Whatever happened to Viacom + (codename: window-dress the 30-second spot)

Jewish Hasidic Reggae Rapper -

Jewish Hasidic Reggae Rapper - had to share this. It's also another example of what I call "risk-free TV" - if you missed something you shouldn't have e.g. Jon Stewart skewering Tucker Bowtieson on Crossfire, just check it out on the Web....aiiiight