Bucu

Stebbings Partners created a brilliant logo for the new food place, Bucu. Burgers and Cupcakes all in one place, just what America's obesity epidemic needs! Luckily, the logo design is a brilliant distraction from the generally fattening (yet inevitably delicious) business idea. At the very least, customers will definitely satisfy their senses. The logo is pristine and simple, saying everything you'll need to know about the restaurant with only a few lines.

#RiseAbove

Nike's Jordan sector is running a new video campaign called #RiseAbove. The beautiful message is displayed through a Pinterest style image board of the inspiring moments that Nike has become notorious for in their advertising. It's all about the love of the game. The campaign also includes an American tour in a gorgeous matte black truck with gold detailing. Nike fans can stop in and test out the new kicks, the Super.Fly's, and battle for the highest vertical. I have always adored Nike for their heartfelt campaigns and passion for every kind of athlete. You only need two things to play: soul and sole. Looking forward to more from this campaign.

Chicago V. Chicago

This campaign from New Era, the major company for sports related caps, is the perfect representation of Chicago baseball fans. If you've been involved in Chicago sports, you know that baseball is the great divider. Cubs and Sox fans are usually friends but when baseball season hits, those friendships turn to the competitive spirit.
Just like Cubs and Sox fans quarrel, the argument between flatbrim fitted caps and traditional baseball caps distinguishes individual style. In the end, it is all about personal preference. No matter the team or the style, the hat represents that great American pastime. Every fan has their place in the baseball world, and together the fans support the indsutry.

The love of the game is fueled by competitive spirit; wisecracks, debates, insults and all. In Chicago, there is twice the energy surrounding baseball season because not only do we get to compete with other states, we get to rival eachother. The unique character of the Chicago baseball scene is perfectly depicted in this ad, capturing what it is really like to sit at a bar with two different fans. No matter what team you root for, in the end we can all agree on our love for the game and the city (and the pizza).

ALS

This advertisement comes from the dutch ALS foundation, which studies Lou Gherig's disease. The striking message really ads perspective to the fatal disease. In one short statement depicting the date of diagnosis, the larger text is given intense meaning: Lou Gherig's kills, and it does so quickly.

The emotional appeal of this advertisement is undeniable; it says so much more than the few words printed, "I have already died." The expression is haunting, and paired with the text we are, for a moment, staring death in the face. These diseases are not only killing, they are doing it right now. The sense of urgency is great, reminding the target that we cannot keep waiting for a cure, we must demand it.

Many advertisements for disease avoid the mention of death, they opt rather to emphasize hope and give those affected something to believe in. However, the target was not those currently affected by the disease. They know well the threats and are already actively participating in the search for a cure, whether it was their choice or not. This ad geniusly targets those unaffected, those who have never been affected by ALs. Everyone, though, has been touched by death. Appealing to the sympathetic, the logical, and the efficient; this advertisement reaches out and encourages action, which is the most important thing an ad can do.

Marketing Film

Movie trailers have grown to become very standardized, and one of few ways to promote new films. However, in this trailer something different caught my eye. Magnolia Pictures, a film company, has released many popular films with star cast members like Chris Rock, Orlando Bloom, Morgan Freeman, and Seth Rogan. The company also has released popular documentaries like Jesus Camp and Cocaine Cowboys.

What is so special about Magnolia Pictures? Subtly rolled with the credits of the trailer, Magnolia Films offers their movies On Demand before they are released in theaters. This marketing genius is sure to motivate film fanataics to view these movies from the comfort of their homes, and to generate a good word about the company's production. Surely On Demand sales will rise with the availability of pre-release films. These days, the cost of movie tickest is through the roof, even without the twelve dollar bucket of popcorn.

The movie industry needs to be reinvented. It is failing, and although our love for good films has not changed, the price of tickets is so outrageous that people seldom find the urge to go out when movies are released. Instead, we wait patiently for DVD releases, Netflix availability, or illegal downloads. Is it possible that in the future the only big screens to be found will be in our living rooms?

Magnolia is one of few companies to start the transformation necessary to keep the industry growing. There is a lot of money in Hollywood, but this will mean nothing if there is no new scheme to draw crowds in. Perhaps On Demand will be the next big thing for new material. It has many possibilities; pre-releases, exclusive behind the scenes material, commentary, and even live screenings could all be used to generate a new income for the film industry.

Inspired by Design

While flipping through the pages of a beauty magazine, I came across this ad for Effen Vodka. The campaign promotes the vodka as being "inspired by design," and encourages a stylish and high end image for the new (ish) brand. Effen has distributed t-shirts at local liquor stores, and my respect for the brand was not very high. This advertisement, however, influenced a reconsideration of the brand.

To emphasize the quality of design to be associated with the sleekly packaged vodka, Effen is running a campaign that promotes inspirational graphic designers. Jessica Walsh is a graphic designer in New York City for Sagmeister Inc. She has worked on many unique campaigns, and is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the design world. This ad, done tastefully in black and white, is refined and beautiful in itself.

The best part about the advertisement is the publicity it offers the featured designers. A link to Walsh's blog, blog.jessicawalsh.com, is displayed just to the right of the glass. The intruiging imagery did it's job by motivating me to look further into both Walsh's work and the Effen brand. I love seeing support for designers, and have a new respect for Effen Vodka as an appreciator of creativity.

EFFEN VODKA: JESSICA WALSH from alfred broadbent on Vimeo.

Sunshine

Luckily for me, Advertising is becoming increasingly involved in new artist promotion in the music industry. It has even been speculated that soon, record labels will only be a minor player in the development of an artist's personal branding.

Indaba Music, referred to as "the LinkedIn of music", has been hosting remix contests for reggae artist Matisyahu. Through this community site, users are able to upload their own personal remixes of the new single, Sunshine. They can then vote for eachothers remixes and the winner will be given an official release of their song, as well as a $1000 prize and concert tickets. The music industry is entirely fan-driven, as with other industries. However, an important difference is that music fans have a need to become involved. Fans want to interact with the product, the music and musicians, and many have lifelong dreams of one day creating their own brand. The idea of the contest, then, is to get the name of one of these dreamers out in association with someone who gave them the inspiration needed for success.

I mention this contest because of it's importance in depicting the current music community. It is an evergrowing web of connections and downloads, with tons of new material being produced on a daily basis. There is so much undiscovered talent due to the struggle to get noticed under a record label. However, there is a solution: Free Music.

Free music has become an increasingly important issue in the music industry. The great success of electronic dance music, I think, can be attributed directly to this issue. EDM artists offer samples, remixes, and new tracks for free through websites like Soundcloud. Hip Hop has also taken the free music route, offering mixtapes from websites like Datpiff. With the availability of these free songs, audiences are more likely to become exposed to new artists and material. For example, if it costs you a dollar a song to purchase an album, you may only select a few songs from a specific artist album. However, free music makes the audience more willing to participate and expand. Rather than just one song, a user may download entire discographies and related artists discographies as well.

So how can they make money?

Pretty Lights Music has mastered the free music model. Beginning with Derek Smith, also known by his stage name Pretty Lights, the label has grown to adopt multiple new names such as Gramatik, Paper Diamond, Break Science, and more. Only a short time ago, these names were unheard of, and now they are the headliners at major festivals around the world. Pretty Lights started by promoting his music for free from his website, prettylightsmusic.com. This generated a huge following not only for his talent, but for his love of the fan. This is what the industry is currently missing. The record industry has moved from a love of the audience, to a love of their money.



Pretty Lights offers tickets to his concert at reasonable prices, and tours constantly. This is what other mainstream artists have been failing to do. Live performances should be the most important part of music. Intricate lighting and sets motivate people to actually go to Pretty Lights shows, and they can afford to. He does live remixes that have never been heard before, creating a unique experience for every show he plays. In other words, it's worth it. He's even taken a personal stance against ticket scalping, which puts outrageous prices on tickets through third party taxation, by implementing anti-resale precautions for ticketing. Smith understands that fan satisfaction is the most important thing for his success.

What then, is the solution for the current piracy issues in the industry? Make the music free. Art is free, and music is an art. It makes people happy, and they're going to get it however they can. By making music free, you can use advertising to promote new availability and focus on events. People want an experience, and that is what they are going to be willing to pay for. If record labels continue to raise prices and arrest their fans, there will be no fans left. The current state of the industry must change, or else it will self destruct.