Sponsoring A World Crisis

Corporate America has a knack for being tone deaf. That is a simple fact. There are some ads out there using a protest as a backdrop. In this episode, Ric takes a look at the idiocy of this move. It is yet another point proven when corporate tries to look hip and with the times, they look ridiculous. Now is not the time for anyone to be tone deaf, but here we are. 

The amount of willful ignorance happening around us all is astounding. It's as if there are those out there who want to give people a reason to protest. Frankly, no one has to look terribly far. There are some pissed off people out there. Also, Ric has a problem with his ISP plus, his sinus issues are being dealt with using a torture device. 

NEXT WEEK: The bars, the bands and maybe the crowds.

You, Commodity

As a society, we have willingly given up our rights to privacy. On the surface it would seem the trade-off came at no real cost. It was nothing nefarious, it was all done in the name of advertising. You have become the ultimate product.

Your information, who you are, where you live, where you go, what you like (and don't like), what you do for a living, who lives with you and where you go are all bits of very valuable information to those you willingly surrendered. Why? In this episode, Ric will lay out exactly what is happening along with some workable theories as to how it all works including a little history. Also in this episode, the death of Kobe Bryant.



NEXT WEEK: A Case of Headline Whiplash

An Advertising Conundrum

Advertising used to be so simple. You get to tell an audience of a platform about your business or whatever you want (within reason) in exchange for a few bucks. Now it got weird. Terrestrial radio kind of screwed that up, frankly.

They stiffed advertisers simply by chasing the dollar and sold out those dedicated to advertising their wares only to be left holding the bag. Now the internet is sucking up that revenue in all sorts of strange ways. One involves the useless short term gain of social media advertising. In this episode, Ric takes a critical look at what is going on out there in one form of this business and how advertisers are still getting screwed.



NEXT WEEK: If You're Happy And You Know It...

Bad Commercials

Last week, I was laid up with some sort of illness and confined myself to the couch and TV for some quality time. Keep in mind, I typically don't watch much broadcast network TV. Jesus. How do you people watch this garbage?

Specifically, the state of commercials these days. They are bad. Really bad.

Plus music from Trash The Brand.



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By the way, car dealer dude, quit yelling at me.

NEXT WEEK: Bad commercials are one thing, but the content they are running in? Brutal.

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Your Ad here

Advertising is an interesting thing. It blends some science with some art and you get commercials. I know it is kind of strange to think of it this way. But, there is some validity to this idea.

In this episode, I'll take a look at what works and what doesn't work for what ever reasons.

Plus, music from Ransom.



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NOTE: I am in the midst of battling a cold, so if I sound stuffy to you, it is because I am stuffy.

NEXT WEEK: Releasing a show for Christmas. Plus music from, Special Shoes.

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Ask Your Doctor If This Is Right For You

It has been a long running bit among entertainers and comedians and we have all talked in a light-hearted manner. The commercial drug business. The ads we see on TV and hear on radio are amusing and a little scary.

One such drug I have recently seen was to help people who are constipated due to use of opioids. Yes, painkillers slow your system down to the point where you can be pretty severely constipated, just ask Elvis about that. The absurdity of this is pretty amusing. How about giving up the opioids in the first place.

Nevertheless, I found a rather amusing statement on a bottle of Benadryl. That statement is the main gist of this episode. If you are looking for medical advice here, you are looking in the wrong place.

Plus, music from Deering & Down.



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Stay tuned...

Let's Get Suggestive, Shall We?

Isn't it funny how all the commercials we endure in radio and television and on the web are trying to tell you how you should live your life? Have you noticed how, in order to sell more of their product, they are telling you are doing it all wrong?

I am fascinated by this.

It all started when toothpaste ads showed you how much toothpaste you should be using. There was also a series of commercials that tried (and failed) to teach you how to wipe your ass.

Guess what?

You are doing it all wrong.



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NEXT WEEK: Other people's friends.

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Clickbait

The internet is a fun place. At least it ought to be. There are so many things to see and do there. That is something we all know about. There is also this thing called "clickbait". You probably know that is and if you aren't too familiar with that term, I will explain it in this episode.

The one thing about clickbait is the attempt to make posts go viral all for the sake of advertising. Of course it does. That is the single purpose of driving the internet, with your finger. So insidious and yet, so compelling. Or is it?



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NEXT WEEK: Seriously, stop making stupid people famous.

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The Art of Being A Picky Whore

Part of the "fun" of being in the business I am in is finding a way for making what I do pay. It's the age old question. Part of the "fun" of being in the business I am in is understanding just how much show business has evolved. Social media, TV, radio and the internet have inundated us all with advertisements. They are everywhere and we, as a society, has found a way to evolve along the way to allow us to selectively tune it all out.

This of course, is what makes the business I am in that much more amusing and challenging. But there are limits. You would think I would accept an advertisement (and check) from anyone. The truth is, not so much. There are things out there that I won't do for money. Maybe the list is getting a bit thin.



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NEXT WEEK: Don't be a quitter, it makes you look bad.

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The Agency Blues

One of the interesting aspects of working in the broadcast field regards the money. Here we are in a brand new world. The internet is kind of like the wild west. This is a good thing. As an internet broadcaster, things get a little weird. This is the price we pay by being ahead of the technological curve.

As a result, we deal with advertising agencies who just don't understand the very nature of internet broadcasting. Radio Memphis often gets lumped into the same group of broadcasters that are broadcasting, but have no idea how to do it right.

Are we always right? Nope. But we are professionals and listening to what some advertising agencies have to say about internet radio. It's all based in (of all things) fear.



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NEXT WEEK: A little talk about the weather and sports. Really.

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You Can't (Always) Get What You Want

But sometimes you get what you need. We've all heard the song. Some of us have heard it more than others. However, being a consumer in this day and age has changed dramatically. The days of the instant gratification from a purchase are disappearing. Yes, there are some things you can go and get right now that would solve the particular issue you are dealing with where said purchase would be necessary.

It came to me over the search for a small inexpensive part I needed for a computer I was building. I couldn't get the thing anywhere in Memphis. No big deal, right? Just hop online and get what you want. Here's the thing, I needed it that day.



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NEXT WEEK: Social media and how some people just don't get it.

Stay tuned...