Back in July I peered deeply into my mug of beer and came up with a marketing plan by which Microsoft could approach the daunting task of knocking Apple’s iPod off it’s beautifully art directed digital music pedestal. (I also provided an update in August.)
Here’s something I wrote in the original piece:
The X-Box serves as the “master control” for Zune, ordering the playlists and whatnot and the X-Box Live Marketplace serves as the clearinghouse of music and multimedia products for purchase– all communicating wirelessly between devices.
Today, this from the BBC:
The Washington-based software giant said it will also introduce a competitor to Apple’s iTunes music library and online store called Zune Marketplace.
Meanwhile, Bill picks apart Apple’s movie distribution plans.
07/23/06: The original Zune prediction/marketing plan
08/18/06: Update #01
09/14/06: Update #02
09/28/06: Update #03
11/14/06: Update #04
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Thursday, September 14th, 2006 at 11:06pm
Mack Simpson
Entry Filed under: Ad Jungle, Blogroll | add this post to del.icio.us
Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Zune, Apple, iPod, Carnac the Magnificent
I guess it’s a good month for handing out advice.
Ernie Schenck, a living ad guru and writer for Communication Arts and Hill Holiday’s blog (among other things), serves as the conduit for writer Ted McCagg’s story about working on the AT&T “Carrot Top” campaign while at Y&R.
In it he recounts the tale of how Jim Ferguson (who now resides at Dallas’ Lee Harvey’s, by the way, if anyone wishes to make contact) leaned on his team to take on the account.
The task was clear from the first sentence out of then CCO Jim Ferguson’s, mouth. “I need you boys to do something I like to call, ‘Polish The Turd.’”
The resulting high gloss shine he and his partner (the hilariously pseudonym’d, “Lee Clow”) put on it resulted in their being pigeonholed as the Carrot Top team and the rest was advertising infamy.
It’s worth the read. So much so, in fact, I handed out copies of the article to my team today.
Let’s just hope I never have to call on them for any turd polishing favors.
Thanks to the guys over at American Copywriter for the heads up.
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Thursday, September 14th, 2006 at 09:42pm
Mack Simpson
Entry Filed under: Ad Monkeys, Ad Jungle, Ad Nauseam, Blogroll | add this post to del.icio.us
Technorati Tags: Advertising, Advice, Jim Ferguson
