Congratulations MTV!!!

If you haven't seen the latest 3rd Quarter ratings for MTV well check out my link. But to sum it up, they're making bank, and lots of it. Thanks to killer ratings it seems that shows like Jersey Shore and Teen Mom wont be going anywhere for while. So that brings me to the topic of MTV and how their brand has changed since 1981 when their original purpose of the network was to air music videos.

Well times they are a changin' and chances are, if you stop reading this post and put your TV on MTV, you will probably catch a short orange chick... well, oompa loompa doing well... absolutely nothing. While there are obviously millions of people who watch this show, there are also millions on the flip side who miss MTV when they sole purpose was the music, and I happen NOT be one of those people. Check out the video to find out my perspective on MTV.

And for those of you who cannot bear my rambling speech about MTV.

Heres the rundown:

MTV is a beast. They know how to decrease the average costs of all of their shows collectively by playing less music videos (of which they pay liscensing fees for) and producing more reality shows, which are extremely cheap to make. Reality shows are also great for revenue because MTV can stream those shows online, generating viewers through different platforms. But the main reason why I think MTV is still genius and the reason I believe the M in MTV is still imperative is because MTV just changed the platform in which you listen to music and discover new artists.

People can say that MTV has forgotten its purpose, but in reality, MTV really and truly is all about the music. Since 1981, MTV has been defining a generation that elucidates the music of pop culture. Shows such as Real World, Teen Mom, World of Jenks, Jersey Shore show off the people of this generation crafted by MTV. MTV now fuses the world with music; essentially, we are a product of the music.

*While I am a bit sleep depraved typing this post, i hope you get my points on MTV. Super girls need sleep too, so goodnight world. Peace!

Pi Sigma Epsilon makes me Diverse? Huh?

Check out the video below on how I think PSE brings a whole new level of diversity and cultural learning into my life. In the video you will learn how exposing myself to a group that I am not particularly comfortable with will allow me (on a personal and external level) to be a much stronger brand.

PS: I haven't mastered the whole "video-making and not rambling" thing yet, but I gotta start somewhere!

Proud to be an American?

To visit China today as an American is to compare and to be compared. And from the very opening session of this year’s World Economic Forum here in Tianjin, our Chinese hosts did not hesitate to do some comparing. China’s CCTV aired a skit showing four children — one wearing the Chinese flag, another the American, another the Indian, and another the Brazilian — getting ready to run a race. Before they take off, the American child, “Anthony,” boasts that he will win “because I always win,” and he jumps out to a big lead. But soon Anthony doubles over with cramps. “Now is our chance to overtake him for the first time!” shouts the Chinese child. “What’s wrong with Anthony?” asks another. “He is overweight and flabby,” says another child. “He ate too many hamburgers.”

That is how they see us.

Excerpt from NYT article - Too Many Hamburgers - Thomas L. Friedman

Hello Readers!

Are you as grossed out and saddened by the pic above as I am? Well, you should also feel embarrassed because living in the United States, this is how other countries view us! Sure the US' "fat ass" perception is not a novel one, but one that needs to be observed in terms of branding the US.

So yesterday I read an opinion article in the New York Times called "Too Many Hamburgers?" by Thomas L. Friedman, where the author writers about his trip to China and his discovery about our (US) global perceptions. In general, analyzing what the companies want out of their brand in terms of consumer effect is important, but viewing consumer and non-consumer/outsider perception is also essential. So we get it, even in the midst of a freaking huge financial crisis, we still hold our "We're #1" foam finger up, proud of our country, and while our confidence in the US is admirable, people need to know that we won't be #1 for long. We cannot sit back like some fat ass kid watching TV and eating fast food in total gluttony! If our country were a kid, yes, we would be mr. chubster... and you know what I would say to any chubster who can't hold their own in a 100yrd dash? Work-out!

So America, are you listening? You really should listen to how you are perceived.

And for other companies? Perception is critical. I recommend doing a word association with your brand and making sure that the words on your lists are all words that you want that product/brand to emulate. And if there are words that hurt/harm your brand, get rid of it! Change and adapt. Only the fittest brands survive and with the clutter to consumer products in the US, if your product can't adapt, no one cares.

Just a little tough love.

SBG.

Peace & Love my little Brandinites!

The Reason I Do The Things I Do

Check out my Vid! I decided that before I write any more posts, people need to know who I am, and why I even take the time to write this blog.

Its Been Awhile, but I'm baaaack! :D

My 2010 New Years Resolution was to update my blog at least once a month, and like every other one of my resolutions, that stopped after a week. But with so many brands to talk about, my passion has reignited and I am ready to share my thoughts on the branded world around me!

So are you wondering what I did for the past 6 months! Well aside from the bad dates, fun concerts, and 3 different hairstyles, the most notable thing I did during my time away has been interning at Time Warner for the summer! A post about what I did at TWC will be added soon. Maybe I'll even compare my Time Warner internship to my internship at Rainbow Media, because both experience were so completely different. Watch out for that post soon!

Thats all for now lovelies,

I'm back, better than ever!

The dream for the moment? What if companies sent me, Super-Brandinarian-Girl, sample products to analyze and see how it aligns with their brand? Or better yet, what if those companies just wanted my to analyze their brand as a whole? I suppose I should stop deaming and do my homework soon.

x0xo,

SBG