Archive for May, 2010
Philosophy, Country Music, and Bill Gates
Posted by: | CommentsWARNING: This post may make me sound a little crazy.
I am a philosophy major. I believe it is the philosopher in me that forces me ask a million questions about the simplest idea. However, I am presenting these questions to you today because I am really perplexed.
I love country music. (no giggling please) Recently, this song came on the radio and it is a really beautiful song. Until the end…and this is where it loses me. They start talking about Bill Gates and Microsoft. Please listen to the song. Then answer me these questions.
-Do you think Microsoft paid for this placement?
-How does he know that Bill Gates loved like crazy to become successful? Did he interview him?
-In what way is a man with six children who can barely pay his bills correlate with a millionaire?
-Would this song be better off without the mention?
I told you this would make me sound crazy. But, seriously? Is it just me or does this not fit together well??
Sex and the City: Product Placements and Seth Godin
Posted by: | CommentsThere is a lot of buzz going on about the new Sex and The City movie. In the tech industry the buzz is surrounding what gadgets will be featured. It has been long known that Carrie Bradshaw was always shown featuring a Mac. However, there appears to be a new deal in town.
“Carrie may still have her trusty Mac on hand for the Sex and the City sequel, but the rest of the ladies will be strictly PC. HP just announced their partnership with Warner Bros. as well as their supporting role in the latest film this morning, which means the ladies of Sex will be wired with TouchSmart PCs, netbooks, and the TouchSmart tm2.”
So my question is….does this really matter?
I think that the buzz around this product replacement switch proves that television product placements may be going extinct. Don’t get me wrong a small business or start-up getting featured on a television show can be HUGE. It can make or break a company. However, am I more likely to buy an HP because I saw one on Sex and The City? hmmmm.
We notice product placements.
The buzz surrounding this movie isn’t about raving about the computer they will be using. It seems to be much more about the business decision. WHY are they using this new computer? Apple dropped its product placement and is getting major press because of it. Am I less likely to buy Apple products because they dropped this placement? No. They are genius. They saved money AND got press. That my friend is im-press-ive.
Get it?
Im-PRESS-ive.
Anyways, I don’t see how this product placement is helping either company. Seeing a computer on a movie doesn’t make me want to buy a new computer. It doesn’t make me want to switch brands. It doesn’t make me anything. However, if they are trying the remind them we exist and maybe they will think of us approach. That may be a benefit.
However, I suggest that HP take a look at this speech from Seth Godin. They may realize that this is going out. And it is going out fast.
What do you think?
