Howard Stern: Will He Shock 'n Surprise?

Will Howard Stern leave or stay on Sirius/XM Radio? Or will he shock 'n surprise again?

 When it comes to a radio marketing hurricane, Howard Stern is, and has been the name that has weathered more storms in his career than anyone in the radio business.

Here we go again.

His latest five year contract with satellite radio’s Sirius/XM is up when the Times Square ball comes down to welcome 2016--in other words, the end of 2015. So will his latest contract at Sirius be his last?. 

He has kept listeners and the media guessing his future plans. In the past, in what some may feel is a negotiating plan, he hinted in the typical honest dialog that he usual has with listeners, that he would probably be leaving Sirius when his contract his up.

The Howard Stern marketing machine has been a winning formula for decades. In the regular radio days when he gave advertisers live commercials that went on and on, those companies felt they got more than their money’s worth. He built brands. He built corporate success stories. He helped to build the careers of many names in the business.

Many of his loyal listeners from the past—including those who purchased his books saw his movie, subscribed to his Pay-Per-View specials—many weren’t willing or didn’t move with him to Sirius. For whatever reason, many listeners didn’t buy the radio software that was necessary to hear him and didn’t continue to pay the $12 per month to subscribe to the Sirius service.

He lost listeners and no doubt the original five year contract that he signed which brought him to Sirius, while definitely putting Sirius on the radio map, may not have been the financial success that the company—and its stockholders—was hoping to have.

Will Howard Stern continue with Sirius? On a related subject, will his time at NBC's America's Got Talent continue next season? If he departs Sirius, will the Sirius/XM investment that customers, auto manufacturers, electronic retailers and others have all made suffer severely?

When Hurricane Howard speaks, the storm winds of change in the radio and marketing world travel far and can be very damaging.

Let’s hope this hurricane causes no damage. Tune in over the next year. No doubt it will be a wild ride--typical of Howard.

What do you think? Will he continue with Sirius for another contract?

The Bedbugs are Back.

Funny Thing About Bedbugs, Those Itchy, Creepy, Crawly Anything but Cute Little Pests

They're baaaack. Not that they ever left but now we're learning that bedbugs have been riding the subways! 

 Bedbugs must have great press agents.

Sounds like bedbugs are the hip, new thing to hate.

Four years ago, then-New York Governor David Patterson  signed a bedbug disclosure law saying that landlords have to disclose to prospective tenants if bedbug infestations are or have been a problem in their apartments.

Shortly after that, a radio advertising campaign from an area exterminator continually ran commercials about bedbugs, how they can bite, crawl and ruin your life. But wait, they have "trained dogs" that can scout out the creatures. They called them "Certified bedbug detection dogs." Who certified them?

So what happened to all those cockroaches, rats, raccoons, ants, bees, bats, mice, jumping spiders and all the other assorted ugly, creepy, crawling creatures that navigate our homes, apartments, offices, subways, streets, movie theatres and garbage cans?

Turns out bedbugs have been making inroads, climbing up the ladder of pest success and becoming king of the most annoying bugs and pest creatures.

They've been sleazily making the rounds of such tourist friendly spots as New York's Empire State Building, Times Square movie theatres and even some of the more popular and high priced hotels.

Who invited the bedbugs in? Who permitted the bedbugs to take over? How did they come back in such staggering numbers?

We'll leave it to the scientists, exterminators and other professional entomologists to tackle the technical issues.

But one can assume that with all the press coverage those bedbugs are now receiving, their Hollywood-style agents are looking to make sure that the bedbug's 15 minutes of fame lasts longer. I can just imagine agents and marketing professionals working to generate the following programs at a bare minimum:

The announcement that a bedbug reality show airs next year on FOX

The  release of a horror film titled Terror of the Giant Bedbugs-3D.

A sequel called Towering Terror of the Giant Bedbugs-3D.

A light-hearted interview on the Today Show with an actual family of bedbug immigrants from Arizona

A pop-up book about the history of bedbugs going back to caveman days

The formation of an activist group called 'Save the Bedbugs'.

When referring to other people's bedbugs, a famous Blond Hollywood starlet says, "Aren't they cute?

Following the announcement that New York is at the top of the list of bedbug infested cities, some New Yorkers take another look at living in Florida.

A South American chef fries up some bedbugs, covers them in chocolate, and presents them to the winner of that FOX bedbug reality show.

Certified Bedbug killing dogs stage a bark march for higher pay and a shorter work week.

The White House announces the first bedbug infestation since Jefferson's administration.

Standup comedians quickly incorporate line "did you hear about the bedbug that made it to the White House?..." In fact, Craig Ferguson, host of the Late Late Show included the following zingers into his monologue:

"New York is facing an infestation of disgusting and impossible-to-kill pests. That's right, the cast of "Jersey Shore" is in town."

"Bed bugs can live up to a year without feeding. They're like supermodels."

Finally, can't you just imagine Disney Films announcing an animated feature starring Mickey Mouse and his new partner, a cute character named Betty Bedbug, featuring the voice of former Golden Girl and Saturday Night Live Host, Ms. Betty White?

Think of the Disney merchandising opportunities. Stuffed bedbug animals that kids take to bed and cuddle up with?

Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.

Eat at Joe's for Chinatown Dumplings and More.

Eat at Joe's: Chinatown Dumplings at Joe's Shanghai Restaurant Delivers One Delicious and Affordable New York Dining Experience.

It's not your parent's Cantonese Chinese restaurant. Chow Mein isn't even on the menu.

But if you've got a yen for an authentic Chinatown experience that's worth the visit, eat at Joe's. Joe's Shanghai located at 9 Pell Street just off the Bowery, and a few blocks south of Canal Street, will have you coming back for more.

Exploring Chinatown is an adventure in itself and the rule of thumb is you can't have a bad meal in any of the seemingly hundreds of places to eat. But Joe's Shanghai has been packing the crowds in with delicious food and one interesting dining experience.

Hopefully you won't have too long a wait outside. No reservations are taken. If the weather isn't cooperating, squeeze in and stand alongside the huge fish tank and watch the dining show until one of the friendly green shirted hosts or hostesses point you to one of the tables.

Be prepared to share your table with another group of diners. You never know who will be joining you and whether or not you'll all speak the same language but one thing you'll all agree on, the food is good!

Your waiter will bring you hot tea. You'll probably want to say, "Pork Boiled Dumplings." At under $5 for a wooden basket of eight, this is how you want to start your Joe's Shanghai experience.

Each delicate cloud-like dumpling is filled with meat and hot soup. There's a knack for eating each tender dumpling. It takes practice not to spill the soup onto the Chinese cabbage that acts as a bed under your dumplings. You want to gently use the tongs to lift a dumpling onto your plastic spoon, add some of the flavorful soy sauce and take a tiny bite at the edge of the dumpling to release the soup into your mouth. Again, it's hot so you must be careful.

You could make a satisfying meal of the dumplings but look around and you'll see a variety show of flavorful, authentic Chinese dishes. The Bean Curd on a bed of Spinach is a tasty and popular special. There are lots of noodle and vegetarian options as well. Beef fans will find favorites including Beef with String Beans.

And just in case, you want some of your parent's good 'ol Chinese dining, you can order a flavorful big portion of Pork, Beef, Chicken or Vegetable Lo Mein.

When the check arrives, you'll like what you see. A low price total and to make it easy on your calculation, the check includes a gratuity in the form of a 15% service charge. Feel free to leave a bit more if you want. Cash only, no credit cards.

Joe's Shanghai has multi-locations including Flushing, midtown Manhattan and even Tokyo, Japan.

But the noisy, packed and popular Chinatown Joe's will definitely give your chopsticks a delicious workout.

Our Town: An Off-Broadway Winner.

Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' Plays to a Simpler Time. Read Why It Was Worth Visiting This Powerful Off-Broadway New York Production.

No doubt New York City offers theatre-goers more interesting theatrical experiences and choices than any other city in the world.

You can choose from non-stop, toe-tapping musical productions with elaborate costumes and lavish stage settings. You can see comedies, dramas, circus-like stage entertainers and even Vegas-style shows that shake the theatre with excitement.

But when it comes to just great writing, excellent acting, and a simple but stylish theatre formula it's hard to top the Thornton Wilder classic 1938 play, Our Town.

For a year and a half, Our Town played at the small (about 150 seats) Barrow Street Theatre in downtown Greenwich Village. I saw the magnificent David Cromer directed production before it closed.

The intimate size of the theatre works extremely well as Our Town brings you back to the simpler times in America. A time when residents of the fictional New Hampshire town of Grover's Corners simply have to deal with choir practice, farming, milk deliveries, schooling, even publishing the local newspaper.

No matter where you're sitting, you'll feel like you're right in the middle of the town folks. Be careful because when the imaginary horse-drawn milk cart comes by, your feet could get in the way. And when the paperboy throws his newspaper, you may feel like ducking your head.

Our Town is introduced and narrated throughout by the Stage Manager. Director Cromer was playing the role but at my matinee performance, Scott Parkinson had the role and he was simply outstanding.

In the beginning, the Stage Manager comes out holding up a cell phone and sets the opening scene pointing over there to where the school is, over here where the church is. He begins taking us on a tour of the homes of the neighbors--the Gibbs and Webb families-each home simply consists of nothing more than a wooden table and a few chairs. Our Town starts on a May morning in 1901. Acts 1, 2 and 3 take place over a decade-plus period of time that follows the simpler storied life and personalities of the residents. Through scenes take place at a wedding, in the cemetery and especially, the surprising Act III return home (note the sizzle and aroma of what's cooking for breakfast), you may find yourself on the verge of tears (feel free to grab a few tissues from the convenient box just outside the theatre door in the lobby).

During intermission, before or after the show, take a look at a copy of the Thornton Wilder letter on display where he wrote how people were lining up to get into the theatre back in 1938 to see his play.

Times haven't changed, nor should they.

Tiffany Keeps it's Marketing in the Blue.

Tiffany & Co. A Jewel of Blue and Still in the Black

Famed International Jeweler Tiffany & Co. Announces Positive Financial Results. Looking at How Heavy Blue Marketing Means Success

Economic downtown? Recession hurting businesses? Consumers not spending?

Not so fast.

Tiffany & Co. just released its quarterly financial results and according to an Associated Press report, Tiffany revenues were up 8%. Up 8 percent and that's just here in America. In Europe, Tiffany revenues were up 13%, in Japan, they were up 4%. In the Asia-Pacific region (including China and Korea) Tiffany revenues were up a remarkable 21%.

I guess the world's most renowned jeweler with its reputation for luxury and unbridled sophistication seems to be selling its line of elegance quite successfully in a so-called down market worldwide, thank you.

The tiffany of the jewelry firms is proving that its position as the leader is right on top. So it's interesting to pause and look and how some smart marketing and conceptual thinking has been working so well.

Let's begin with their so-called Tiffany position in advertising.

You can't pick up a copy of The New York Times today or any other day without seeing the marketing decision that both Tiffany and the Times agreed to many decades ago. Tiffany would own the upper right hand 1/9^th page ad position on Page 3 forever. Or so it seems. Your eye goes right to that sophisticated looking Tiffany ad with its jeweled visual or on occasion, public relations message or holiday thoughts without feeling good about the company.

Smart positioning helps make Tiffany advertising a proven winner.

But that's not all.

On a recent visit to the Tiffany store at Long Island's Americana Shopping Center, one could see how it's never too early to bring new clients into the Tiffany fold. One sees mothers and daughters as well as grandparents and grandchildren shopping among the silver and diamonds and then seeing the ultimate benefit of what a powerful visual idea or pneumonic device can do.

It's the Tiffany Blue Box.

Yes, the Tiffany color of the box and the pouch that the jewelry you purchase comes in. From a marketing point of view, it all works together. Even the look of the Tiffany environment stands out as the friendly staff behind the counter, dressed in sophisticated black, welcomes you to their world and gently invites you to be part of it.

Visiting a Tiffany location, be it on Long Island, Fifth Avenue in New York, London, or Tokyo, is a shopping experience that can be unmatched for its marketing sophistication. Which just may explain the one 2^nd quarter financial number that wasn't so positive?

With online sales rising at record rates with companies like Amazon and even eBay, Tiffany & Co announced that its online and catalog sales fell 2%.

From a marketing point of view, one might see that lower online and catalog sales number as justification for Tiffany clients wanting to see their Tiffany item in person, in their hand, on their finger, or around their neck.

You then, of course, get to slowly walk out of your first class Tiffany retail location coveting your Tiffany Blue Pouch, carrying that elegant Tiffany Blue Box, all gently wrapped in a Tiffany Blue Bag...and then maybe even having the world see you.

Smart advertising positioning and powerful blue marketing never worked so well or looked so good.