Laughing All the Way to the Bank
Comedian Louis C.K. makes a quick fortune—and quite possibly has discovered the self-distribution sweet spot

How does a stand-up comic make $200,000 in four days? For American wisecracker Louis C.K., it was all about cutting out the middle men. The popular performer took distribution of his fourth television special, “Live at the Beacon Theatre,” into his own hands this month, offering it from his website as an unencrypted, high-definition download for the low, low [...]

Tablet of Contents
Can going digital—or hopping to the iPad—save the magazine industry?

To many media types, the future of magazines has been in question for quite some time. Now though apps and partnerships are breathing new life into an industry looking to redefine itself. Savvy women’s mag Allure has incorporated—with great success—mobile scan codes into its issues, offering everything from spendy handbags to lipstick samples. And both Hearst and Conde Nast made deals with Apple this year, allowing [...]

The following article was previously published on Thinking Aloud.
Through the eyes of a marketer who sees the foundations of success starting with A, B, C…
In a world where social media has freed the reins of expression and hugely democratized it, and technology and mobility has put the power to express with a click in the hands of millions and millions of people, a question topmost in the minds of marketers is how they can ensure the success of their [...]

Originally published on Euro RSCG Worldwide PR’s Thinking Campaigns blog.
We already know the world has gone hyperlocal—from rooftop gardens to online deals for everything from facials near your home to ceviche dinners close to your office on LivingSocial, Groupon and Dealtificate. The media industry is no exception, and right now I’m watching the Patch.com model as a symbolic nod to where the future of media is most certainly headed.
I saw this firsthand a few weeks ago, as the final results [...]

Content Kings
Online media is winning prizes, old journalism is learning new tricks—and robo-reporters are still churning out stories

With the latest Pulitzer Prize list comes a first (stunning, if you think about it): A story from ProPublica is the first Pulitzer winner to originate and appear solely online. Plus, the number of nominees from online sources was up significantly since ’09, the first year online entries were allowed. But even old-school publications are learning the ways of the digital age—The [...]

It has been a while since we’ve heard people talk about “the death of advertising.” A few years back, the birth of social media and interactive marketing had ad watchers sounding the death knell, but we now know that although advertising (and media in general) has changed, the ad biz has certainly not disappeared—and is not going to.
But what is emerging and shaking things up is a new creative class of people who might not necessarily work within our industry [...]

Social media is ____________.
Absolutely social. Becoming antisocial media. A great tool that needs to be handled carefully. A connector that allows people to become more sociable. Strongly linked to the media itself. Showing, shouting and bragging. Invading every generation.
Euro RSCG executives around the globe used those words when talking about the state of social media today. You’ll have your own opinion depending on where you live, what you do for a living, how old you are, how you use social [...]

The golden ticket in the advertising world may just be the one to the prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, the “Oscars” of advertising. This year the festival runs from June 21 to 26.
Meet David Perez, a creative recruiter at Chicago advertising agency Leo Burnett. Not surprisingly, Perez was very much interested in attending Cannes, but unlikely to beat out those ahead of him at the agency for a spot.
He secured his place at this year’s 57th annual festival by [...]

“A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man … His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.” – Niccolo Machiavelli (Italian philosopher and writer, 1469-1527)
No matter times or places, “influence” has always been the Holy Grail. The social media revolution raised this notion to a new level: Almost everything [...]

“[Brands] need to realize that the conversation will extend beyond their control, so they should have a strong point of view and good, engaging content.” –Russ Lidstone, CEO of Euro RSCG London, in an article on UTalkMarketing
All the changes social media is bringing about now are accelerating, creating new ways for consumers and brands to interact with each other, based on these key characteristics: trust, transparency and humility.

“How Consumers Interact with Brands on Social Networks” on eMarketer
“Fickle [...]