By now you should have a pretty good idea who Josh Kelley is-- maybe you have read the other blog about his CD (Just Say the Word) or heard his music on the radio. Or maybe you haven't a clue-- no matter.. there's good reason here to take a listen to this "long-ish" podcast with Josh Kelley as he's just about to go on the road.
Currently on tour with Keaton Simons, Kelley is more than just a musician. This guy brings a wealth of talent to the table musically and artistically. Savvy-smart about his musical career, he's created his own label to allow him to create and present his music his way. Not only is he into his music but he's into the production end --not only of his own music-- but of others as well and Kelley talks about it on this podcast on the LA STORY Blog-- so check it out!
"Every month to 6 weeks, cable, or a big newspaper such as USA Today, says something generic about Gen Y, that 'tweens are ultra casual & lost in a technology oblivion. Well we put some context behind that," explains Josh Weil, the blogger behind GenDigital & CEO of Youth-Trends, which researches and analyzes the behavior of 'Tweens (8-12 years old) to the college crowd (18-24 years old) - collectively known as Generation Y - and decodes this casual, tech savvy, iPod & gadget-obsessed, text message-happy, elusive group for the Fortune 500 set.
IF YOU'RE SPOILED & YOU KNOW IT One of the most important attributes of Gen Y is how pampered - spoiled even - they are. "It stems from home environment - 1 in 3 members of Gen Y are from single-family households. Say it's a mom, she's going to indulge her child whenever she's able. Many people ask why the percentage of college students working is down; they're getting money from mom and dad. There's so much pressure at school, that when they come home from their freshman year at Columbia, they tell mom or dad they need to relax, and the answer is 'yes' - by all means." To some degree, their parents are enablers, which translates into certain actions & behaviors. "It's not that they're rude, they are incredibly indulged at home and used to interacting this way. They actually care about others, volunteering, the environment."
THERE'S CASUAL & THEN THERE'S GEN Y The younger end of the Gen Y group takes casual to new levels. "They don't feel limits to being casual, whether talking to friends or strangers, there is no difference of respect," says Weil, explaining that it often means hanging out online on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace - from countries all around the world. "In talking to employers who employ interns, the heads of Human Resources tell us stories of these young people coming in in flip flops, and asking to leave at 2 pm to go to a baseball game. This is an audience which is vastly different when it comes to the work/life balance."
CELEB MANIA While society in general is celeb-obsessed, Gen Y is especially so. "There seems to be a fascination with celebrity." From the teeny tee on Angelina Jolie's baby to copying Lauren Conrad and her internship at Teen Vogue, they see - and obey - in hoardes.
PRODUCT LUST The premium denim market, in which a pair of jeans can go for up to $300 a pair, is suddenly much more present on college campuses. "Brands like Seven or True Religion didn't show up before. Now, 15-17% all college females report purchasing these brands; it's up from 2% in 2 years." When Youth-Trends compiles their annual holiday gift wishlist of what kids want from friends and family, Weil notes that the list used to include the usual suspects: computers, ipods, and gadgets, however "now, it's 'I want a Louis Vuitton bag, a Coach bag, Seven jeans...things that 28-34 year old women would aspire to. And if they're not enabled to go get it, they get their own credit card and do it themselves."
HEALTHY LIVING An extension of their life/work balance is that Gen Y'ers aspire to live an active, healthy lifestyle. "Many are making a concerted effort to buy healthier foods and beverages. More teens and college students report working out on weekly basis, and many more teens are going out and joining gyms and health clubs. On big campuses, chain gyms always have ongoing specials for students, and the fastest growing segment of new gym memberships are for under 21s."
A FICKLE BUNCH Weil points out that many marketers are mistaken if they take the loyalties of Gen Y for granted. "They have their planning & power point slides, and think, 'we have this deodorant, and we'll get this kid when he's 12, and then we've got him for the rest of his life.' Brand loyalty for life is overdone - we don't see it. This audience is fickle." From grooming products to cars, marketers need to earn, and re-earn, Gen Y business.
A SURPRISING FLOP Falling squarely into the overhyped next-big-thing category, portable gaming sank with a loud thunk. "Especially among teen boys and college men, the actual number purchasing them was less than projected." Although watching portable movies is popular, portable gaming - not so much. Console gaming is the name of the, er, game. "The xbox 360, 20 % of all college guys say they want one. Console gaming still huge among this audience."
AXE SURPRISED, WHY DONTCHA Over the last few years, Unilever's Axe has managed to singlehandedly inject major excitement into an otherwise stodgy category. "The product is pretty cool & works. Most marketers pay attention to women, and then along comes Unilever with Axe." From a beefy ad budget, to placing ads where their target 18-24 year olds hang out - including online & TV - they created cool packaging, a snazzy logo & a great website. "And good execution. Much to their credit, they did lots of research, investing time and money. They did a brilliant job. You know you're doing a good job when competitors copy everything - down to the short name."
SOCIAL NETWORK FRAGMENTATION Weil predicts that over the next year to 18 months, the huge social networking space dominated by MySpace and Facebook will probably start to fragment into niche networks that are less general - and more relevant - to users. "For instance, 'tweens who play soccer, but not so narrow that you're limiting your audience; rather, you're creating a community within a community."
KEEPING YOUR GEN Y SKILLS SHARP To keep abreast of the latest doings of the Gen Y set, Weil advises hanging out where they do - such as MySpace. Also, for older Gen Ys, college newspapers are a great source of what's important on the 1,800 or so college campuses in the US.
Where fashion ends & lifestyle begins is a line becoming ever more blurred. In July, the Sixty Group will unveil their $20 million renovation - the Sixty Hotel - located in Riccione on Italy's Adriatic coast.
"I tried to make a hotel that would attract guests to come here and hang out," Sixty co-owner Wichy Hassan recently told WWD about the hipster haven which features egg-shaped windows, walls with light panels, and groovy furnishings. "It seems to me that hotels today are rather boring." The antidote, apparently, includes webcams in every room, brightly colored walls and furniture, and rooms individually designed and decorated - and in some cases graffiti'd & stenciled - by 30 young artists. If this one goes swimmingly, another six may open over the next three years in cities like Barcelona, Dubai and Los Angeles. via WWD.
To hear the Fashiontribes Podcast, visit the Fashiontribes Daily 5-Minute Podcast Show at PodcasterNews.com
Glamorous and exuberant, more than any other drink, the cocktail has a place in our social culture that stylishly evolves as the years go by. From classic scenes in old-Hollywood films like The Thin Man to Carrie Bradshaw’s cosmopolitans, the cocktail has become a character to be interpreted and reinterpreted.
As NYC's the ultimate cocktail cognoscente, Amy Sacco of Lot 61, Bungalow 8, and Bette delves in the spirit of this tres sexy drink, sharing favorite recipes from her exclusive nightclubs. The restaurant and bar owner credited with converting New York City’s Chelsea into the go-to party destination also reminisces on the most important “cocktail” moments of the past decade, and offers tips on how to serve them with flair. Available at Amazon.com
Two decades of cranking out quirky & amusing cards for all occasions ain't no easy feat, but Shoebox has managed to do it with panache. "The writers don't have trouble being funny or writing jokes," remarks Shoebox editor Sarah Tobabin. "The trick is then actually turning it into something that you would essentially pay money to send to somebody else." They've recently come out with a greatest hits & misses book showcasing the best of what made it to the yes pile, and what didn't - but is still beloved & funny. NPR's Robert Siegel interviews a Shoebox editor & writer in a fun podcast at NPR.org.
Some Shoebox hits & misses:
“You'll always be my Dad. That's one thing the casinos can’t take away from me.” (Rejected Shoebox Idea)
“Give a dad a fish and he will eat it. Teach a dad to fish and he will drink beer on the dock.” (Shoebox Greeting Card)
To ferret out the best, most exclusive Alpine-style yodel, Archie McPhee had 100 rubber chickens on the line! CLICK HERE to hear the winner. Lederhosen available at McPhee.com
