From Bonanza to Batman: When Fictional Characters Endorse Brands
In this encore episode, we explore a strange aspect of advertising.Specifically, when tv and movie characters endorse products. Not the actors, themselves - but the characters they portray.It's a trend that started in the early '60s with the Andy Griffith Show and Bonanza.Today, ...Show more
Orchestrating Elections: Political Campaign Songs
In this episode from our archives, we take a look at one of the tools of political marketing – the campaign song.Politicians have used songs going all the way back to at least the 1700s.Sometimes the songs are written expressly for the political party or candidate.Sometimes, poli ...Show more
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz: How Companies Double Their Profits
Every company dreams of doubling its profit.It’s almost impossible to do.Yet, some companies do it by tweaking one tiny thing.We’ll talk about an industry that put three words on their packaging that doubled their profit.A company that created a catchy jingle that doubled their r ...Show more
Houston, We Have Pizza: Advertising in Outer Space
In this episode, we shoot for the moon.Now that commercialized space travel has arrived, the world of marketing is setting its sights on the stars.We’ll talk about ads on rocket ships, ads on spacesuits, and television commercials filmed on the International Space Station.There a ...Show more