1. The Simultaneous Retirement Of The Triumvirate: Oprah, Mary Hart and Katie Couric
2. Nicholas Cage Has Only Released 5 Bad Movies So Far This Year
3. Twitter Wars – The 2011 Version Of “Yo Mamma” Jokes (Just Much Less Clever)
4. Steven Tyler Finally Released His “Memoirs”/Brag Book, Which No One Asked For
5. Cher Now Qualifies For The Early Bird Special
6. Steve Carell Has Left “The Office”
7. Arnold Schwarzenegger Maintains That He Went Back To 1997 and Fathered John Connor, The Leader Of The Resistance 
8. The Network Ban On Ashton Kutcher Has Been Lifted
9. Dunkin’ Donuts Cereal
   

Full of spoilers, but if you haven’t seen these, shame on you…

1. Don’t feel obligated to open a box that has flies circling it, even if it’s addressed to you.
   Se7en 
2. When you find that everyone’s ignoring you,  save your loved ones some time and check your own pulse.  
   The Sixth Sense 
3. When driving on the freeway, always have a “Point Of No Return” before your offramp.
   Back To The Future 
4. Resist having relations with the mom of the guy that sent you from the future. That never ends well and could result in awkward conversations.
   The Terminator 
5. When Gozer asks you if you’re a god, you say “YES”.
   Ghostbusters 
6. Never let Bette Davis bring you breakfast in bed. Again.
   Whatever Happened To Baby Jane 
7. Look both ways before crossing the street.
   Final Destination 
8. Always buy and wear expensive belts, when you are out chasing tornadoes with your friends.
   Twister 
9. When your world is falling apart around you, ALWAYS stay at least 2 feet in front of John Cusack. 
   2012 
10. Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
    The Princess Bride

After 35 years of Saturday Night Live, what can a relatively new artist do to make a lasting impression on an audience that has both been there and seen that?

Don a cape, dress up your band and dancers as astronauts, then dim the lights and splash fluorescent paint on a black body suit – problem solved.

Ke$ha could have done a straight performance of her current singles, but you don’t get to #1 on Billboard doing that.

For an artist that seems to often cater to the LCD/OCD/ADHD generation, she’s got to get some credit for finding a way to…wait for it…Stand Out.

Good for her.

9. Porsche Sues Crocs Over Trademark Infringement  

8. Kiefer Sutherland Finds Alternative To Cheeseball Movies

7. CNN Devotes Entire Day Of Coverage To “Balloon Boy” Hoax

6. Paris Hilton, Inc.

5. Google Acquires YouTube For $1.65 billion

4. GM and Chrysler Seek Protection From The U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments

3. Multiple Births = Television Deal

2. Timbaland Produces Duran Duran CD

1. President. Barack. Obama.

Canada’s Globe and Mail published a 5-part series, entitled The Download Decade which is a great breakdown of the recent changes in the industry. This is where I found the simple statement above.

The reality is that nothing is going to stem the change that Napster ushered in 10 years ago. The challenge is now to foster a fan base that recognizes and appreciates the value of your art.

It can be done, but it does require a long-term focus = years of dedication. There are many examples of artists who have Relentlessly built a loyal community that only happens over time. If you need inspiration, check out the following:

2Advanced/Celldweller/Kevin Max/King’s X /Michael Roe/Owl City

Merriam Webster defines ‘Relentless’ as “showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace”. As you pursue what you have been called to do, pursue it Relentlessly. Look for new, creative ways to share your pursuit!

I read a book over the holidays called “Desperate Networks” detailing how the no-name creators of shows like CSI, Desperate Housewives and Lost went from concept to rejection to rewrites to rejection to rejection to eventual success. All because their visions for the shows were Relentless.

One of the scriptures that drives me is Ecclesiastes 9:10, which reads “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working, nor planning, nor knowledge, nor wisdom.” (NIV)

This world needs more Relentless people – you have the unique opportunity to be one of them.

I hope you’re enjoying the first day of the new decade.

“Either write something worth reading about or do something worth writing about.” – Ben Franklin

“____________, Yeah!”

When you experience truly great Art, an artistic endeavour that not only rises above the mundane but hits you between the eyes, does your inner voice scream “__________, Yeah!” Mine does.

As I do, feel free to insert a word that works for you, such as “Shoot”, or “Heck”.

Not always upon first glance or listen, but usually soon after. That “____________, Yeah!” moment fixes itself in time, causing a chill and creating an indelible memory that attaches itself to the music, film, painting, etc. 

For example, (don’t laugh) I can clearly remember the circumstances, times and places I first experienced:

Beat Peculiar – Adam Again
Lithium – Nirvana
Magnolia
Please – U2
Destiny – Zero 7
The Yellow and Black Attack – Leaderdogs
Little Wing – SRV/Jimi Hendrix
Something Real – Sixadrift
Schindler’s List
The Writing’s On The Wall – The Tea Party
Use Me Up – Bill Withers
The Imperial March – John Williams, “The Empire Strikes Back”
Sour Times – Portishead
To Kill A Mockingbird
When Doves Cry – Prince
Boom! Shake The Room – (The Fresh) Prince
Make Me Bad – Korn
All My Life – Foo Fighters
Star Wars
Rocks In Your Head – The 77′s
No More Tears – Ozzy Osbourne

and more recently,

Boom – The Pounds
Like A Star – Firelife
Stay With Me – Ben Clark
Remember Me – Geoff Dresser

Is your Art evoking a “_____________, Yeah!” response? If not, why not?

Nothing worthwhile is gained without taking risk, artistic or otherwise…

Having said that, I still have a wicked collection of vinyl essentials, such as Around The World In A Day, Whipped Cream And Other Delights, Abbey Road and Time Out. The artwork is irreplaceable. Our generation has also witnessed the multi-million selling CDs known as Thriller,  Hybrid Theory, Jagged Little Pill and…My Own Prison.

But the funeral of the CD is impending. It may be years ahead, but in 2009, it feels strange to go to a CD Release Party or a CD Signing Event. How do you get an MP3 autographed?

Who do you think will release the last, huge-selling CD, that will stay in the history books as the Last Hurrah?

I mean, I like Daughtry, but please tell me it’s not gonna be an American Idol…

Shared via AddThis

http://links.mkt1464.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MzMzNDM1MTAS1&r=MTgyMTcwNTAyNgS2&j=NTA3NTE0OTgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Jesse didn’t do anything much on Celebrity Apprentice this year, but it is obvious that Celebrity Apprentice did a heck of a lot for him. The show raised his profile, just in time for his new show to launch. Coincidence? No.

He was not necessarily a household name, much less known as Mr. Sandra Bullock, before he was “fired” by Mr. Trump.

The lesson for the smart marketer/artist/ingenue: find a way to get in front of as many people as possible. Use YouTube as necessary.