The "Blanding" of Radio

Walter Kirn, writing in the New York Times Magazine, laments the sad state of radio these days and I can't disagree with him at all.

Recently, I found out whom to blame: a company called Clear Channel Communications. The mammoth buyer and consolidator of hundreds of independent local radio stations -- along with its smaller competitors, Infinity Broadcasting and Cumulus Media -- is body-snatching America's sonic soul, turning Whitman's vivacious democratic cacophony into a monotonous numbing hum.

I was out of the radio buying side of things in my agency career for about 2.5 years and when I returned I was stunned at the consolidation that had occurred. Oh sure, it's very convenient to buy now because you can call two people and reach the whole country! But what kind of leverage is that? Not to mention the incredible "blanding" of programming that passes for good radio. Every station sounds the same now. Carson Daly can pump out "localized" voice overs to hundreds of stations from his apartment in New York.

I thought radio was a local medium. It's really a sad state.
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The Return of Pabst Blue Ribbon

What is the perfect beer brand? One with millions of dollars behind it? One with stacked beer babes having pillow fights? No. The perfect beer brand is one that is created by consumers.

For Pabst Blue Ribbon, that is the current incarnation of its brand. PBR was big years ago and had slid into oblivion but is now making a comeback with the Hipster audience and doing so in very interesting ways.

In this New York Times Article, Rob Walker examines how Pabst Blue Ribbon fell from popularity in the 70's to near obscurity and how it is making a very profitable comeback today.