An excellent article that appeared recently in Vanity Fair makes a very good case that Hollywood is already as dead as the pre-Internet music business. It just doesn’t know it yet, and–what’s worse–is in denial, just like all those former music biz moguls.

I for one have long felt that stars are way overpaid (along with pro sports figures), but the picture (pardon the pun) may be even darker than that.

Read this and please feel free to comment.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/why-hollywood-as-we-know-it-is-already-over?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits

So here’s an article from Adweek about a commercial (which you can view on their site) that aired during the Oscars for Revlon’s new “Love Project” public service campaign. It will be interesting to see how this rolls out. I would argue this is a very strong opening statement and somewhat unexpected from Revlon, which, let’s face it, is pretty much “your grandmother’s makeup” because of its longevity in the marketplace. Perhaps this will make the brand relevant again.

We know that in the fragrance biz Revlon has about .5% market share, compared to market leaders L’Oreal (20%) and Estee Lauder (7%). (source: Forbes, 12-28-2015)

One reason I love this spot is that it reminds me of Dave Brubeck’s album, “Jazz; Red Hot and Cool,” (recorded live in 1954 and 1955) with an album cover featuring Dave at the piano and a very attractive woman in a sensual, bright red dress and matching bright red lipstick. The lipstick, as the liner notes revealed, was Revlon’s new shade, “Jazz, Red Hot and Cool.” It’s one of the earliest examples of product placement I know of. Lots of companies in those days were TV show sponsors (think Kraft Theater, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Death Valley Days [20 Mule Team Borax sole sponsor]). But Revlon staked out a whole new claim with a record album tie-in.

Enjoy: http://www.adweek.com/creativity/lady-gaga-pharrell-and-ellen-bring-the-love-in-revlons-new-psa/

And here’s that album cover.

According to an article in Time magazine that cites recent research at Stanford, McGill, and USC, people who use their smart phones, tablets, and other devices to constantly surf the ‘net and engage in social media may be re-making their brain’s hard wiring…and not in a good way.

See http://time.com/4663458/smartphone-brain-dumb/?xid=newsletter-brief

According to article author Markham Heid, one’s anterior cingulate cortex, where reflective thought takes place, becomes atrophied and loses functionality. The brain becomes overloaded with constant over-stimulation of “always on” connectedness and starts losing the ability to take a break and let “aha!” moments rise through the soup of data and impressions absorbed both consciously and unconsciously.

Earlier research about the harmful effects of multi-tasking is reinforced by this newer work.