Posts categorized under ‘R&R News & Notes’

And the Ad Age A-List Magazine of 2011 is …

Announced this month, Ad Age recognized the A-List magazines that have excelled at meeting a challenge, turning things around, building new businesses or just setting a consistent editorial and business example one more time. Vogue, the 12x/year publication, has been named the 2011 Magazine of the Year. “For 118 years, Vogue has been America’s cultural barometer, putting fashion in the context of the larger world we live in- how we dress, live, socialize; what we eat, listen to, watch; who leads and inspires us.”

The A-List has changed significantly from 2010 to 2011. The 2010 A-List is below:

01. People Stylewatch

02. The Atlantic

03. All You

04. Cooking

05. Food Network – Bumped up to # 3 in 2011, the only title to remain in the top 10

06. Parenting

07. Bazaar

08. Elle Décor

09. Vice

10. Wired

In 2010, the focus was on culture, lifestyle and fashion (including budget –friendly options). These publications also delivered a lighter message to the reader. While in 2011, the focus is now more on the economy, business, lifestyle and of course fashion. While they have a few newcomers to the list, they have still focused on established publications that continue to grow despite the odds.

The 2011 A-List from Ad Age:

No. 10: The Economist
“The Economist increased its paid subscriptions another 5% in the first half and grew total paid circulation 3%, to 844,000.” The Economist was the 2008 Magazine of the year. This year the Economist introduced Economist Education which is a set of electronic learning courses focused on emerging market. “It also has 1.2 million Twitter followers and 800,000 Facebook fans.”  The Economist continues to be a leader in the global news.

No. 9: This Old House
“Call it a case of the right magazine at the right time. Advertisers kept flocking to This Old House despite the economy and housing market, because people may be buying new houses less, but they’re nesting, remodeling and aspiring more. Ad pages through the October issue increased 16.8%, according to the Media Industry Newsletter, helped a little by one more issue in 2011 than 2010.”

No. 8: The New Yorker
“At a time when there are questions about how much people will pay for content, The New Yorker, with its circulation of 1 million, keeps proving that quality has customers. Its single-copy sales rose 1.2%, despite a $1 price hike to $5.99 and an industry-wide downdraft at newsstands, and its subs are up, despite a $10 price hike to $70.” The digital side of The New Yorker is continuing to grow now having 27,000 iPad-only subscribers which pay $60 a year or $6 per month and also they have 189,000 paying readers together with iPad, Kindle, Nook and digital editions including print subscribers who have activated digital access.

No. 7: National Geographic
This magazine has been around as long as I can remember. “Editor Chris Johns was our Editor of the Year in 2008; the magazine appeared on our A-List in 2008 and 2009. And it’s having another great year. Newsstand is up 5%; ad pages are up 14%. And it enjoys the admiration of its peers, winning Magazine of the Year at the 2011 National Magazine Awards and receiving nominations for photography, news/documentary photography, feature photography and best single-topic issue.”

No. 6: Monocle
Monocle is a newer magazine that launched February 2007, focused on global affairs, business, culture and design. “Monocle this year is making its first appearance on the A-List. With paid circulation of just 66,000, this is no mass-market play, but its 204 pages every issue are filled with flawless editorial, luxury advertising, brand extensions and confidence in print. Revenue is rising; profitability arrived last year.”

No. 5: Vanity Fair
“Vanity Fair is enjoying its most profitable year yet thanks to growing ad pages, circulation, newsstand and digital revenue. While some magazines lean on bulk sales, sponsored sales and public-place copies, 99% of Vanity Fair’s subscriptions are paid for directly by the subscriber. It’s big on Hollywood, but just as long on essential reporting about the economy and businesses from News Corp. to Groupon.”

No. 4: Garden & Gun
“Another newcomer to the list, and another example of what niche publishing can do, Charleston-based Garden & Gun practically begged urban Northerners to joke about its unusual name when it launched in 2007. But the magazine that styles itself the “Soul of the South” looks like it will have the last laugh, with ad-page growth on a tear, circulation still climbing and a National Magazine Award for General Excellence.” Garden & Gun is a magazine that is shaped around the Southern way of life. This magazine helps create the idea of how to live an engaged life with the Southern surroundings.

No. 3: Food Network Magazine
The only magazine to make the list from 2010. The magazine launched in 2009 and has continued to grow and make a name for it. “Food Network magazine has grown from a test issue in October 2008 to a giant with paid circulation nearing 1.5 million and still seeking its cruising altitude. Food Network is back on the list after ad pages through October surged 13.8%, according to the Media Industry Newsletter, newsstand sales added 5% and total circulation grew 5.2%.”

No. 2: Time
For the first time in 20 years, Time stopped the press last week after the announcement of Steve Jobs passing, reworking the issue to be dedicated to him. “Challenges keep mounting for the news business in general, and for news weeklies in particular. So even if Time’s 16.1% newsstand gain reflected external events like the royal wedding, and even if its subscription growth had something to do with absorbing subscribers from U.S. News and World Report, we say there’s something to be said for having the strength, smarts and position to capitalize. Still a big, iconic print brand where readers turn when major news happens, Time was also recognized this year for digital excellence, suggesting it’s got a bright future too.”

The Magazine of the Year: Vogue
“It’s easier to grow when you’re new and relatively small, but when you’re this established and you grow anyway, you’re doing more than a few things right. Vogue increased its January-to-October ad pages more than 9% and boosted its big newsstand component almost 13% over the first half of last year, partly but not entirely on the strength of a great Lady Gaga cover in March. Its September issue killed again with 584 ad pages. And Vogue’s role off the page — most recently with the latest installment of Fashion’s Night Out — keeps expanding as well. Vogue is our Magazine of the Year.”

If You Name It They Will Come … Farmers Field

Los Angeles, the second largest media market in the country, has been without a football team since the Rams left Anaheim Stadium for a new home in St. Louis in 1995.  The previous year the Oakland Raiders moved back to Oakland after thirteen seasons of unsuccessfully trying to sell out the 90,000-seat Los Angeles Coliseum.  Over the years there has been talk of bringing the NFL back to Los Angeles, along with proposed sites for a team including ones adjacent to Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Dodger Stadium, Home Depot Center in Carson and another stadium proposed by real estate mogul Edward P. Roski in the City of Industry.

The latest development is AEG’s (Anschutz Entertainment Group) proposed 64,000-seat, retractable-roof football stadium to join Staples Center, Nokia Theatre and the L.A. Convention Center at L.A. LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles.  On February 1st it was announced that, although there is no team or approved stadium plan, naming rights have already been sold to Farmers Insurance for $700 million.  The proposed $1 billion stadium (to be funded by AEG) would be called Farmers Field.  The $700 million (starting at $20 million in year one and increasing annually over 30 years) naming rights agreement would be the largest long-term naming rights agreement in history.  Farmers’ partnership would provide an enormous branding opportunity for the company along with exclusive naming exposure and signage inside and outside Farmers Field including electronic and video messaging during events, hospitality access inside and outside the stadium, promotional and experiential activation areas throughout the concourses and other public areas and a variety of branded clubs and other interactive areas to be used by Farmers Insurance agents and customers.  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa states, “Farmers Field will be a catalyst for new development, creating nearly 20,000 jobs and $3 billion worth of new development in the downtown area alone.”

Local sports hero Magic Johnson has said he hopes to become a part owner in Los Angeles’ NFL team saying, “We’re getting closer and closer to bringing football back to Los Angeles.  This is exciting for me and the whole city. I don’t know what happened in the past but I [think] the community now is really excited about football returning to Los Angeles.”

AEG is talking with NFL and team officials and believes the stadium will have at least one NFL team and possibly two by the time Farmer’s Field opens (projected for 2015 if approved) providing the opportunity to host Super Bowl L in 2016. The first Super Bowl was held in Los Angeles in 1967.  Speculation about which NFL franchise, or two franchises, could move to Los Angeles recently has focused on the San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

A Few Products That Are Cheaper Today Than They Were 10 Years Ago

Due to inflation, what cost a buck in 2000 would cost $1.27 today. Some product prices have not kept up with inflation, and in some cases, are even cheaper today than 10 years ago.

WalletPop found some of these items and teamed up with Mint.com to show some of the top items on the list.

Some of the possible explanations are market competition helped to minimize the increase for example; aspirin and airfare. The price of WalMart stock though was directly affected by the market collapse.

Another company that had difficulty increasing prices enough in the face of a recession was Harley-Davidson and its Sportster motorcycle. A couple of other companies found ways to lower cost of production items, allowing more value for a better price. Sears paint and Volkswagen Golf are likely examples of this.

Here is a list of some products that sell for less today than what we might expect, given inflation since 2000.

Sony brings 3-D to PS3

Back in September one night as you were climbing in bed, Sony’s popular entertainment system underwent a bit of surgery. If you own Sony’s console, PlayStation 3, downloading system update 3.50 enabled 3D BluRay playback. Of course, you still need a 3D-capable television and 3D glasses to get enjoy the content.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/09/16/additional-details-for-firmware-3-50-revealed/

More importantly, NFL is just getting into the thick of things and Black Friday is now just a month away. The industry reports there are now 15 million PS3s in the Americas – with Sony’s update, that’s 15 million 3D BluRay players installed (of course users will have to connect to the internet and download the update). That should increase demand for TVs.

What do you want for Christmas? Or should I say, what do you want for Super Bowl?

Double Dip Recession?

@SVONTobel asks: Do you think we are entering a double dip recession?

With the caveat that I’m not an economist, from what I can gather, the answer is no. Part of the challenge for the administration and for the nation’s economic leaders is convincing the media that it’s ok to cover some good news along with the bad. Nationally, we’ve had a number of months of job creation, continuing low interest rates, tax relief should and will encourage further investment, and significant parts of the country have seen increases in both tourism and retail sales. So to avoid a double dip, the great challenge is credibly disseminating that information to grow consumer confidence.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

Ask Billy V — 9/17/2010

@bradleywoodward asks: With Tea Party candidates upsetting Republican candidates what kind of divisions are you starting to see in the Republican party?

 Thank you for your question, Bradley. When Karl Rove, the architect of the Republican base campaign efforts of the 2000s, basically calls the Republican nominee from Delaware a “nut,” you’re seeing division.  I’m not without some empathy; the Democrats went through this in the ’80s, when moderate and conservative Democrats were concerned our party was being defined by the left flank.  Clearly, there is going to be a civil war to determine what the Republican Party is in the next decade.  I don’t recall the last time a Senate leader and Senate caucus lost eight candidates in a primary election.

 Have a political question and would like to get a direct response from the CEO of R&R Partners? Simply follow @rrpartnersgov on Twitter, then tweet your question using the hash-tag #AskBillyV. Ask your question anytime, answers to the best ones will be posted on the R&R blog on Fridays.

Reno 411

Follow the R&R Government Affairs Twitter feed today (@rrpartnersgov) as we tweet live from the grand opening of the Whittemore Peterson Institute, at the Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno.  The entire Nevada congressional delegation will be there. Fun begins at 2:30 p.m.  PDT.

Fireworks, D.C. style

Fourth of July fireworks are a treat that all Americans share – no matter where you are in the nation. As a native Washingtonian though, I’m partial to the fireworks display over the National Mall. This year I had the unique opportunity to watch the festivities from the roof of the R&R Partners office in downtown DC. What a magnificent view (thanks R&R)! The sweep of American history in one glance — from the Potomac River to the United States Capitol. What a beautiful night to be able to share with my family! I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend.

As mobile web usage grows, who’s keeping track?

More and more people are using their mobile phones to stay dialed in to the Internet.

Online media consumption is growing at a staggering rate with much of this growth coming from readily available mediums like mobile or devices like the iPad. Consumers are not only becoming more aware of the ease-ability of these devices, but also customization in this space; however, they have also grown readily aware of the people who are tracking this consumption.…

In the mobile space, we’re finding that more and more users are relying on their mobile Web over PC-based Internet. Sixty percent of mobile Web usage is now taking place at home, bringing the smartphone closer to the promise of being an “always on” device.

This usage leads to a larger amount of media consumption, as the Web becomes more readily available. In fact, half of all smartphone users are consuming this hefty amount at the same time they are consuming other media, whether that be while watching TV, listening to the radio and/or traveling.

But as users consume, the question becomes, can advertisers track? Whether it’s privacy rules on Facebook, what information you opt into or cookies on your Internet browser, the average Joe may not be aware that advertisers do use cookies to track what websites they are visiting, what they are buying and which creative they liked better.

However, Google is now giving users the option to select which list of interests the company associates with their computer, which will ultimately control what ads appear as the users browse. The new add-on is still currently in beta mode, but this option, along with new issues regarding behavioral targeting, may lead to difficulties for advertiser reporting on the new growth that awaits.

Don’t let a client’s strategy melt in your hands

I just spent the better part of an hour-long meeting fighting the urge to dive face first into the bowl of M&M’s. Those wonderfully flavored candy-coated chocolates are sweet, sweet music to my taste buds. To say I love them is an understatement.

But I resisted temptation and every possible rationalized scenario my mind (no doubt directed by my taste buds) threw at me to convince me that it was OK to eat a few. I, instead, opted for my turkey sandwich and steamed broccoli. Why? Because it was the right thing to do. I bust my hump every day in the gym and eat right to keep my body happy. And despite the mixed messages from my tongue, my body really does appreciate it and, hopefully, will reward me by not giving out on me in five years.

“Good for you Richard Simmons, but why should I care?”

Think about this the next time you’re at a crossroads with your client. Your team has a great idea that you know in your gut is the right thing to do for your client. Everything’s falling in to place beautifully. The strategy is dead on, media plan is tight and the creatives delivered in spades. You’re team worked really hard to get there. But now, your client wants to “tweak” things ever so slightly. You know you shouldn’t, but it’s hard to explain why that’s not the best way to go.

When your client wants to tweak things and you know they shouldn't -- help them resist the temptation and don't sugarcoat anything, either.

And that is how that bowl of M&Ms comes in.

“Dude, just do an additional five minutes on the elliptical and it’ll be like you didn’t even eat that handful of M&M’s.”

“Really, are five or six more even going to matter?”

Grabbing a few of those sweet little beauties would have been easier than the internal struggle to do the right thing and say no. It’s the same way with your client’s requests.

“Adding an extra sentence won’t really make that big of a deal.”

“What if it wasn’t a horse, but a unicorn?”

But as you continue to take the easy route and continue to give in, the next thing you know you’re left with a bloated, out-of-shape piece of communication. Barely doing its job, working way too hard and doing way too little.

My point is that it may be difficult to convince your client of the right thing to do. Of course giving in would be the easy and satisfying thing at that moment, but down the road when they client looks at the carnage that all those “M&M’s” caused, it may not be your body on life support, it may be your relationship. Have the conversations, as tough as they may be; they will certainly extend the life with your client.