Marketing News June 15, 2006 Table of contents Verbatim: ‘L.A. is kind of known for being plastic and not real. (We want people to) put down their mochaccinos for a minute and come and teach their kids something.’ A quick glance at what’s inside In the news: Best sponsor on Earth From Memorial Day to July Fourth, Boston alt-rock station WFNX is broadcasting commercial-free, having announced just the Friday before summer’s first long weekend a single-sponsor deal with Snapple worth more than $2 million. Disc jockeys at the station and two affiliates in the Northeast will remind listeners of the soft drink brand’s support of the “Summer Free for All” promotion in various ways, such as saying they are “playing the best stuff on Earth,” a takeoff on the Snapple tagline, “Made from the best stuff on Earth.” As part of the deal—which was finalized quietly in January—the station’s Web site also links to a Snapple microsite featuring downloadable music, ringtones and voice tones, and disc jockeys use sound effects on the air, such as the sound of a Snapple bottle-cap being opened. Free concerts and merchandise also are part of the Snapple sponsorship in listening areas. One of the agencies that worked on the deal for Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, Snapple’s Plano, Texas-based parent company, calls the sponsorship effort “brandcasting.” Can’t-miss message A novel device began popping up in bars in the New York metro area in May to warn patrons not to drink and drive, reports The New York Times: A watertight, battery-powered talking urinal cake, called the Wizmark, has a sensor that activates a recording when a person is nearby, saying: “Hey, you! Yeah, you. Having a few drinks? Then listen up. Think you had one too many? Then its time to call a cab or call a sober friend for a ride home.” Two bars have installed the devices, and Nassau County officials have used $2,200—collected from drunken-driving fines— to buy 100 units to be distributed free to any bar owner who asks. An area anti-drunken-driving group, Dedicatedd, co-sponsors. —Dale Coleman, Fairplex, page 13 Play to the crowd A county or state fair offers endless opportunities to expose a brand to thousands of attendees in no particular hurry. Spotlight on Event Marketing starts on page 11. Exclusive cover story HONOMICHL TOP 50 Saved by the Net Ebates.com’s shopping portal boosted referrals and store deals by automating its surveys online. Case Study, page 9. THE ANNUAL BUSINESS Association News AMA Nominating Committee seeks candidates for 2006-2007 AMA Board. Page 26. REPORT ON THE TOP 50 Columns U.S. COMPANIES IN THE Bob Lamons on Advertising to Business: Enforcing brand compliance requires a simplified approach that offers options. Page 6. MARKETING RESEARCH INDUSTRY. Don E. Schultz on Integrated Marketing: Marketing practices need to keep pace with everchanging consumers. Starts on page 6. OUR EXCLUSIVE FEATURE BEGINS ON PAGE H1. Bart A. Lazar on Marketing and the Law: Product marketing in China should coincide with proper intellectual property protection. Starts on page 7. Marilyn Moats Kennedy on Marketing Careers: Ensure that your work portfolio markets your talents properly. Page 26. Also Names in the News: Recent marketing hires and promotions. Page 24. M-BlawG: Legal, regulatory and economic news. Page 4. Conference Calendar: Starts on page 26. Random sampling Whom do you trust? We are a planet of critical newshounds, finds a recent survey by the BBC, Reuters and The Media Center in Reston, Va. Surveying more than 10,000 adults in 10 countries, the study found that while 72% of us monitor the news daily, only 51% feel it is reported accurately, and only 29% believe news reports tell all sides of a story. Nearly 90% check multiple sources for news, and about a third of respondents said they had stopped using a media source because it had lost their trust. News to you Source, by type, and percentage who trust news from that source Food fight nation As the PR assault on fast food and junk food continues, 18 U.S. food industry groups have pooled their resources to launch a Web site at bestfoodnation. See ROUNDUP / Page 10 81% Local newspaper 76% Friends, family 75% National TV 74% National, regional papers 73% Public broadcast radio 55% News Web sites 25% Blogs Source: “BBC/Reuters/Media Center Poll: Trust in the Media” 3