Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Isley Brothers

Earlier this week, we dropped the 50th episode of the DMOU podcast, this one featuring Dave Serino and Brian Matson of TwoSix Digital. During the Bonus Round question (where guests and I generally screw around and have a few laughs), Brian and I shared conspiratorial stories of breaking format during our tortured time on Adult Contemporary radio stations.

It got me thinking back to those days. The station was heavily formatted (meaning the on air talent had no say on the music). I was working 6pm to Midnight and bored out of my mind at my first paying gig in radio. After a few months, I started inserting love songs during the last 90 minutes of my shift, hoping that management was asleep (I was soon to learn differently...but you'll hafta listen to the podcast for that story).

It was one song at a time at first...then two...then three. Within a couple months of not being discovered, the station was 100% live after 10:30...and the fan base was growing. Where the phones had been ice cold when I started, I was getting requests. One advertiser actually asked his sales person if he could purchase spots between 10:30 to Midnight (which confused the hell out of management).

The Isley Brothers were the band behind "Shout" (which they wrote in 1959) and successfully covered just about everyone over the next 15 years. It was the mid-70s when they hit their stride with the album "The Heat is On," which featured the anthem "Fight the Power." But, it also initiated a period where the Brothers funked out on side one of their LPs...but went silky romantic on side two. And, it was those songs that got the phones ringing after 10:30.

On this Music Friday, it's "Sensuality"...a favorite of one of my late night callers that regularly hot-tubbed with his girlfriend to the music I spun.

Here's hoping they still are...

First Bigfoot, Now Nessie

On Monday, we shared the news that a lawmaker in Oklahoma had filed a bill to create a Bigfoot Hunting Season to spur tourism in his district and the State.

Now, we have three sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. Not to say that Scotland Tourism is involved in any way...but nothing screams "visit" during a pandemic than being able to try to capture a glimpse of mythical creatures.

At the very least, these stories remind us of how desperately we all want to get back out there. Tuesday was "Plan Your Vacation Day."

Did you?

Fortune Favors the Bold

As Japan debates whether it can successfully host the COVID-delayed Summer Olympics, you gotta hand it to the CFO of the State of Florida for suggesting that the Sunshine State is ready, willing and able to step in should Japan balk.

In a letter to the IOC Chairman, Jimmy Patronis has offered up Florida as an alternative site, touting its success with the NBA, UFC, NFL and College Football (indeed, a Florida Super Bowl is just around the corner). And to those that question the State's Summer heat, Patronis simply shrugs it off and says, "Whatever precautions are required, let’s figure it out and get it done."

The Olympics are 4th and Goal on the 8. You gotta love Florida's boldness.

 

Bigfoot Season

The Trumpian-side of the Republican Party has attracted candidates and elected officials that eschew science and clutch at conspiracy theories. Because this nation still embraces the inane 2-party system, this provides voters with an impossible choice; conservatives are forced to support bat shit crazy candidates or jump to vote for candidates that don't support conservative values to distance themselves from the madness.

A Republican legislator in Oklahoma has just proposed a Bigfoot Trapping season. He says issuing a state hunting license and tag could help boost tourism.

From a marketing standpoint, this is brilliant. From a public policy standpoint...WTF?

 

The Inaugural Concert

While the 'VID clearly played a role in changing up the tired, staid tradition of Inaugural Balls...this week's "Celebrating America" show should be the de facto new tradition, n'est-ce pas?

With the Boss kicking off the evening on a somber tone, the event was capped off by an over-the-top Katy Perry, who thought she was the star...and not the Fireworks of which she sang.

In between, there were sensational performances from the Black Pumas, Jon Bon Jovi (if for nothing more than the timing of the cinematography), John Legend, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake & Ant Clemons and more.

If Music can lead a national renaissance, it doesn't get much better than this on the first Music Friday of a new era.

A Day of Hope

I'm not blind to the fact that roughly 50% of Americans voted for the other side. And, I'm not blissfully unaware that a large number of those that voted for the former President were likely not watching the coverage of this Inauguration Day. But, that's a shame.

Because what was on display today in the nation's Capital was a breath of fresh air. An Inaugural Address that offered inspiration and hope; almost Kennedy-esque and, in retrospect, a stark contrast to the darkness of the last address. An evening devoid of balls and parties in which mere mortals could never picture themselves...but instead, a televised celebration of America to which we were all invited with front line Americans featured alongside some of our favorite performers. And, an evening that concluded with the most bad-ass fireworks display I've ever seen. And, here's to future inaugurations continuing this tradition. Tonight, I feel empowered to be inspired.

Those who know me well, know that I am fiercely independent in my political views. I believe the two-party system is the axis of evil. I believe it prevents us from what we could be as a nation...and that the media prefers the two-party system because it makes their narrative easier, not our country better. Thus, other points of view don't get the air they deserve.

Put another way...do you want Coke and Pepsi as your only choices in life, or do you occasionally hanker for a Mountain Dew?

So here's the deal. As a nation, we test-drove the Trumpian model and found it to be good for the economy but bad for a boatload of other things. So, all I ask is that we test-drive Biden-Harris. A majority of this country's citizens wanted a change. Let's see if they can deliver.

I hope to God that they can...for all of us.

Image Credit: NBC

 

Room Immersion

Themed hotel rooms are nothing new. The Sybaris chain of hotel suites for amorous couples was launched in the mid-70s. A couple years ago, Travel & Leisure featured 20 such rooms around the world including homage rooms to 007, Batman, Star Trek and more. In Fort Wayne, home of pro music gear supercenter Sweetwater, select rooms in one of their hotels are tricked out in various music motifs and genres for visiting musicians. And, I've raved before about a '60s-looking hotel on the outside doubling down on being a '60s hotel on the inside, complete with shag carpeting and lava lamps.

My new fave is a collaboration between our friends at VisitLEX and the simply sensational 21c hotel. Based on "The Queen's Gambit" (if you've yet to stream this gem, treat yourself), you can now immerse yourself in chessmaster Beth Harmon's world...right down to imagining chess moves as you lie in bed.

Simply brilliant. And, channeling Samuel L. Jackson, "what would make sense in your town?"

Bogart & Sylvain

“It’s very nice, as one gets older, to know that you made a dent," said one Tim Bogart in 2005. And a dent he made as a founding member of Vanilla Fudge and then part of a supergroup with Jeff Beck.

Another dent was made by Sylvain Sylvain, a founding member of the New York Dolls.

They both passed this week from cancer.

We say farewell on this Music Friday with two of our faves. For Tim, it's this '73 version of Stevie's "Superstition" with Jeff and Carmine in Santa Monica.

And for Sylvain, this cool genesis story of the New York Dolls...and ultimately "Trash."

Rest, brothers. Rest cool.

Best Analogy Ever

As we look out upon the uncertainty of 2021, we see hope and fear. Quoted today in the Northstar Meetings Group's e-newsletter, former DMO CEO and current CEO of IAEE David DuBois nails exactly where we are:

"Imagine you're driving through a snowstorm and all of a sudden it's getting brighter on the horizon. The next thing you know, you see sun — and you're thrilled — but you’re still scared to drive on the snow and ice that’s on the road. That's the deal. Sunshine is in the future. But we still have a lot of snow and ice on the highways that we need to drive on.”

Spring is Coming.

Home Field Advantage

For those who follow sports, there is the belief that playing at home, in front of your team's faithful fans, will give you an edge. And, indeed, home teams historically have had an advantage.

Except in this year of no fans in the stands. As the NFL playoffs progress this weekend, we can look back on the regular season and note that, for the first time in the Super Bowl era, visiting teams won more than home teams. Put another way, this has never happened in over 50 years...and the only rationale is the absence of fans in the stands.

So what does this hafta do with Destination Marketing Organizations? This proves that the more supportive voices (fans) you can assemble at budget time DOES make a difference. The Home Team wins with fans in the stands. 

Cultivate them now...because the reckoning is just around the bend.

Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune