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Stevie Wonder has enthralled audiences for over 60 years.
50 years ago, his maturation from child star to musical genius was pretty much complete. 1973's Innervisions was a tour de force and 1974's Fulfillingness' First Finale would cement his stature as one of the pre-eminent voices in American culture.
On this Music Friday, we go with two of my favorites from FFF...."You Haven't Done Nothing" and "Boogie on Reggae Woman."
Now let's get this holiday weekend started
Thanks in part to a horrible piece of legislation that ultimately puts the distribution of local room tax revenues into the hands of Wisconsin mayors, a number of small communities are electing to pull out of regional destination marketing organizations. Many of them say they are being overshadowed by the magnet city in their region… but there's a reason for that. Typically the largest city has the most assets, better transportation infrastructure and larger name recognition. Suburbs and rural communities that are in orbit around the largest city benefit from that halo. Every Single Day.
And, the magnet city benefits from the surrounding communities. Every Single Day.
But of course, small town ego won't allow for rationality.
Over the past few months, the city of Weston has been threatening to pull out of their contract with the Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB. They said they didn’t believe they were getting enough ROI and could probably do a better job on their own with their $108,000 investment (snort). But, about a week ago, they decided to extend their contract one more year.
Could it have anything to do with the fact that the Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB just landed the 2026 and 2029 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships? The ones that will be held in Weston?
Yeah, how you like me now?
Can it really be 50 years since that first Rufus album hit the stores and the charts? A song written by Stevie Wonder for this fledgling R&B band out of the Southside of Chicago, the Grammy Award winning "Tell Me Something Good" was Top 5 in America...out of nowhere.
On this Music Friday we share one of the first televised versions of the song (on the Midnight Special in July 1974)...and recently to kick off an NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
And, then...there's this jam with Prince one night in London on "Sweet Thing."
Simply Sensational. Simply Timeless.
As we celebrate out 150th episode of the DMOU Podcast, we hang with Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and talk about how the Badger State captured the culinary world’s attention with the most recent season of Top Chef. Anne explains how Wisconsin Tourism made it happen through amazing collaborations and shares how they are extending the reach of the series (and major events like the Republican National Convention and next year’s NFL Draft) far beyond the events themselves. Plus, a Bonus Round question that involves Muppets. Join us.
There are some cities that simply don't have a clue. Uvalde TX seems to be one of the latest.
In 2022, the City was dragging its feet on renewing its contract with its Destination Marketing Organization. The writing was on the wall. There were forces in City Hall that wanted to contract with the Chamber. And, they did.
Now, not quite a year into the new agreement, a member of City Council wants to end the contract with the Chamber because they are, in his view, not spending enough on advertising. Except the contract approved by Council a year ago stipulates how much money is to be spent on advertising...and it looks like this: $5,550 to print media advertisements; $15,996 to online ads, including social media and possible influencer collaborations; $1,750 to public relations, $500 to attract bird watchers and about $1,100 to attract hunters.
$25,000.
Annual room taxes collections (which in Texas must go to tourism promotion and development) have been coming in at roughly $750,000 a year...and you're allocating $25,000 for advertising? In a town that seriously needs a brand make-over?
$25,000?
Hey, I don't live there. But if I was on City Council, I'd put all $750,000 on red and add another $250,000 from the general fund to create a $1 million a year fund to attempt to make Uvalde attractive to visitors, future residents and investors.
Because, right now...you aren't looking so great.
But, that's just me.
Image: One of the murals commemorating those lost in the Uvalde School Shooting.
Those in the Destination Marketing and Leadership space know Jack Berry. For 30 years, he led Richmond Region Tourism...and made it his mission to double down on regionalism and collaboration. Dude deserves to be in Destinations International Hall of Fame...but he has always been so quietly unassuming in his approach to destination leadership that I fear he could be forgotten (that won't happen as long as I take breath).
He stepped away earlier this year...and last week was honored for the legacy of his work by Henrico County, which named a street after him.
Jack Berry Way. As in the Jack Berry way.
Honestly...how many DMO pros have had a street named after them? I have several fingers left on my one hand.
Congratulations, my friend. And thanks for your thought leadership over the decades.
Now, go have another kind of fun in retirement (and, you can finally lose the tie, Jack).
It's a name most don't remember...but you know the hits. A darling of MTV (when they actually played music videos) Greg Kihn was the force behind hits like "The Breakup Song" "Testify" and "Love and Rock n Roll."
We lost this amazing voice this week...and I'll share some Greg moments I'll never forget.
In my 20s, one of my softball teams typically hung with a girls softball team after our games at an area tavern. One of the girls had a crush on a guy and shared with me that she had just given him a mix tape of songs that she thought might encourage him to make a move. I asked what song she led with and she said, "I Love You Desperately." I said that I didn't know that song and she replied, "yes you do, silly. It's all over the radio." And I realized she misunderstood Greg's lyric, "Our Love's in Jeopardy," When I told her, she was mortified.
Years later, Greg was on the back nine of his career in music and was playing a small club on the near Westside of Madison. I got there early to get a good seat and went to grab a drink at the bar. Next to me was a guy in a leather jacket working a beer. Of course, it was Greg...and I was blessed to have a great conversation with one of the most engaging guys I've ever met.
And finally, it's beyond the music. Greg was a gifted storyteller and was the author of several books. My favorite (and a recommendation) is "Big Rock Beat." Best moment in the book was when the protagonist is confronted with an archangel who says something along the lines of, "what I love about you humans is you are trying so hard to get to heaven to avoid burning in hell. You don't realize that this is hell."
Greg...you have been a big part of the soundtrack of so many lives (even those that misunderstood your lyrics). Thank you.
And, sleep sweet prince.
Here's one last video that always makes me smile."Reunited."
The eyes of the nation will be on Chicago next week as it hosts the Democratic National Convention; a convention just as historic as the one the Windy City hosted in 1968.
In a sensational piece in the Chicago Sun-Times today, Neil Steinberg asks the question: how will the City of Big Shoulders be viewed at the end of next week? Some believe it will be an opportunity for Chicago to shrug off all the shade being thrown its way for being a dangerous place. Others believe it to be a lose-lose proposition because people who are predisposed to believe Chicago is dangerous won't care if it looks spectacular...they'll hold on to those beliefs.
My favorite quote in the piece, though, comes from political publicist Thom Serafin, who says people in Chicago tend to look at the cost but not the benefit of big events.
“Like NASCAR,” he said. “The revenue numbers did not substantiate all the effort. The profit is in people watching all over the world. Watching that skyline, thinking, ‘I’m going to go there next year. I want to be there. It’s a beautiful city. The setting is so beautiful.’”
And, that is why we host big events. Detroit absolutely changed its narrative it with the NFL Draft.
Here's hoping Chicago can do the same next week.
This past week, several hospitality corporations caused market volatility by suggesting that consumers are pulling back from 2023 spending levels with their brands. Conveniently missing from their comments was that, just maybe, their offerings no longer hold the same appeal as they once did; that consumers are just as interested in traveling...just not to these particular products.
Take AirBnb's claim that market demand for travel is softening. Then why aren't branded hotels sounding the same alarm? Could it be that the STR platforms have allowed marginal players into their mix, causing those of us that initially loved the experience to think twice, three times before booking because we've been burned by experiences that were not even close to what was promised? Our last three rentals have encouraged us to go back to branded and boutique hotels...and I'm sure we're not the only ones. So...it's not the consumer. It's a decline in product quality.
Or Disney's excuse for their Theme Parks posting flat numbers YTD. You can say it's consumers pulling back, but (as reported in the WSJ) a longtime regular customer opines, "Disney has gotten ridiculously expensive. And I ate much better in Italy for much cheaper."
Consumer demand will naturally flatten somewhat after the post-COVID fueled spike and with the American presidential election weeks away. But, let's not send the economy into a dizzy by broad-based claims that it's the consumer...when it might be the quality and price of the product.
Just sayin...
Sad news this past week that Steven Tyler's vocal chord rehab was unsuccessful...and he'll be unable to complete the farewell tour with Aerosmith. While certainly unfortunate for all that wanted to see the Bad Boys from Boston one more time, can you believe that this didn't happen sooner? One listen to the intro scream of "Walk on Water" and you have to marvel that his vocal chords lasted as long as they did.
Aerosmith was born from the Blues (Train Kept a Rollin'), veered into mainstream (Don't Want to Miss a Thing) and always flirted with country (Crazy).
And, of course, the video that changed everything: "Walk This Way."
On this Music Friday, we are heartened that while their touring days are over, there are rumors that a new studio album may still be in the offing.
Glad I saw them in concert in their prime.
Here's Steven's solo (country) track: "Love is Your Name."
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