Coffee Break: What 80s Track Could Be Your Business Theme Song?

August 5, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment

You may have heard me recently bemoaning that many of my favorite 80s tunes have become the musical backdrop for hawking all manner of goods and services.

A couple of months back John and I were watching a segment on VH1 Classics (it PAINS me to refer to the 80s as classic, BTW..), and it was noted that a band member of Modern English was paid $90,000 in royalties to allow the song “Melt” to be used in a Burger King® commercial.

That kind of coin can buy a lot of Whoppers® — and I suspect that’s what the songwriter was thinking as well.

All this to say, it got me to thinking — if you could select one of your favorite 80s song to be your business’ musical theme song, what would you choose?

You could use your theme song in any manner of ways:

Your “on hold” music for your call center;
Your web or television commercials;
Your infomercial;
Played at your annual company conventions, etc.

For the sake of this poll, let’s assume that money is no object — you don’t need to worry about paying royalties.

And, while this little diversion is just for fun, you never know what sort of marketing epiphany might arise from it!

So, would you go for:

Cautiously optimistic, like Bon-Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer?”
Contemplative, like “Should I Stay or Should I Go” from The Clash?
A Survivor anthem, like “Eye of the Tiger?”
or, are you taking it “Day by Day,” like the Hooters?

Submit your theme song in the comments area below — if the reason behind your choice isn’t immediately obvious, be sure and tell us why you selected it.

One note of “fine print”: this is a family-friendly site, so please keep those submissions G-rated.

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Filed under COFFEE BREAK · Tagged with 80s music, business theme song, marketing ideas

Desperately Seeking Madonna

August 25, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment

The “Material Girl” herself, Madonna, recently celebrated her fiftieth (YES, 50th!) birthday–a fact which was not lost on me. Like many of our readers (you know who you are), it seems like only yesterday that I was all decked out in my best 80s wear, complete with jelly bracelets.

Other than keeping you awake at night with that mental picture, what’s my point?

If Madonna is looking for a new gig as she kicks off the next 50 years, she might want to consider a career in marketing consulting. The other obvious options as Red Hat Society® member or AARP spokeswoman would certainly pale by comparison, don’tcha think?

Over the years, Madonna has grown adept at reinventing herself. She has blazed her own trail, and played by her own set of rules. Love her or hate her, you have to respect her market savvy. Long before Paris, Britney and LiLo were making headlines, Madonna had us in the palm of her hand…and she made it look effortless. These days, that kind of longevity is hard to come by. In a market that is eternally plugged-in, one-hit wonders are not exactly in short supply.

Madonna-as-Marketer would be both compelling and engaging. One can almost imagine what her tales-from-the-trenches seminars might be like…complete with large screens, a kick-butt soundtrack, and multiple costume changes. Rather than the cliche concert t-shirt, she could hawk her own line of motivational books, CDs and DVDs. And, can you imagine the impact if she were to venture into the coaching game? Somewhere in California, Tony Robbins just got a chill down his spine…

Yes, I think that it is about time that Madonna accepted her “True Blue” calling–and imparted some of those golden nuggets to the rest of us. But until that day comes, we still need to find a way to keep our businesses fresh, relevant, and at the forefront. Whether you are hosting online webinars, posting short promotional videos, or “leaking” information on your newest launch, a little creative thinking can have you well on your way.

Looking for more creative inspiration? Pick up a copy of the September issue of Create the Dream!® Magazine. We find it is best enjoyed with your favorite 80s tunes playing softly in the background.