Retro Communications

I came across this post on Lee Smith’s Talking Internal Communications Blog. I think what Lee points out is that, as communicators we tend to flock to the new channels and act as though the old channels are dead. Of course, they aren’t and as we begin to understand the new channel – or in this case the new world(!) – the place of the old channels in the overall landscape clarifies. I think that’s what’s happening with retro communications. The nature of face to face and audio may change – it’ll probably become less formal as social media drives more familiarity and accessibility via conversations – but they’ll still be an important element of the communicators portfolio.

Apple versus iRiver

I confess I'm not an Apple fan when it comes to mp3 players. I don't like the way in which iTunes and iPods lock you in to Apple as a supplier. So I was particularly distressed that the Amazon page for my trusty old iRiver H140 states that the iRiver is no longer available and the replacement is the Apple iPod. If I were iRiver I'd have something to say about that!

Melody Gardot

I love soft jazz. Singers like Eva Cassidy and Madeleine Peyroux can be found on my iRiver. I would have loved to have gone to hear Billie Holiday in her prime. And having had a musical education, I particularly a good melody. So it was great to come across Worrisome Heart - the debut album from Melody Gardot (You can hear Melody sing the title track on NBC here). It’s smooth, well crafted, with an acoustic-bluesy edge. I especially like the fact that she wrote all the songs herself. I don’t think there’s a stand out track – they’re all good – although I love the feel on Quiet Fire. Enjoy!

What a great video!

Which one are you?

Number 4282

Well my number arrived for the Silverstone Half Marathon today. The race is on 9 March. I'm number 4282. I've got one long training run this weekend, then a short run early next week following which I'll be resting before the big day. Sub two hours and injury free means I'll be lining up for the London Marathon in April so there's a lot to race for. Wish me luck!

Nostagia

I’m getting older. As I do I’m getting more nostaligic. And the web has enabled me to not just reminisce, but to travel back to those days. I can get the music I remember from just about anywhere. The TV programmes are on those obscure Sky channels. I can get the games, the clothes and anything else from eBay. I can even re-find my old friends through social networking sites such as Friends Reunited. Lots of people have speculated on what is behind the ‘nostalgia boom’ – some say it’s a longing for simpler times. I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that the marketeers have moved in and we now have ‘nostalgic marketing’. It’s a shame not even our memories are free from commercialisation!

Facebook on the slide ?

As suspected, the number of Facebook transactions has started to decline. See the BBC story this week. I guess we all knew that would happen. The quote from Nic Howell is most revealing though. Nic says "Social networking is as much about who isn't on the site as who is - when Tory MPs and major corporations start profiles on Facebook, its brand is devalued, driving its core user base into the arms of newer and more credible alternatives.” This is yet another example of where corporations, representing the status quo, try to move in everyone moves on. I predict this will keep happening as Generation Y people know instinctively when they’re being sold to and when the commercial boys have moved in. And so far , they’ve been able to stay one step ahead.