Did you see American Idol last night? I was watching with my sons and I couldn’t believe the 5 minute “commercial” for iTunes, iPods and iPhones that Apple pulled off about 10 minutes into the show.
If you saw it, please post your comments here. Is this borderline pandering? Or is this just super-good marketing that is making me (and other marketers) jealous of how far Apple can go to spread its gospel.
Did you see American Idol last night? I was watching with my sons and I couldn’t believe the 5 minute “commercial” for iTunes, iPods and iPhones that Apple pulled off about 10 minutes into the show.
If you saw it, please post your comments here. Is this borderline pandering? Or is this just super-good marketing that is making me (and other marketers) jealous of how far Apple can go to spread its gospel.
Pandering? Not even close. Pandering has to do with things that are immoral, on the seamy side of life. This was just good marketing.
“If you start pandering to young people, you’re going to get accused of simply giving people what they want.
Brian Williams”
You’re correct of course Perry, pandering wasn’t the right word. What I meant to say is that it seems so contrived as to be leading the audience to believe these young artists actually use iTunes.
It’s like leading the witness here – see all these young, talented people use iTunes, iPod and iPhone…you should too. But it’s not real. Last week Ryan Seacrest reached into a crowd saying “what is that?” and snatched an iPhone from an audience member who was happily tapping away – and the screen was off the whole time!
I’m not against commercials (especially what Apple has paid for them) I just think these “user testimonials” are fake and make Apple look a bit desperate.
“You’re correct of course Perry, pandering wasn’t the right word.”
I have been thinking about the word to use to describe these situations. Maybe demagoguery or something along those lines. However, in my search I have seen the word pandering used in reference to appealing to people’s weaknesses, so maybe you were correct.
Anyway, I have yet to see more than a few minutes of the show American Idol. I like music, but the show doesn’t appeal to me.
Gotta run, chat with you later
Pandering? Not even close. Pandering has to do with things that are immoral, on the seamy side of life. This was just good marketing.
“If you start pandering to young people, you’re going to get accused of simply giving people what they want.
Brian Williams”
You’re correct of course Perry, pandering wasn’t the right word. What I meant to say is that it seems so contrived as to be leading the audience to believe these young artists actually use iTunes.
It’s like leading the witness here – see all these young, talented people use iTunes, iPod and iPhone…you should too. But it’s not real. Last week Ryan Seacrest reached into a crowd saying “what is that?” and snatched an iPhone from an audience member who was happily tapping away – and the screen was off the whole time!
I’m not against commercials (especially what Apple has paid for them) I just think these “user testimonials” are fake and make Apple look a bit desperate.
“You’re correct of course Perry, pandering wasn’t the right word.”
I have been thinking about the word to use to describe these situations. Maybe demagoguery or something along those lines. However, in my search I have seen the word pandering used in reference to appealing to people’s weaknesses, so maybe you were correct.
Anyway, I have yet to see more than a few minutes of the show American Idol. I like music, but the show doesn’t appeal to me.
Gotta run, chat with you later