thoughts after PLMA

In the beginning the world was divided into people who made things and people who bought them, and the people who made the things that other people bought put their names on them so that the people who bought the things that the other people made could see who made them. In this new era of brand stretch, the people who buy things get the people who make things to put the names of the people who buy things on the things that get made so that the people who buy things can benefit from any loyalty from customers and any profit from intellectual property that might accrue if the things that are made are any good.

At the Private Label Manufacturing Associations shingdig, called horrifically 'the world of private label' manufacturers sit on pale anonymous booths surrounded by products with a display stand announcing 'your brand here', like some fairground attraction. In this dystopian view of the future, all products are the same - only the labels change....

jazzzzzzzzzzz ....... nice!

Have now developed a serious jazz addiction fuelled by my friends at Blue Note. An honour and a privilege to working on this iconic jazz brand. Launched in 1939 by two german immigrees in New York it was one of the few labels that recognised Jazz's label as America's classical music. As a brand there was a clear ethos of delivering quality regardless of commercialism, and the investment was always in the product. As with so many success stories luck played a part, but destiny works for those who have passion and so it was with Alfred Lion and Francis Wolf, who's collaboration with designer Reid Miles is remarkable for its vivid visual style.

Think of another jazz label that is also a brand? Universal? HMV? Columbia. What have any of these labels ever done to endear themselves to the artist? Blue Note, or in France, la note bleu - cherished drug-addled geniuses long before they were treated as anything other than the dregs of society and, as long as it is cared for, will always be "the musician's label"

May update

Sorry I haven't updated in a while .... I guess it's a good sign - things have been slightly busy. The business is now getting off the ground and, if you've been paying close attention, we're recruiting. So far the candidates have been excellent and the competition is going to be fierce!