Why Britney HOPES She Loses Those Kids Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Filed under: Music, News, Publicist I Would NOT Want To Be This Week!, Television, celebrity, entertainment, gossip, public relations — ilovemypublicist @
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An Associated Press story said that Britney Spears lost custody of her children because she failed to produce a California driver’s license and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test, her lawyer said in a magazine report.

“We weren’t able to prove compliance with what the judge ordered,” attorney Sorrell Trope told People magazine.

“Specifically,” he said, “the judge ordered that by 10 a.m. (Monday) morning, both parties show valid California driving licenses. I’ve been unable to produce evidence of that.”

Prescription: Whoopi Goldberg said on the view this morning that Britney has been “Britney Spears” for so long that she doesn’t know how to take care of herself or her kids because she has been taking care of others, including KFED for a long time. So long that she has come to realize that she may not be cut out for motherhood.

There is another part to that. Besides all her “staged” encounters with the paparazzi ( which usually in the past worked to her advantage) Brit-Brit is at her wits ends on how to get back to being “Britney Spears” again. Think about it. Nothing has been working. Not the half naked photo shoots, driving with her kids in her lap or even opening the MTV awards. Losing her kids, will in fact be the best thing for her career. Why? Because the rehab (Paris), jail (Nicole), Baby (Nicole), out of control actress (Lindsey) thing as already been done.

Her career is dangling by the last strand of her bad weave and losing her kids could provide the most original comeback story to date.

You heard it here first.

 

Singers’ Beef with Essence Is Really About Being Black Monday, September 24, 2007

Filed under: EUR, Essence Magazine, KeKe Wyatt, Music, News, R & B, african american, entertainment, gossip — ilovemypublicist @

      KeKe Wyatt 

                                                                    KeKe Wyatt /photo credit:EURweb

Keke Wyatt is not happy with Essence.com following her Q&A that appeared last month to promote her new album, “Ghetto Rose.”The 25-year-old Indianapolis native vents her frustration with the article, and claims she was “badly misquoted” when the discussion turned toward her biracial background. Many readers were also offended by Wyatt’s reference to black people as “they” and reference to her straight locks as “pretty hair.” Actual quotes from the article reads as follows:

No, I’m not all Black, but I definitely stand up for the Black people. They’ve had it rough, they can’t help the fact that they’re skin is dark, or that their nose is a lil’ wider or that the curls in their hair might be tighter.I don’t think that it’s fair for people who look like me—the light skin, pointy nose and pretty hair—to think that dark-complected people are any less than them.

My best friends are Black—I mean, Black-Black…

Prescription: Now folks may not remember that Keke stabbed her husband back in 2002. Though it may be a coincidence, at the time sales of Wyatt’s debut album, Soul Sista, increased after the singer’s arrest.

The drama with Essence is perfectly timed to the release of her new album “Ghetto Rose”.   And while a rose is still a rose, church attendance and drama alone does not sell records. A little ignorance might get you a number one single. Wyatt explains to EUR’s Lee Bailey how she was misquoted in the response, as well as in other passages throughout the essence.com article.

Listen to her response here: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur37014.cfm

 

Kayne West Makes a Dollar Out of 50 Cent Sunday, September 23, 2007

Filed under: Music, News, african american, entertainment, hip hop, media — ilovemypublicist @

 

 The two rappers spent much of the summer jousting about who would win the first-week-sales battle.

While Mr. West generally avoided triumphant predictions, 50 Cent wasn’t shy about reminding listeners that he was the odds-on favorite.

Now the numbers are in, and it’s not even close. According to Nielsen SoundScan “Graduation” sold 957,000 copies in its first week, while “Curtis” sold only 691,000 copies. It’s the best opening of Mr. West’s career. And it’s the worst opening of 50 Cent’s career.

This is a great day for Universal, the record company that distributes both albums- although you might feel sorry for the Universal executives who have to field 50 Cent’s angry phone calls.

Prescription:  In every “Win-Win” situation there is always a loser somewhere. Yes, there were tons of TV appearances and radio interviews- KUDOS to the PR department at Universal–Whoop Whoop! But, the real PR strategy here was not to let two ego maniac rappers direct their public relations campaign. It was to let two ego maniac rappers THINK they were directing their own PR campaign. The result: a PR stunt many say will go down in history, Universal sells a $hit load of records, Kanye West seems a little friendlier and 50 Cent feels a little short changed.

My boy Kelefah @ the NY Times sums it up nicely here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20feud.html?_r=1&ref=music&oref=slogin

 

Why I want to be Osama Bin Laden’s Publicist..an editorial Thursday, September 20, 2007

Filed under: Business, Corporate America, IRAN, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Marketing, Music, News, Osama bin Laden, Television, african american, boxing, celebrity, entertainment, gossip, health, hip hop, media, mediatakeout.com, oscar De La Hoya, public relations — ilovemypublicist @

         

Just before the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden released a new videotape, in which he adopts a neo-Marxist posture, suggesting that mortgage debt, global warming, growing wage inequality and other ills are a result of greed from multinational corporations and politics of the West.

Osama released a new message today calling for attacks.

The hype surrounding the release of Osama’s new tape got me to thinking– if Osama was a rap star, or a big movie actor like Tom Cruise, I would probably be the richest publicist on the planet. So rich I could buy up all the world’s oil and sell it in cute little bottles at the 99cent store.

He seems like he would be a typical client… always wanting the world to hear what he’s got to say. And, he would always be coming up with some new idea or theory for me to publicize.  Just like most celebrity clients, he would be somewhat hard to get on the phone.

It wouldn’t matter if people liked me or not because I would be holding the key to the voice of the most notorious person on the planet. Imagine it.  This guy releases a new tape almost every year and if it was available on iTunes, it would make a killing (not literally). He changes the color of his beard and people pay attention. Osama is, in fact, the new Britney Spears.

And just like Britney, at some point people will no longer pay attention to what he has to say and who knows, one day an Osama tape just might flop. But none of that will happen until Osama walks the red carpet in a hideous outfit. But then, that would be new, news right?

 

The NEW Britney Spears photo you want to see Sunday, August 26, 2007

Filed under: Music, News, celebrity, entertainment, gossip, media, public relations, publicity — ilovemypublicist @

 Britney is pulled over by L.A. Highway patrol for speeding- August 24  

If the headline to this blog and the photo above look and feel like a set up you are wrong, it’s called Buzzzzz.

Looks more like we are being set up for Britney’s big comeback song about her “baby boy” deserting her.

The track - which has been leaked on the internet - features the 25-year-old divorced mother-of-two singing a ballad over a slow beat to the sound of toy chimes.  A source said, “This is obviously just a demo and not a finished or official release in any way. It is a shame someone would leak unfinished, unmastered and incomplete work.”

We’ll just have to see if Britney can do it one more time.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0824spears-CR.html

http://omg.yahoo.com/week-in-photos:-august-19-26/photos/531#comments

Photo Credit: HotShots World Wide/Splash News

 

The Remake of Keyshia Cole Into Mary J. Blige Friday, August 24, 2007

Filed under: Keyshia Cole, Marketing, Mary J Blige, Music, News, R & B, african american, celebrity, entertainment, hip hop, media, mediatakeout.com, public relations, publicity — ilovemypublicist @

Keyshia Cole is just like you 

The seeds were planted early. When we first heard Keyshia Cole’s raspy yet distinguished voice it reminded everyone of only one person we had heard before- Mary J. Blige. Keyshia had that same swagger and toughness and that “thing” that made her a little rough around the edges but very likeable. Just like when we first met Mary back in the 90’s. Then we saw Keyshia team up with Diddy. Just like Mary. And sometime early last year the comparisons were just too many to overlook which brings us to the current marketing campaign for Keyshia Cole’s new album.

Both ladies are on the same record label so the hype can be controlled and managed internally. Nice set up right? Smart.

At first, the tag line doesn’t really make sense. Just like you? Is she trying to connect with her fans in a more personal way, trying to drive home the message, you and I are one?

Or, is there an underlying message to fuel new rumors, spark excitement for sales and set the stage for the entrance of a new diva into the world of R & B?

Do you think the record label is setting up a controversy to drive sales?

Read about the new cover and news here:

http://www.mediatakeout.com/

http://www.vibe.com/blog/vc/2007/08/keyshia_coles_new_cd_cover_sur.html

 

Was it media God or HUSBAND, Slapped Preacher Juanita Bynum? Thursday, August 23, 2007

Filed under: Juanta Bynum, Music, News, abuse, african american, celebrity, entertainment, legal, media, public relations, publicist, publicity — ilovemypublicist @

     

Photo Credit: Google Images/ Rich Addicks/AJC

 

Juanita Bynum, a preacher whose fiery and frank sermons about women’s empowerment have won her a national following, was attacked by her husband in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel early Wednesday morning, police said.

Bynum and her estranged husband, Thomas W. Weeks III, had met up at Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to try to reconcile, Atlanta police said. But while at the parking lot about 4 a.m., the two got into a physical fight until a bellman at the hotel pulled Bynum’s husband off her, Officer Ronald Campbell said.

“She was bruised up and battered,” Campbell said. “She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso.”

The husband, who is also a preacher, left the scene. No charges have been filed against him, according to police.

Prescription: Every action has a reaction. Ms. Bynum is a public figure and there are really two options as to how she can handle this situation. She can either retreat and try not to comment because this story will eventually fade away Or, after the dust and emotions settle it might be a good time to chat with a publicist about how to use this public incident to leverage her divorce case, raise her public profile, elevate her platform for women’s empowerment and drive sales of her books and cd’s.

We’ll have to see how this prays out.

Like a rapper who goes to jail, does this incident give Ms. Bynum more credibility?Read the story here:http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/08/22/bynum_0823.html

 

Foxy Brown Joins Paris Hilton Jail Tour, Baby in her Bag Thursday, August 23, 2007

Filed under: Foxy Brown, Music, News, african american, celebrity, entertainment, hip hop, legal, media, public relations, publicity — ilovemypublicist @

    It’s the hottest ticket in town. A front row seat in the media pit to watch celebrities like Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell and Nicole Richie go to jail. Get your tickets now for the Foxy Brown show. Clubbing someone with a Blackberry, driving with a few drinks in ya, or even a few drugs in your system is hardly enough to get quality media attention anymore. 

An heiress in handcuffs, a supermodel sweeping trash. Even Nicole Richie tried to top them all by getting pregnant with a ”little Richie” after her “eating disorder”. But no celebrity can top going deaf and loosing your hearing…for a little while….I said, no celebrity can top LOSING YOUR HEARING, assault, getting married and getting pregnant as you go off to jail.  

Now Foxy did get some media attention when she lost her hearing but it was mostly from hip hop and music press.  The story didn’t really move the dial with mainstream media. Until now.

Foxy’s lawyer sums up today’s prescription for spin with a great quote that  breaks down all the elements one might need to get the media’s attention if you are trying to promote a new project. He said “… Brown is three months’ pregnant….(she) has turned her life around with her pregnancy, wedding plans and deals for a new album and reality television show.”   His quote sums up the recipe for a Ratings Pie and juicy content for the Foxy Brown reality show.  And, apparently it tastes really good.  Going to jail can be now be considered part of one’s PR strategy.  According to google news there are 827 new stories reporting on this including CNN. 

When you hear about a celebrity heading to jail does it make you more or less interested in them? 

Read the story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/22/people.foxybrown.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

 

Can I get a McAss with that Shake? Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Filed under: Business, Corporate America, Marketing, Music — ilovemypublicist @

             

Rapper Twista, who was tapped by McDonald’s to perform during its nationwide concert series, has been dropped from the lineup because of his “controversial lyrics,” the fast food giant said Monday. 

The Chicago rapper is better known for his lightning-fast rap delivery than particularly raunchy content: His hits include “Slow Jamz,” with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx, and “Overnight Celebrity.” However, he does use explicit language and reference drugs in his some of his rhymes.

McDonald’s, which initially signed the rapper to perform in Chicago for its 10-city concert series, said it could no longer support Twista for the Aug. 7 performance. 

“Although we respect free speech and artistic expression, we do not condone or perpetuate derogatory language,” said spokesman William Whitman in a statement. “We want to ensure these free concerts are fun as well as appropriate for all of our customers.”

Prescription: Things like this happen a lot in big companies where the brand is a mega giant in it’s industry. I think this was just a case of smart marketing people who were too busy pushing and promoting its brand to a core audience and demographic that they forgot or maybe overlooked a minor detail that had the potential to blow up in it’s face–Twista’s explicit lyrics and a possible connection to happy meals for kids.

Now, I’m not one to take food out of anyone else’s mouth, Twista, ( no pun intended) but McDonald’s did the right thing by pulling him off the tour. The idea was a great concept but not really a good overall fit for the brand. But, props have to go Twista for his final rebuttal:

Twista said that typically, when he performs at events that are more mainstream and that attract kids, he cleans up his lyrics, and had intended to do so for the Chicago performance.

“I was actually going to have a school with a choir come sing the song ‘Hope’ with me. So now … McDonald’s have to tell the kids that they can’t perform.”

Imagine Ronald McDonald delivering that message!

Read the story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_en_mu/music_mcdonald_s_twista