Brands

Keeping on the music theme, burgeoning NYC/Philly-based band Cold Cave is making the most of its recent signing with stalwart label Matador Records. The band's "Life Magazine" track from its new Love Comes Close effort provides the score for a new 15-second holiday ad from Radio Shack. People are already crying sellouts but who knew the brand (or Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners?) had their fingers so firmly on the pulse of hipster nation?

Via Stereogum

More: "$100 Million Radio Shack Account Goes to Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners"

We know Air Jordans cost a pretty penny, but who knew they'd be this detrimental to someone's wallet? Wishing to keep his father's legacy intact, Marcus Jordan stuck to his word (which has been talked about for weeks) and donned a pair of His Airness's kicks at the University of Central Florida's exhibition b-ball opener. The only problem? UCF (the alma mater of yours truly) has a six-year, $3 million deal with Adidas. Now having been stung by son Jordan, the brand has nixed its contract with the school.

"The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso tells the Orlando Sentinel. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

According to Deadspin, Jordan's valiant statement didn't quite pay off as he scored 1 point and went 0-for-3 in 23 minutes of play.

More: "Sometimes, a Product Sells Itself"

"My name is Ram, and my tank is full" spouts the semi-old-mannish voice over leading in to the newest TV spot for Dodge brand Ram, the automaker's truck line. Click here to see the spot.

Also, the presentation seems to have included an image belonging to Jalopnik. Oops! Here's the original.

More: "Chrysler So Far: Jeep to Expand Globally"

After weeks of taking the hit, AT&T has now officially responded to Verizon's "There's a Map for That" campaign in the form of a lawsuit. The former company alleges that in the ad, which mocks the iPhone's "There's an App for That" theme, its wireless rival is misleading consumers about AT&T's range of coverage by using a map with large amounts of blank space. According to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T contends the map suggests that the blank spots indicate the complete lack of coverage and not just 3G.

"By communicating that AT&T customers have no coverage in large parts of the country, Verizon is misleading the public about an essential component of the services AT&T offers," the lawsuit says. Verizon, though, is dismissing the suit, which company spokesman Jim Gerace says to the WSJ "doesn't have any merits. Our ads clearly explain that non-3G coverage is available elsewhere."

(note: McCann New York is the agency behind "Map for that".)

More: "There's a Map for That"

Just a day before Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is set to unveil the 5-year strategy for the brand, Jalopnik's unearthed patent/trademark filings for what appears to be Chrysler's new logo (above).

The blog offers a Chrysler logo timeline which leads up to the new flat, winged design, which commenters point out looks awfully similar to Aston Martin's emblem. Jalopnik adds, "if this thing's correct, it'll look like complete crap." According to Autoblog, Dodge cars will also lose their old Ram's head logo for something new. Guess Marchionne will need all six hours to explain things in tomorrow's press briefing.

More: "BBDO, Chrysler to Call it a Day in 2010?"

That's what Mediaite is theorizing after the automaker announced this morning that it posted $997 million in Q3 profit.

According to Business Week, Ford is allocating 25% of its marketing budget to digital/social media efforts (more than twice the amount spent by the industry) like the Ford Fiesta Movement.

While the automaker attributes cost cuts, market share gains and Cash for Clunkers as the main profit drivers, it should probably apply equal credit to its social media chief Scott Monty. Under his leadership, the company rolled out several community-driven programs like the Summer of Taurus, the 2010Mustang.com site and the aforementioned Fiesta effort.

This past summer, the company itself gloated:

"Ford's strategy is betting on the continued rise in social media's popularity, and its online numbers reflect the buzz. Agent postings have garnered significant numbers on social media sites through the first quarter of the Fiesta Movement--more than 1.8 million YouTube views, more than 270,000 Flickr views and more than 1.8 million Twitter impressions, resulting in more than 13.2 million interactions."

With Ford posting a 22% sales decline this year through Q3, the lowest of the six largest automakers, we'll have to see how third-place Detroit brand Chrysler reacts when it announces its big plans on Wednesday.

More: "GM's Top Ad Exec Heads for Zee Hills"

Starting next month, GM will join the get-internet-in-your-car bandwagon via an option package that includes a router and 1GB of downloads per month. For just $500, you can have the package installed, and then just another $30 per month gets you Web service, which you can't encrypt (meaning anyone can steal it from you), from up to 150 feet away from your car. One word to describe this option (also available from Chrysler/VW): Ack!

Sure, there are folks who can afford this and who will pay for it. They're chumps, probably, if-but-not-only-if for the sheer price they're willing to pay for a service you can easily obtain via a smart phone. Tethering is all the rage these days — it doesn't cost anything more, is secure and doesn't require any additional equipment (the Palm Pre, for example, can give your laptop Web service wirelessly).

So, why is a blogger bitching? Because it shows that GM doesn't understand what consumers really need right now. Think of it like the auto-parking feature — an over-indulgent, resource-wasting technology that just makes us dumber, less capable beings. When you're in your car, just fucking drive. The kids can deal with not having access to whatever they do online while they commute to school, and you, sirs, can manage without it.

The point: just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Image

Autoblog via AutoNews

More: "The New GM Ad: Poop"

Missing a Wisconsin state court appearance has cost PepsiCo a whopping $1.26 billion, which they've been ordered to pay as part of a case brought by Charles Joyce and James Voigt. The two Wisconsin men say the soft drink giant stole the idea to bottle and sell purified water from them.

First, some history. According to Yahoo! Finance, the litigation dates back to April, when Joyce and Voigt say two Pepsi distributors misappropriated trade secrets from confidential discussions the plaintiffs had with them back in 1981, which was then passed on to Pepsi who used it do develop and sell Aquafina. Sounds like Denizen found a couple kindred spirits.

PepsiCo now however argues that it was improperly served with the Wisconsin lawsuit in North Carolina and filed motions to vacate the order and dismiss the claims on Oct. 13th. While the plaintiffs maintain they served a lawsuit in June, Pepsi says it wasn't even aware of it until October 6th. The company's (weak) excuse for this which is listed in its motion to vacate is that a secretary in its law department was "so busy preparing for a board meeting," that she put a legal document concerning the case aside and didn't tell anyone about it.

But seeing as Aquafina has already been on the market for 15 years before the lawsuit arrived, the company says that the statute of limitations should preclude it. "The $1.26 billion judgment that has been entered is unprecedented in size and justice requires that PepsiCo have a chance to defend itself," Pepsi added in a statement.

More: "Pepsi Unplugs Amp iPhone App"

Marc Ecko, purveyor of the Ecko clothing line, sold a 51% stake in his company to Iconix (owner of Candies, London Fog, Rocawear and other brands) today, the New York Post reports.

Ecko is known for overspending, and has sold his brand name to get out of debt. But the designer isn't remorseful:

"I've had a crazy, wild ride. I've done a lot of things that have been naive," Ecko told The Post. "I'll take my lumps for a lot of things that, in retrospect, were a little indulgent. Life happens. I don't regret any of it."

What's the point of having millions if a guy can't spend it?

The deal brought in nearly $64 million in cash and $90 million in financing for a new project, which Ecko will take lead of as CEO. He The brand projects it will also make $42-44 million annually in his new role.

Full Story

More: "Turn Finger Paint Work into a Times Square Billboard"

Why should Droid hog all the spotlight today? Fans who downloaded the Prius Experience iPhone app, which launched in August and was developed by appssavvy, can now put their finger painting skills to the test somewhat.

Along with playing mini-games and viewing ads touting Toyota's hip, hybrid electric car, you can now diddle your iPhone screen and "draw shapes to interact with the Prius." The selling point, though, according to Mashable is that if you choose to submit your creation, it'll likely be broadcast on the highly visible Reuters and NASDAQ digital displays in Times Square, a campaign that Saatchi & Saatchi LA was responsible for.

The displays will be updated in real-time throughout the day, so if you'd like to bask in your artistic glory, check out the livecams on the Times Square website.

More: "PETA Backs Down to Pressure, Replaces 'Blubber' Billboard"