#TBT #Vinyl WLS Animal Stories, Larry Lujack, 1981

Animal Stories Larry Lujack

Animal Stories
Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards
WLS Radio 
1981

Highly acclaimed, world renowned Animal Stories with charming and delightful Ol’ Uncle Lar and sidekick snot-nosed Little Tommy. 

If you grew up near Chicago in the 70s or 80s and have a dark sense of humor, Animal Stories, a daily bit from the Superjock on WLS-AM and later WLS-FM, may be the reason. This record was the first of 3 volumes released by ‘LS on vinyl. 

Larry Lujack Tommy Edwards

Animal Stories WLS

#TBT #CD Green Day, Dookie, 1994

Green Day Dookie

Green Day 
Dookie
Reprise Records
1994

25 years ago this week, I added this unknown band to our station’s playlist. The label freaked out over the “too-early add.”  The band’s management sent me a bottle of Jameson. And after they sold many millions of CDs, they sent me this.

Talk smack all you want about Green Day — I don’t care, still like this record! 

 

Jack Monson WXRX

 

#TBT #Vinyl Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High Soundtrack

Various Artists
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Soundtrack
Elektra Records
1982

Aloha, Mr Hand.  Aloha, Spicoli. 

New Wave. Power Pop. Hard Rock. 4 of the 5 Eagles. That’s what 1982 was all about. This film set the trend for soundtracks for many years…and the brand of shoes I still buy today. 

Gnarly.   

Fast Times at Ridgemont High Soundtrack

Fast Times at Ridgemont High Soundtrack

Fast Times at Ridgemont High Soundtrack

 

MITCon: Innovation and Leadership

MITCon

 

I’m looking forward to the International Franchise Association’s Marketing Innovation & Technology Conference Oct 17 – 19! I am honored to serve as a co-chair and the emcee of this year’s festivities.

The above quote from Steve Jobs reminds me that the marketers and technology pros joining us next week in Austin at #MITCon are truly the leaders in the Franchise space. They may think they’re coming to listen and learn. But by participating in this very engaging format of discussions, panels, and workshops, they will actually start innovating their own processes, brands, and industries while we’re there! They’ll start innovating before they even now it.

Consider this:

If they weren’t interested in innovation, they wouldn’t go.

If they weren’t interested in getting ahead of their competitors, they wouldn’t go.

If they weren’t interested in being thought leaders in this crazy business, they wouldn’t go.

If they weren’t interested in networking with really smart people, they wouldn’t go.

 

It would be easy to stay home and not go to such events. But Innovation ain’t easy!  #InnovationAintEasy

There’s still time to step up and join us next week in Austin! Registration and details for #MITCon are available now via The IFA website.

And, for some great tips on getting the most from this conference and any conference, download this week’s Social Geek Radio episode. Angela Cote of Cultivate Advisors joined me to share her Top 3 Networking Hacks!

 

 

#TBT #Vinyl Sponge, Rotting Piñata, 1994

Sponge Rotting Piñata

Sponge
Rotting Piñata
WORK Group Records / Sony Music
1994

Sponge was a favorite band of mine in the 90s. My radio station was one of the first to play these guys outside of their native Detroit, so the band’s management and label sent me a gold record when they hit 500,000 units in sales. 

This was my first gold record I ever received from a band and I was thrilled!!!

Then …  I unwrapped it and realized they spelled my name wrong. Oh, well. I still love this album, the band, and the gift. 

 

Sponge Rotting Piñata

Sponge Rotting Piñata

 

 

 

 

The Future of Social Media in Retail

RTO World

 

What’s more important: driving traffic to a website or driving traffic into your store?  Increasing some vanity metric or increasing sales? These questions lead to a future filled with successful social media marketing programs for retailers!

My colleague Mike McDowell from Social Joey and I will be speaking about The Future of Social Media in Retail on August 21 at #RTOWorld18 in St Louis.

We’ll share today’s best practices and results from brands, franchises, and small businesses as well as tomorrow’s tactics for which retailers need to plan. We’ll cover:

  • Facebook posting – how often, from where, and what types of content
  • Facebook Ads – boost or create stand-alone ads?
  • Instagram posting for local retailers
  • Using Facebook Messenger as an ad network and as a customer service channel
  • Who should be conducting your social orchestra?

If you’re attending this awesome conference hosted by APRO and TRIB Groupplease join us on Tuesday afternoon for this presentation and conversation!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#TBT #Vinyl The Blues Brothers Soundtrack, 1980

Blues Brothers Soundtrack

The Blues Brothers 
Orignal Soundtrack 
Atlantic Records
1980

The greatest soundtrack ever. The greatest movie ever. Filmed in the greatest city ever.  Hit it. 

Blues Brothers Soundtrack

Blues Brothers Soundtrack