Slacker Radio, One-Click Wonder

If you have yet to hear about Pandora Radio, it’s an automated music recommendation service. The user provides positive or negative feedback for songs and the service takes that into account for future songs it plays. With hyper-customization like that it’s no wonder the service has such a huge following.

I was definitely on the Pandora band wagon for a time. I only began to question my fanboy status when I started spending more time tailoring stations (i.e. liking, blocking and reassigning songs) than enjoying the music.

The more I modified a station, the narrower my listening experience became. At times I felt as if I listened to the same ten songs all day. If you’re like me (i.e. not a music hobbyist, authority or DJ by day), it seems near impossible to create a station that offers the musical highs, lows and surprises you might want in one sitting.

I want a robust and yet tailored listening experience and I want it in one click.  I also want to be surprised by new artists and beats that still compliment my music tastes. Is this a novel idea, am I asking for too much? I say no.

Perhaps I’m not Pandora’s target audience or maybe their technology is not keeping pace. If any of this resonates with you, check out Slacker Radio.

Slacker's genre stations are curated by real DJs and they do an astounding job profiling a variety of audiences. You can create playlists on Slacker but the stations are so niche, you don’t need to. Below are the Slacker Radio stations that won me over.

• Need to get energized at your desk? The Indie Electronic station keeps my brain churning. It is also great for when I’m feeling dancy.
• You couldn’t attend Coachella? Bummers! Slacker has stations that play what you missed at Cochella, the Grammys, Austin City Limits and more (plus similar music).
• Need a moment to Ommmm? They have Yogi-friendly stations too.
• Wanna kick-it old-school style? Slacker just launched their Old-School R&B station.

#LocalNewsProject is Born

There’s little doubt the Internet has changed the face of journalism. Today consumers access the news through a variety of ways including the ever popular Web sites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube – as well as the traditional print and broadcast options. As communication professionals, we often find ourselves looking at the next big thing to make its way to the forefront of reporting. We’re always asking, “What is the next big tool the public will use to acquire information about what’s happening in their world?” It’s this curious nature that has allowed our field to stay on top of emerging technology and identify trends in the industry. But, we need to do a better job of auditing the journalism landscape as a whole and assess not only what is up next, but also what still works.

For information on what media the public uses for their news I turned to a September 2011 Pew Internet study about local news consumption. Common sense would lead me to believe the average consumer finds their news entirely online, which could not be further from the truth. In fact, the news is very segregated by platform for the type of news consumers look for. Consumers tune into broadcast for breaking news, politics and crime stories while print is the primary vehicle for local government, local jobs and social service stories. Interestingly the study suggests the public primarily uses the Internet for consumer reviews on local business and restaurants.

With the emergence of social media there have been rumblings about the death of local media and rise of citizen journalism, but is this conclusion warranted? Based on the Pew Internet study it would be premature to say local media is on its way out. Truthfully, I actually feel because of social media, the local news is more important than ever before. The majority of my local news on Twitter comes from Seattle based KOMO, KING, KIRO and KCPQ. In addition, when I hear a rumor I log into Twitter and look for KOMO, KING, KIRO, KCPQ or The Seattle Times to confirm it’s true.

Building on the idea that local news is just as important today as it was five, ten or even 20 years ag

o, PN Seattle hosted a local media exercise during our latest thought leadership meeting. As any PR professional will tell you, the key to success in this industry is being able to engage and have a relationship not only with the public, but also with those who influence the public. In this case, based on the Pew research, we found the local media is as important of an influencer as any local blog or celebrity, if not more. It was with that in mind we decided we need to have a better understanding of the local media in Seattle.

The result of our exercise is a new learning experience for Seattle where Porter Novelli will share thoughts on the local media landscape through Twitter using the hashtag #LocalNewsProject. We decided to use Twitter to spread the message so we can interact and engage with the residents of Seattle and maybe even the reporters themselves. Interestingly, the aforementioned Pew Internet study noted 41% of users polled participate in sharing local news through Twitter – it only made sense to keep with the trend. For the next few months, subscribe to #LocalNewsProject to learn what we think the local media is doing right, where we go to find our local news and maybe just who our favorite Seattle reporters are.

Technorati Tags: News,Seattle,Local,KIRO,KING,KOMO,Seattle Times,Broadcast,Facebook,Twitter,YouTube,Economy,Weather,Jobs,Government,Porter Novelli,KCPQ,Social Media,PR,#LocalNewsProject

Movie Review: This Means War

Last week, the fabulous Miss Beth and I got the chance to check out an early screening of This Means War, a fluffy romcom starring Bane, Captain Kirk and June Carter. This movie is being marketed as a “something for everyone” package: violence and explosions and fun CIA gadgets for guys and the sort of disgustingly saccharine romance that makes even kittens want to punch themselves in the face for the ladies.

If you like Tom Hardy, Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon and are determined to watch every single damn movie they’re in, this movie is for you. If you like coherent plotlines, interesting characters, not having your intelligence insulted or good movies, this movie is not for you.

(They are not aiming at Reese. No matter how hard you squint.)

I won’t lie - I laughed out loud during some parts and Tom Hardy’s Tuck (which reminded me of the children’s novel Tuck Everlasting) and Chris Pine’s FDR (seriously, that was his character’s name) have great chemistry. In fact, Tuck and FDR had more chemistry than say, Tuck and Reese’s character, Laura, or FDR and Laura, or the villain and FDR and Tuck. Speaking of which…

The villain, whose name is not on IMDB but for some reason is listed as an FBI agent, had about 15 minutes total of screen time. His entire arc could have been cut completely and the movie wouldn’t have suffered (any more than it already does from, you know, the writing). His whole reason for existing in this movie is to exact revenge for the death of his… okay, I won’t spoil that for you. But basically aside from the romantic shenanigans, Tuck and FDR are also responsible for the death of someone. *cue the laughs!*

So what’s this movie about? Two men fall in love with the same woman and duke it out to win her affections. The ‘unique’ part about this tired trope is that Tuck and FDR are CIA agents who use their super special CIA resources to find out everything about Laura. They tailor their, um, seduction based off this information. So basically, when they all fall in mushy happy love with each other, it’s a lie. It’s all a big, fat frikin’ lie.

Buuut seeing as how this is a romcom I was willing to let it go, except for the ending which… Well, let me say this- if the ending were a person I’d slap it. I’d slap it for being dumb and I’d slap it just to make sure it knew how ridiculous it was being.

Bottomline: I give this movie two out of five Angela Bassets (oh, right, she was in this thing): one point for the comedy and one point for the awesomeness that is Tom Hardy in a suit. There were lots of fun action scenes and it did make me laugh but I walked out of the theater glad that our tickets were free.

(This is Tom Hardy in a suit. This is why this movie earned an extra point.)

P.S: Here’s a short version of the clever way the villain tracks down FDR and Tuck.  

Bad guy: (holding a scrap of FDR’s suit) I would like a suit made out of this material. But I want to make sure that it’s the only suit of this kind in the world.

Random Savile Row tailor: Nice fabric, yo! Oh hey, actually I made a suit out of this material like ages ago, man.

Bad guy: (flashes menacing smile) You don’t say? And where exactly does the man who owns this suit live?

Random Savile Row tailor: LA. But it’s not the real LA, it’s Vancouver made to look like LA, which…

Bad guy: Enough! 

Movie Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy

Fun fact about PN Seattle: A small group of folks from the office occasionally watch movies together after work.

I know, I know- it's weird that people who spend eight hours together in the office would willingly spend MORE time together outside of the office but hey, that's how we roll. Anyway, I digress...

A few weeks ago, we went to watch Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, the guy who plays Sherlock in the BBC update, and Bane. The movie was based on the novel by John Le Carre and is considered the ultimate spy tale (the book, not the movie).

Before I wax poetic about the clothes, the atmosphere and Gary Oldman, let me tell you upfront- I really liked this movie. If I had to rate it, I would give it four out of five bottles of vodka. 

(This is an accurate description of the movie)

This movie is all about restraint. Gary Oldman plays George Smiley, a retired MI6 agent, who has to identify a mole within the agency. He's an outcast– a former top guy looking in, so with his right hand (inside) man, Peter Guillam, he's working in the shadows to uncover the traitor.

What I liked about this movie was its atmosphere. Almost everything looks faded and worn- from the SIS headquarters to Smiley's workspace and all the places in-between. Taking place during the Cold War, you get the sense that the old guard is tired (Connie's hostel and Control's home) and a bit of a mess. This is a quiet movie, where the silences carry as much meaning as the dialogue and where almost every action hides a motive. A smile, a side-eyed glance, a hesitant look over the shoulder... there's a lot left to interpretation. It's a movie that demands attention (even if you had a long day like me... shut up, Noah and Will).

What I also squee'd over were the costumes. If you enjoy men in three peice suits, this movie is for you. At first glance, you might look at the characters and think- yeah suits, so what? But I thought each character's costume was so distinct and so reflective of his state of mind. Toby Esterhase is sharp and snappy, a bit flamboyant- he is a man who cares about appearances. Bill Haydon was dressed like his older counterparts in the Circus, but he showed bits of his personality- from his cufflinks to his desert boots, and he's one of the few in the movie that displayed any light-heartedness. And of course, there's George Smiley whose somber clothing reflects his quiet personality. He peers at documents and people with equal thoughtfulness and deliberation through his glasses, which were chosen with such care in the first part of the movie. 

Peter Guillam, the young MI6 agent, is more modern and less "military" than the men he works for. I mean, look at this handsome cat (trust, I never thought I'd say that about Sherlock).

Look how dapper he is- with his flash of color and modern hairstyle. You can't see them here but he wore slightly flared trousers, which -high-five, dude! Good job rockin' those.

So bottomline? I liked this movie. A lot. Watch it and see why Gary Oldman was nominated for an Oscar. He probably won't win (whatever Clooney, you play the SAME GUY IN EVERY MOVIE) but he damn well deserves to be recognized.

Side note: While I was walking out of the theater I overheard a guy tell his friends, "I don't know what just happened." Well, Real Steel is on DVD now so maybe you might have better luck understanding that. Seriously man, some movies require a bit more concentration than a text. 

So... what movies have you seen lately?

11 Holiday Songs that Don't Suck

I had the honor of scoring Porter Novelli Seattle's Christmas party this past weekend and it got me thinking: holiday music gets a bad rap.

Sure, we all get sick of bland, commercial versions of staples like "Sleigh Ride" and "Up on the Rooftop" before Thanksgiving weekend is even over, but, dig a little deeper and you'll find enough good Christmas and winter themed songs to score twelve nights worth of holiday parties. Like most musical genres, you just have to look a little deeper than your average music fan if you want to find the good stuff.

I've been collecting Christmas records, tapes, CDs and mp3s for more than two decades now, so, in the spirit of giving, here are eleven song recommendations to get you on your merry way.

11. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" – Read by Brent Barry and Vladamir Radmonovich
Taken from one of my most prized musical possessions, 2003’s Holidays With The Sonics (which also features Nick Collison, Rashard Lewis, Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen and coach Nate McMillan singing live with the Zion Preparatory Choir), this reading of the Dr. Suess classic is made extra special by the fact that Vladi reads English only slightly better than he plays defense.

10. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" – Belle & Sebastian
A tender, irony-free version of one of my favorite traditional Christmas songs.

9. "Daddy’s Drinkin’ Up Our Christmas" – John Guliak
The Loughan Brothers’ John Guliak performs this Commander Cody tale on It’s a Team Mint Xmas Vol. 2, a 2004 compilation from Canada's best Indie label.

8. "So This is Christmas" – The Polyphonic Spree
Polyphonic Spree’s massive, orchestral nature makes them a good choice to cover this John Lennon tune, which features that big, lovely chorus. This version is featured on the 2004 compilation Maybe This Christmas Tree, which also includes holiday goodness from The Raveonettes and Pedro the Lion.

7. "You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch" – Asylum Street Spankers
Austin's uniquely odd, old-timey group Asylum Street Spankers do a pretty straightforward version of this great theme song from the 1966 Christmas special How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

6. "Headcrushing’ Yuletide Sing-along" – Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors
Taken from my favorite Christmas album of all time, this medley is just traditional enough to sound like tasteful, straight-ahead holiday cheer when played as background music at your December gathering. Just hope your guests don't listen closely enough to hear that it’s actually a drunken mess of Mojo originals and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) reworkings of holiday classics. If you’re having decent people over, be sure to shut it off before “We Three Kings” (“...of Orient are, drinking whiskey in a nude bar).

5. "Alan Parson’s in a Winter Wonderland" – Grandaddy
"What if you built a snowman and he turned in to studio whiz Alan Parsons?” California's Grandaddy attempt to solve this musical mystery on Jeepster Records' 2000 compilation It’s a Cool, Cool Christmas.

4. "Fairytale of New York" – The Pogues
I’ve never been to New York City during the holidays, but I like to believe this British/Irish cult band has perfectly encapsulated the spirit of it, circa 1980. Two immigrants share a drunken reverie in city lock-up while Sinatra croons to the Macy’s crowd outside.

3. "Christmas in Hollis" – Run DMC
Perhaps the most recent addition to the canon of classic holiday pop songs, Run DMC’s 1990 original transcends genre and should be considered alongside recordings by Crosby, Cole and Specter in this category.

2. "364" – Murder City Devils
A gut-wrenching musical hypothesis about what Santa might do when it’s not Christmas day.

1. "Santa Stole My Baby" – The Mistreaters
A little-known track by Milwaukee garage rockers who would later record for seminal Bellingham, Washington label Estrus Records, this perfect slice of dirty holiday rock was taken from the Surprise Package series on Flying Bomb records.

Matt Ashworth is the head of the Seattle Technology practice, where he provides business-to-business and product PR counsel to Hewlett Packard, T-Mobile, Hitachi and others. A version of this article originally appeared on his wildly-unpopular Seattle music blog NadaMucho.com. Follow Matt on Twitter at @ashmatty. 

Post Script: Matt's Four Favorite Christmas Albums

4. Charlie Brown Christmas OST – Vince Guaraldi
3. Songs for Christmas – Sufjan Stevens
2. A Christmas Gift for You – Phil Specter & Friends
1. Horny Holidays – Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors