Embrace Disruption Public Relations » Justin Bieber

2014 Image Rehab: The Justin Bieber Edition

Embrace Disruption PR — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:48:00 +0000

Canadian pop-star Justin Bieber has been making headlines recently due to his alarming life choices. The squeaky-clean Bieber image has been tarnished by a slew of drug and vandalism allegations. Last week we saw his house raided by the police who were searching for evidence linking Bieber to an ‘egging’ of a neighbour’s home. At the age of 19, Bieber has been in the public eye for most of his adolescence, so we certainly expected some sort of rebellion.

As PR professionals, hearing about a media crisis generates great deal of conversation in the office; heated debates of how we would help a client bounce back. Below you will find our solutions for the Biebs!

(Image Source)

1. Apologize and seek self-help

Bieber has obviously upset a lot of people as a result of his behavior. It is time to apologize and work on being a better role model. We think a short direct statement, no longer than five sentences, should be released indicating that he is sorry for his recent actions and he plans on seeking help. This would show a level of maturity and poise from the superstar that would help to quiet the critics.

2. Get out of the pubic eye

The public has seen a lot of Justin Bieber lately and very few of the reasons for this have been positive. We would advise the Biebs to try his best to disengage with the media for a while. Get off social media (it seems to only make matters worse), diminish public appearances and lay low for a while. Make the public aware of the time you are taking to better yourself.

3. Get the Help

Bieber’s career can be far from over, but in order to sustain himself he needs to get things together. Whether there are behavioral issues, drug issues or something else going on with the young pop star, his talent and showmanship is undeniable. It is one thing to say you are working to better yourself and it’s another to put the time and effort in. If Bieber does the work, great results can be achieved.

Known for his work with charities, going the extra mile for fans and winning the hearts of boys and girls worldwide, the majority of Justin Bieber’s career has been positive. We know Bieber can bounce back from his indiscretions if he plays his cards right. Bieber should seek whatever help and guidance needed to make good, positive decisions in his personal and professional life. 2014 has not seen the end of Biebs, we just hope he can turn it around soon!

#FilmFriday: Celebrities Embrace Insta-Video

Danica Forshner — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:02:51 +0000

Have you ‘embraced’ Insta-Video yet? Well our celebrity friends certainly have! Check out the compilation of videos that flooded Instagram this week. From Justin Bieber to Lebron James, Insta-Video is taking over, overshadowing Vine and Keek (the lesser known of the two) who were the main source for short videos. However, unlike Vine, Insta-Videos do not repeat, so there may still be hope for the people at Vine!

There are several brands jumping on the bandwagon hoping to engage consumers with short 30 second videos. Lululemon (as seen in the video posted), Michael Kors and General Electric are among the first brands to participate.

What do you think? Will you be using Insta-Video this weekend?

Film Friday: Justin Bieber First Celeb To Instavine

Embrace Disruption PR — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 21:05:07 +0000

The title really says it all. After Facebook’s big announcement (which we’re not going to repeat because it seems like it’s EVERYWHERE!), Justin took to Instagram to share this message with his followers – and the rest of the world.

Will you be using Instagram’s video option, or will you stick to services like Keek or Vine?

How Social Media Changed Music (Stop Blaming Napster, They Didn’t Bring Us Bieber)

Embrace Disruption PR — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:49:35 +0000

“Started from the bottom, now we’re here.”

best hair loss products

The above phrase is the sentiment behind Drake’s latest single, talking about how he used to be a ‘regular guy’ before becoming the superstar he is today. But in reality: there are many successful musicians today that can coin this phrase as their motto; thanks in large part to social media. A tech savvy, social media minded singer/songwriter/musician/blogger/vlogger who knows how to use the medium to their advantage can become a force of nature within the industry.

Much like last week’s Disruptor Corey Vidal, the Internet has spawned a new generation of celebrity.

We live in an age where something stupid posted online could haunt you forever. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are amazingly talented and post your work on the Internet, it has potential to catch the “right” attention. One top-of-mind example of this is our very own Justin Bieber. Now before you groan in frustration, hear us out: Biebs is probably one of the most famous ‘YouTube celebrities’ out there. Credit his mother for posting videos of her multitalented, musical son online for family to enjoy. She certainly didn’t think Usher would see those song covers meant for Grandma! Besides YouTube, Justin Bieber (and his fans) were the first big fan base to take over Twitter. Users were achieving trending status on so many Bieber topics that Twitter actually made the decision to block his name/related topics from trending. I remember being on Twitter when “One Time” was first released: the kid was literally from a town 20 minutes west of me and I STILL had trouble figuring out who this boy dominating my social streams was.

Another music act that has YouTube and social media to thank (in part) for their big break is the married duo, Karmin (Amy Heidemann and Nick Louis Noonan). Probably best known now for their song “Brokenhearted,” they actually started out their career in Nebraska, posting covers of popular songs with a special twist: Amy’s crazy ability to rap. Of course, having a unique edge has definitely helped their covers go viral. When I saw them perform in West Hollywood they credited their cover of “I Told You So,” (famous for it’s super fast rap section) as the track that finally helped them break into the industry. In the following video, Amy from Karmin and music producer Bob Baker discuss music marketing and the new DIY music business. (source: thatericalper.com)

Of course, just because you post songs and videos on YouTube, doesn’t mean you are going to (or even need to) sign to a label. Prime example: Brit musician Alex Day. With then help of his Internet PR/marketing skills, coupled with traditional avenues such as radio, print and television coverage, he had a top 10 hit on the UK charts during Christmas 2011: a first for an unsigned artist. In response to noticing that Britain’s X Factor winner seemingly always scored the #1 spot, Day wanted to throw his hat into the ring for the title of Christmas #1. He rallied his fans all over the world to buy his single “Forever Yours” on what he dubbed, ‘Forever Day.’ He made it to #4 which is pretty impressive for an unsigned, unknown artist.

Can you think of any other industries that have been revolutionized by social media? Share them in the comments below.

Film Friday: Katy Perry, Justin Bieber & Kristen Stewart Read Mean Tweets About Themselves

Embrace Disruption PR — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:46:52 +0000

A while back, Jimmy Kimmel got a load of celebrities together to read out some of the meanest 140 character tweets they’ve received. Television is constantly trying to connect and engage audiences with the use of social media. It’s been reported that a large amount of viewers today are simultaneously watching TV while connecting on social streams. This tactic brought Kimmel’s show a great deal of publicity and worked towards facilitating a transmedia connection with with his audience.

Check out the video below:

5 Best Magazines That Restored My Faith In Print

Embrace Disruption PR — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:49:17 +0000

Over the weekend, I decided to take a trip to my local beach. Enroute, I thought I’d put together a little lunch for my family to enjoy in the sun. After canvassing the aisles of my grocery store, I came to a realization that (GASP!) my iPhone was about to die! I’m cursed with the constant fear of not having something to read/stimulate my mind while ‘relaxing’ – so I did something I haven’t done for at least a year: I visited the magazine aisle! After some digging, I found 5 magazines that completely fit the bill – and thought I should share them with you:

Source: Fastcompany.com

1. Fast Company

Fast Company is a full-color business magazine that releases 10 issues per year and focuses on technology, business, and design. Fast Company’s current editor is Robert Safian, who previously worked with Fortune, Time, and Money. The magazine has won numerous industry awards. (source: Wikipedia)

I really loved sifting through the pages of this magazine: it was a super easy read. Plus, it had a lot of great article insights on innovation in the tech and start-up world. Article of note? The Pivot.

Source: nymag.com

2. New York Magazine

New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New Journalism. (source: Wikipedia)

Being that New York is one of the handful of places that I think makes up the centre of the universe, it’s only natural that I would show huge interest in this mag. Not only are there pieces about NY culture and life, but also some great business articles and current events. Reader be aware – this magazine is TEXT heavy, so get your reading glasses! Article of note? Hello, I Am Sabu…

Source: strategyonline.ca

3. Strategy Magazine

strategy™ uncovers and shares the “bold vision, brand new ideas” of Canada’s national marketing community. They deliver on this tagline via the monthly strategy magazine, strategyevents, as well as various initiatives with industry partners – from the CASSIES to their presence at Cannes. (source: StrategyOnline.ca)

This magazine is always delivered to my office – and I look forward to reading it cover to cover monthly. It’s important to keep an eye on all innovation within the Canadian market, and strategy serves as a great digest for all the hottest insights. Article of note? McDonalds Transparent Fast Food Mission.

4. Toronto Life

Toronto Life is a monthly Canadian magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto Life also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including Home Decor, Stylebook, Eating & Drinking, Real Estate and Weddings.(source: Wikipedia)

A little under-rated, but a reading necessity for Torontonians – heck, for Canadians! There’s plenty of relevant content that’s focused on the ‘hub’ of Ontario, but also some great value for readers across the nation. Article of note? Trouble In Condoland.

Image Source: torontolife.com

Source: forbes.com

5. Forbes

Forbes needs no introduction – and I think we all know the article of note on this one.. everyone take a moment of silence, this marks the first time Justin Bieber is mentioned on Embrace Disruption. Read the article here.

What about you? Do you have any magazines you simply MUST read each month? Share them in the comments!