The Love You Take

Welcome to Sonny's.  Let's talk about music.  As we wrap another decade, let's focus on the music of 2000-2009.  Question:  Who has the top-selling album in the first decade of the new millennium?  Britney Spears?  N'Sync?  Eminem?  Kanye?  Fifty Cent? 

Nope.  The top-selling album of the decade is The Beatles:1.  It topped all contenders by selling more than 11 million copies (source: Neilsen SoundScan).

The Beatles are amazing.  45 years after coming to the US, and more than 30 years after they stopped recording, they're still on top.  They are still relevant to millions of consumers.  Respect.

Listen to nearly any new band and you still hear the influence of The Beatles.  They didn't invent the sound, but they made it mainsteam.  They made it famous.  They made it rock.

Great brands, like great bands, don't have to be the first to do something -- they just have to do it better.  And, with more consistency.  They inspire.  They endure.

We miss you John and George.  The mark of The Beatles is forever indelible on the landscape of music.

- Butch

Cultural Morality & Tiger

The book, The Man in The Mirror, speaks to the subject of "Cultural Christianity."  Simply, it's the concept that our culture shapes our beliefs, and Cultural Christians often pick and choose their faith values based on what is convenient or works best for them in a given situation.

For the sake of conversation, Sonny's Cozy Tavern is going to borrow the concept and call it "Cultural Morality" in the case of Tiger Woods and his sponsors.  Tiger is like gold to his sponsors.  Nike built an entire golf empire from the ground up around Tiger.  Buick seems almost cool with Tiger.  I want a Breitling watch just like Tiger.  The PGA Tour would stagger to its knees without Tiger.

Tiger's image was always squeeky clean, almost super human.  Until this week. He hit a tree and a fire hydrant with his Escalade, and the story grew from one of an auto accident to one of "transgressions" with at least three women to date. 

So far, none of Tiger's sponsors have backed out of their very lucrative branding deals.  Many have already come out with statements standing by Tiger.

A case of "Cultural Morality" based on money to be gained by the sponsors?  Would these same sponsors have stood by and maintained brand relationships if it wasn't Tiger -- and they didn't make millions off of him?  You think John Daly would have received the same support?  Butch doubts it, but that's what we're here to discuss.

Cultural Morality or genuine care and loyalty to Tiger?  What do you think?
- Butch