Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

This week, we look at “Rage Marketing.” Where a company or organization intentionally provokes the public to get angry. And hopefully spend money. We’ll look at the American Eagle/Sydney Sweeney controversy. We’ll talk about an actress who faked her own death to make a point. And how Connecticut made New Yorkers furious when it said it makes the best pizza in the country. We know you want to liste...

This week, we look at “Clapback Ads.” A clapback ad is a response or retaliation to another commercial. We’ll talk about a Canadian province that took offence to a Vrbo ad. A youth orchestra who retaliated against a big car commercial. And a tech company CEO who got caught having an affair – which forced his company to respond - with humour. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show....

The world of marketing has discovered there’s money to be made in creating fake ads. But, they’re not trying to fool you - they’re trying to entertain you. Companies are creating fake ads and fake stores and even fake mistakes - on purpose - in order to gain your attention. The trick is to appear absolutely legitimate. While gently pulling your leg at the same time. We know you want to listen...

You asked, we listened. For the first time ever, both Android and Apple users can now get access to our exclusive subscriber-only bonus option. And we’re offering more exclusive content than ever to our subscribers. Introducing Apostrophe All Ears. You get: ad-free listening (tisk tisk), early access, extended episodes, Q&As PLUS access to all other Apostrophe shows (Backstage at the Vinyl Caf...

Lately companies have been hijacking breaking news stories to create ads. When thieves broke into the Louvre with a ladder, the ladder company quickly produced a tongue-in-cheek ad. When the Oscars read the wrong Best Picture winner, an optometry chain made fun of the mix-up. It’s called Newsjacking - and it’s becoming a powerful marketing tactic. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this...

This week, we look at the most creative audio ideas from around the world. Including a podcast for runners that only works if you’re actually running, a police recruitment campaign that capitalized on the popularity of True Crime, and a very ambitious alternative audio track created to be played over Disney’s Pocahontas movie – that tells the truth behind the fairy tale. We know you want to listen...

This week, we analyze the remarkable marketing skills of one of the top music artists in the world - Taylor Swift. She has challenged the status quo at every turn - she regained ownership of her master recordings. She convinced Apple and Spotify to pay artists in a more equitable way. She defied Hollywood. She markets her music to her fans in very surprising ways. We know you want to listen to all...

This week, we go one toke over the line and look at the emerging world of cannabis marketing. We start with the question - just how does a plant become illegal? We'll explore the history of cannabis. We'll talk about which celebrities have their own brands (Hello Willie Nelson!) Which high-end retail stores are now selling expensive cannabis paraphernalia. And which non-cannabis businesses are see...

This week, we look at a strange phenomenon happening in Canada. Well-established brands are suddenly leaving the country. Kleenex is leaving after nearly 100 years. Skippy Peanut Butter has skipped the country after nearly 90 years. And KFC actually held a funeral for their terrible-tasting French fries. What’s happening up here?   Find out. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this s...

December 8th is the 45th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. In this very revealing interview, I talk with Earl Slick, guitarist on Double Fantasy. Earl talks about recording John’s final album, Lennon’s sense of humour, and how Earl found out about John’s murder. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,  subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Aca...

This week, we look at copycat brands. Even though they walk a razor’s edge legally, copycat brands seem to pop up all over the world. You may like Walmart here, but there’s a Wumart in China. You may like North Face apparel, but did you know there was a South Butt brand? And, we’ll tell the story of a copycat cookie that overtook the original to become the best-selling cookie in the world. We know...

So many things in our world are influenced by marketing. This week, we look at various aspects of our lives influenced by marketing. – but you wouldn’t know it. It’s marketing hiding in plain sight. Like the concept of jaywalking – born of marketing. How marketing created the 10,000-steps-a-day health goal. And how marketing was the inspiration for one of the most popular TV series that everyone i...

For over 100 years, “free” has been one of the most powerful words in the marketing world. And believe it or not, companies love freebies as much as their customers do. Because giving away free products generates a lot of goodwill. And goodwill generates free press. We’ll talk about a ketchup company who gave a man a free boat. A hotel who gave a couple 18 years of free stays because they had nook...

This week, we take a look at four brands that have found a way to survive for decades. One company has been entertaining crowds with wax for 200 years. One restaurant has been topping their ice cream cones with a unique swirl for over 80 years. Another company teamed up with a certain debonaire spy 60 years ago. And a fourth brand has made a fortune blowing bubbles for over 75 years.   Their...

Marketing contests can be tricky business. On one hand, contests can be designed to help companies achieve certain business goals. On the other hand, companies can lose control over them pretty quickly.   This week, we look at some of the most interesting – and hilarious – marketing contests. Including one about a city that held a contest to name a new building – and the public voted overwhel...

From our Season 12 Archives, Billboards are one of the biggest creative challenges in the marketing world. They need to be seven words or less. They need to contain an idea. And they need to communicate quickly as people speed by.   This week on Under The Influence, we look at the most creative billboards from around the world. We’ll talk about a car maker that used tiny billboards to get ins...

Another favourite from our Season 12 Archives. This week it’s our annual Bookmarks episode. I read a lot of books to research Under The Influence. But every season, there isn’t enough room to include all the great stories I find. So this episode is dedicated to those stories that didn’t fit into our  regular  episodes. But are so good, they are worth telling.   We’ll tell an am...

From our Season 12 Archives... another favourite. You’ve probably seen those Red Bull Mini Coopers driving around town with the giant Red Bull can on their roofs.   This week on Under The Influence, we look at the wild and wacky world of marketing mobiles. They’ve actually been around for over 100 years.   We’ll crack open the story behind the Planters Peanut Nutmobiles. We’ll take to th...

There are some very interesting loopholes in the world of marketing. Because businesses are always looking for an upper hand in a competitive category, loopholes can offer legal advantages. A loophole can help a company overcome barriers in the marketplace.    Sometimes, the way a product is marketed can give  customers  a loophole they can take advantage of. And sometimes a 20...

If you searched the question: “What player has won the most Wimbledon singles titles,” Google will tell you it’s Roger Federer with 8 wins. But that’s incorrect. Martina Navratilova has 9.   This week, we look at remarkable ideas that promote gender equality.  Including an idea called Correct the  Internet.com  And one that challenged menstruation taboos with a program called “...

The Beatlology Interviews (Season 2, Episode 1) What if John Lennon had never died in 1980. What if George Harrison was still with us? What would it have taken to convince the Beatles to give one more major concert? In “Reunion: A Rock ’N Roll Fairy Tale” author Gary Burr tackles all those questions in a very entertaining novel. By the way, Gary has also played on nine Ringo Starr albums. He’s got...

20th century movies and TV shows were dominated by the traditional “hero.” With high morals and an ethical code of honour. The 21st century has a different take. Today, we cheer the anti-hero. Like the Sopranos, Dexter and Breaking Bad.   Anti-heroes are liberated from that line in the sand that holds the rest of us back. They do things we are afraid to do. And do it unapologeticall...

From our Season 12 Archives... This week, we look at companies that have spent decades advertising to only one gender - then suddenly decide to approach the opposite sex. L’Oreal is now marketing makeup to men. Scotch distillers are now targeting women. And lingerie companies are now designing intimates for men. It’s a brand new, gender-bending world. We know you want to listen to all the ads in t...

From our Season 12 Archives. Even though brand names are often protected by trademarks and copyrights, it’s remarkable how many times companies end up with the same names. And they either get along – or they sue each other into oblivion. This week, we look at “Brand Twins.” We’ll talk about when Guns N’ Roses sued Guns and Rosé. We’ll explain why there used to be the Saskatchewan Roughriders AND t...

From our Season 12 Archives, one of our favourites. This week, we talk about hotel marketing.  Specifically, how some hotels attract guests by advertising specific  rooms . Some of those rooms are decorated like TV shows, some are inspired by movies, and some hotels advertise the fact something famous – or infamous - happened in their rooms. We know you want to listen to all the ads in t...