Personnel: Adam Seymour (vocals, guitar, harmonium) Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar) Martin Chambers (vocals, drums) Louise Fuller, Richard Koster (violin) John Metcalfe (viola) Ivan McCready (cello) Duke Quartet (strings) Damon Albarn (piano) Andy Hobson (bass guitar). Hers is still one of the defining female voices in rock. Her songwriting suaveness no longer comes from the "Brass In Pocket"-styled brashness of yesteryear, but from a more tenured and wizened stance. But when the punches behind "I Hurt You" or the sinister "Private Life" come in, it becomes apparent that Hynde and her Pretenders have only gotten stronger as their journey has progressed.Ĭhrissie Hynde has matured into one of the foremothers of contemporary pop.
With the exquisite string arrangements behind Hynde classics like "Back On The Chain Gang" and "Kid," it is obvious that this is a new Pretenders, a more luxurious and elaborate affair. Her songs come off wise and womanly, not as brash as the post-punk rantings of The Pretenders' first albums. What could be a better vehicle for Chrissie Hynde's gorgeous vocals and impeccably arranged songs than the acoustically tinged live set captured on THE ISLE OF VIEW? Better than a greatest hits compilation, the album shows a sense of maturity for Ms. In the end it will keep more customers than it loses, and probably earn more new ones.Recorded live at Jacob Street Studios, London, England in May 1995. Or, as Gamble put it, “Nike is playing the long game. When viewed through that lens, the benefits of Nike’s Kaepernick campaign may last much longer than one month. A Korn Ferry study, for instance, found that while purpose-driven consumer-products firms grew their sales at a 9.9% annual clip from 2011 to 2015, their peers averaged only a 2.4% growth rate. Research shows that purpose-driven firms are ultimately more profitable than those solely focused on profits. Uniting purpose with profit is no longer a movement - it is a business imperative. The images evoke a feeling of authenticity that consumers can relate to, Gamble says. It features other black athletes such as Serena Williams, LeBron James, one-handed NFL player Shaquem Griffin, and juxtaposes them against images of a female high school football player, a legless boy wrestler, and a guy who lost 120 pounds and became an iron man. Though Kaepernick is the narrator and focal point, the ad isn’t solely about him. Nike CEO Mark Parker voiced support for #BlackLivesMatter two years before the debut of the Kaepernick campaign, for instance. If firms don’t have a sustainable supply chain, equal pay practices, a commitment to diversity, or protect the environment, then people will find out and tell others.įor Nike, making Kaepernick, who ignited a national debate over racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem, the centerpiece of its campaign is consistent with its history of advancing social causes, such as promoting women in sports or developing a hijab for athletic competition.
Gamble says consumers are very quick to sniff out when corporations are trying to co-opt their values and equally fast in pointing it out to others. Taking a position on social issues is not without its risks, of course. Consumers want a brand to resonate on a values level If they are going to truly engage with that brand," she says. It’s no longer enough to have a product that performs well or a brand that’s trendy. Greater access to information has sparked a push among consumers for transparency and accountability from corporations around environmental responsibility, gender equality, equal pay, diversity and inclusion, and more.Ĭaren Fleit, managing director of Korn Ferry's global marketing officers practice, agrees. "Today, consumers expect more from brands. “People are looking to corporations to reflect their values and be strong leaders around social issues,” Gamble says, pointing to the success of TOMS and Warby Parker, both of which have a buy one donate one to those in need sales policy, as examples. (The ad also inspired several calls by critics to boycott the firm's products.) Divina Gamble, senior client partner and co-leader of Korn Ferry’s nonprofit practice, says the financial impact of the campaign reflects the enthusiasm consumers have for companies that take a social stand. The ad not only generated record followers and likes on social media, but also helped send Nike’s stock to record highs.
The athletic apparel firm saw its quarterly sales jump 10% year over year, beating analyst expectations, while several investments firms predict Nike will get further sales boosts by featuring Kaepernick, the NFL player who started the kneeling campaign, in the 30 th anniversary ad for its “Just Do It” campaign. Colin Kaepernick loomed large for Nike during its earnings report this week.