The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

The business marketing genius at the forefront of today's entertainment marketing revolution helps corporate America get hip to today's new consumer-the tan generation.

When Fortune 500 companies need to reenergize or reinvent a lagging brand, they call Steve Stoute. In addition to marrying cultural icons with blue-chip marketers, Stoute has helped identify and activate a new generation of consumers. He traces how the "tanning" phenomenon raised a generation of black, Hispanic, white, and Asian consumers who have the same "mental complexion"-one based on shared experiences and values rather than the increasingly irrelevant demographic boxes that have been used to a fault by corporate America. But there is a language gap that must be bridged to engage the most powerful market force in the history of commerce.

The Tanning of America provides the needed translation guide. Drawing from his company's case studies, as well as from extensive interviews with leading figures in multiple fields, Stoute presents an insider's view of how the transcendent power of popular culture is helping reinvigorate and revitalize the American dream.

1100744963
The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

The business marketing genius at the forefront of today's entertainment marketing revolution helps corporate America get hip to today's new consumer-the tan generation.

When Fortune 500 companies need to reenergize or reinvent a lagging brand, they call Steve Stoute. In addition to marrying cultural icons with blue-chip marketers, Stoute has helped identify and activate a new generation of consumers. He traces how the "tanning" phenomenon raised a generation of black, Hispanic, white, and Asian consumers who have the same "mental complexion"-one based on shared experiences and values rather than the increasingly irrelevant demographic boxes that have been used to a fault by corporate America. But there is a language gap that must be bridged to engage the most powerful market force in the history of commerce.

The Tanning of America provides the needed translation guide. Drawing from his company's case studies, as well as from extensive interviews with leading figures in multiple fields, Stoute presents an insider's view of how the transcendent power of popular culture is helping reinvigorate and revitalize the American dream.

19.95 In Stock
The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

by Steve Stoute, Mim Eichler Rivas

Narrated by Kerry Washington

Unabridged — 11 hours, 59 minutes

The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy

by Steve Stoute, Mim Eichler Rivas

Narrated by Kerry Washington

Unabridged — 11 hours, 59 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$19.95
(Not eligible for purchase using B&N Audiobooks Subscription credits)

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Overview

The business marketing genius at the forefront of today's entertainment marketing revolution helps corporate America get hip to today's new consumer-the tan generation.

When Fortune 500 companies need to reenergize or reinvent a lagging brand, they call Steve Stoute. In addition to marrying cultural icons with blue-chip marketers, Stoute has helped identify and activate a new generation of consumers. He traces how the "tanning" phenomenon raised a generation of black, Hispanic, white, and Asian consumers who have the same "mental complexion"-one based on shared experiences and values rather than the increasingly irrelevant demographic boxes that have been used to a fault by corporate America. But there is a language gap that must be bridged to engage the most powerful market force in the history of commerce.

The Tanning of America provides the needed translation guide. Drawing from his company's case studies, as well as from extensive interviews with leading figures in multiple fields, Stoute presents an insider's view of how the transcendent power of popular culture is helping reinvigorate and revitalize the American dream.


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Stoute advises a revolutionary concept for business leaders: Have a little fun along the way.” — Essence

“This book is well worth the investment.” — Ebony

“Thoughtful and relevant. It should be required reading for advertising executives, especially those who count themselves among the Baby Boomer generation.” — Forbes.com

“He’s the conduit between corporate America and rap and the street, and the music industry generally,…he speaks both languages.” — Jay-Z

“Steve is credible in the music and entertainment worlds. Then he can switch gears, walk into the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company and speak his ideas in a way they can understand.” — Dennis Baldwin, Reebok’s top marketer

“[He’s] the right guy for guiding brands in using the record industry to reach youth culture in a credible way.” — Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope Geffen Records

“The man who converts urban entertainment into corporate dollars.” — Complex

“In the loud, boastful world of urban culture, Steve Stoute has become a quiet but powerful force. And big corporations are betting he can deliver more bang for their bucks.” — Vibe

“Steve Stoute is making hot sellers out of cold brands.” — Business Week

“Stephen Stoute understands the value of the celebrity sell.” — Black Enterprise

“Stoute has masterminded an impressive array of brand/artist hookups.” — Advertising Age

Advertising Age

Stoute has masterminded an impressive array of brand/artist hookups.

Black Enterprise

Stephen Stoute understands the value of the celebrity sell.

Business Week

Steve Stoute is making hot sellers out of cold brands.

Vibe

In the loud, boastful world of urban culture, Steve Stoute has become a quiet but powerful force. And big corporations are betting he can deliver more bang for their bucks.

Complex

The man who converts urban entertainment into corporate dollars.

Jimmy Iovine

[He’s] the right guy for guiding brands in using the record industry to reach youth culture in a credible way.

Dennis Baldwin

Steve is credible in the music and entertainment worlds. Then he can switch gears, walk into the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company and speak his ideas in a way they can understand.

Jay-Z

He’s the conduit between corporate America and rap and the street, and the music industry generally,…he speaks both languages.

Forbes.com

Thoughtful and relevant. It should be required reading for advertising executives, especially those who count themselves among the Baby Boomer generation.

Ebony

This book is well worth the investment.

Essence

Stoute advises a revolutionary concept for business leaders: Have a little fun along the way.

Kirkus Reviews

An innovative advertiser shares views on cross-cultural marketing, using lessons from the explosion of hip-hop.

Stoute, founder of Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging, specializes in forging connections between established corporate brands and the community of musicians, rappers, actors and sports figures generally referred to as "urban." His basic point, repeated frequently, is that the demographic and social changes suggesting America is becoming more multi-hued and tolerant (the so-called narrative of "tanning") present new and exciting opportunities for promoting products in a competitive marketplace. He ties this argument to hip-hop's rise and gradual commercialization, starting with the grassroots success of the first Sugar Hill record "Rappers Delight" and the legendary 1986 concert where Adidas' German executives first heard Run-DMC's "My Adidas." Stoute argues that the aspirational nature of hip-hop—the crucial sense of outsider identity it provided from the 1970s through the '90s—makes it the ideal medium for merchandising everything from luxury goods to soft drinks: "being brand-conscious was nothing new for African-Americans—who I contend are the absolute best consumers in the world." By the early '90s, writes the author, advertisers and corporations perceived hip-hop's credibility and sales potential but were in dire need of "translators"—i.e., cultural point men who could demystify its codes and rituals. This led Stoute to transition from RCA's black music division to advertising; he realized "tanning" was affecting all aspects of consumer culture. The author's strength is his recall of various real-world examples of "tanning" in the lucrative, high-stakes arena of mass culture, seen in the success of Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Will Smith and other luminaries. He also discusses business narratives such as the "soft drink wars" and the changing fortunes of Reebok and Tommy Hilfiger to illustrate how his principles can help brands stay nimble and attuned. However, his specific prescriptions for businesses often seem general and dependent on buzzwords.

An unabashed celebration of branding, bling and the potency of marketing and consumer desire.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940169695397
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date: 04/15/2014
Edition description: Unabridged
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