The One Email That Sets the Tone
Newsletter #92
This Week:
Pre-Event Communication Matters
ICYMI: Don’t Get Caught With a Hot Mic
Food for Thought
Before We Go…
1. The Humble “Know-Before-You-Go” Email
The EO Report founder Erin Owen recently attended the largest stadium concert ever held in the U.S.: Zach Bryan’s record-breaking show at the University of Michigan, where 112,000 fans filled the stands … and NO BAGS WERE ALLOWED.
Naturally, we got to talking about what it takes from a communications perspective to pull off something of that scale: flawless logistics, SWAG strategies, strong partnerships, trusted vendors, and the promise of a setlist powerful enough to sell out a stadium in less than 48 hours
But one element that doesn’t get enough credit? The humble know-before-you-go email. It’s that final touchpoint that clears away all the “what-ifs,” helping attendees show up confident, informed, and ready to park and enjoy the experience.
Here’s how to do it well.
2. ICYMI: Lessons From the Album That Never Dropped
If you’ve followed The EO Report for any length of time, you know that we’re bona fide Swifities over here. We’ve been celebrating the release of The Life of a Showgirl, and it reminded us of an EO Report article about how brands responded when Taylor announced that a much-anticipated album would never be released at all.
In short: What do you do when the content you’ve worked so hard on is no longer relevant? Maybe you release it anyway.
3. Food for Thought
Here’s a great reminder that while AI is a helpful tool, keeping those writing muscles strong is important, too.
4. Before We Go…
Whether it’s connecting with ways to get involved or finding others who share similar views, data shows that social media plays an important role in today’s politics. Pew Research Center breaks down its findings.
From the New York Times: A debate about A.I. plays out on the subway walls.
Over the past six weeks, Friend.com has saturated New York City’s subways with minimalist ads for its $129 wearable A.I. pendant — a device that listens and promises friendship. The campaign’s tongue-in-cheek messages (“I’ll never bail on our dinner plans”) sparked strong reactions, with many ads defaced or torn down. Critics accused the start-up of exploiting loneliness and promoting surveillance under the guise of connection.
From Marketing Brew: Nielsen’s measurement accreditation faces uncertain future – again.
Nielsen’s long-standing dominance in TV audience measurement has weakened in recent years. After losing (and later regaining) accreditation in 2021 for undercounting viewers early in the pandemic—an error that may have cost broadcasters hundreds of millions in ad revenue—the company now faces renewed scrutiny. The Media Rating Council is weighing whether to revoke accreditation for Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel or grant more time to fix ongoing issues.
From Mediaite: Katie Porter gets flayed over stunning interview meltdown — by her own side
Former Congresswoman and current California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter faced widespread backlash after a heated interview clip went viral. It’s a clear example of how not to respond when faced with tough questions.
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