If the recent Forbes report is correct, Kurt Cobain estate’s annual earnings this year hit $52 million while Elvis Presley only $42 million, and John Lennon, $24 million.

Cobain died at age 27 in 1994, Presely died at 42 in 1977, and John Lennon at age 40 in 1980.

It’s the marketing machine that makes the ticker. That and the resonance of the product correctly identifying audience language.

The right touch of chemistry is magically powerful, and when that element strikes a cord, it provides something that stands out, is unusual, yet not so over the top as to be creepy or obscure.

All of these are branding issues, focusing presence-building on the uniqueness of the product. Though the marketing mechanics are different, and the target audiences vary, many of the same techiques and overall theory can be applied to branding strategies for consultants, public speakers, and professionals such as attorneys, CEOs, writers. The personality is the product and the power is in an under-current of emotional impact that speaks in new ways to common concerns.

www.Forbes.com

Here�s something interesting. Blogads.com did a survey of 56,000 blog readers and found this out about you, dear blog readers, you. See if you fit the profile. A crowd of affluent consumers, likely to vote liberal:

27% of you are 41 � 50 years old;
72% are males;
More than half have a household income of $60,000 to $90,000;
Your job title is Computer Professional, or Educator, or Retired;
Most are democrats;
50% have bought a computer or computer equipment online this year;
70% of you have never read a blog using an RSS news reader;
82% of you do not have your own blog.

And, most of you don’t listen to podcasts. Gracious, what do you do for exercise?

www.blogads.com/survey

Studies are showing that IP-connected devises are on the rise, up 14% this year.

The trend is that cameras, MP3 players, and DVD players will have direct access to the web as well as to the home network. So an iPod would be capable of directly downloading or uploading videos to YouTube sans computer (or iTunes), digital images could be uploaded to internet directly, not shuffled through another devise to gain access.

Home networks are said to be becoming more prevalent, connecting all IP devises in a household. Digital images, MP3s, videos on one devise will be accessible from any other IP connected devise in the residence.

Family photos stored on your laptop downstairs, could also be viewed on the family IP-connected television at the dinner table, for example.

Also predicted — LCD and plasma TVs will be the top revenue makers in the digital media market, above digital cameras, DVD players, and MP3 players. A projected $70 billion will be earned on panel TV sales this year, achieving 44% market share.

Given the trend, the best purchase in this equipment category probably includes IP capacity, otherwise, expect to replace it in a year.

www.strategyanalytics.com

Today Google purchases YouTube for $1.65 billion! See what founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley have to say about it:

www.youtube.com

Steve Chen, 27 and Chad Hurley, 29, began YouTube in 2005. Both were among the first 20 employees hired for Papypal in 1999. Hurley is a designer from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, while Chen is a computer science graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chen began working at Paypal during his senior year in college.

www.Businessweek.com

Technorati Profile

This should be simple but experts seem to disagree. At what age does one actually become a boomer.

And, since I’m on this, how do you classify boomer-like individuals that multi-tasks, spend more time on the internet than on tv, feel overwhelmed about the war, love potato chips more than lettuce (sheesh who doesn’t), dig pricy new gadgets, don’t admit to being 53 yet despite tell-tale grey, and would delight in a little home assistance, house-cleaning and cooking, for example. Where’s the misery in that?

Here’s the 6 categories Kantar Group came up with for boomers. Where do you fit?

1) Overwhelmed and Unfortunate (25 percent of the study population; average age 62; average income $45,000): negative life experiences regarding health, fitness, education, and finance.

2) Active and Successful (24 percent; average age 53; average income $72,000): very active and concerned about appearance, physical as well as clothing and grooming, with a higher number of online users than the general population.

3) Positive and Responsible (20 percent; average age 62; average income $51,000): into doing good works and improving the world; values time and being healthy and price-conscious.

4) Regular Folks (16 percent; average age 58; average income $72,000): positive life experiences, prefer DIY projects such as home-improvement and car maintenance, not fashion-conscious, interested in achieving financial security.

5) Fortunate and Ready (14 percent; average age 63; average income $85,000): has planned retirement, well-adjusted, the best-educated and highest-income group, values charity and personal development.

6) Alone and Ill (2 percent; average age 71; average income $47,000): suffers from poor health and diet, most likely to have home assistance, fearful of being a burden to others.

mediabuyerplanner.com