Dick Clark

This is not the first post I've written about Dick Clark ... but I didn't want to just rest on what I've already written about this man, this icon, this legend, this brand in the past.

The passing of the man Dick Clark is clearly a huge loss to us all, and to pop culture.  This is a person who defined a time, and who's legacy includes being a perennial teenager.  He never aged.  He was always in tune with pop culture and with youth.  He was woven into the fabric of our lives, at key moments of the year and on a day to day basis.

And that's why Dick Clark is more than just a man or an icon or a legend ... he is a brand.  An enduring brand that brought richness to our lives year in and year out.  And perhaps one of the smartest things he ever did as a brand was to ensure his own longevity by passing the baton to Ryan Seacrest.  Ryan has clearly been set up to move the brand forward and to keep the legacy of Dick Clark the brand alive.  He's a perfect choice, whether you're a fan or not, and it was interesting this past New Year's Rockin' Eve to literally see Dick Clark say goodbye and turn his brand over to Ryan.  It had been transitioning for years, but this was the final hand-off.

Perfect timing?  Perhaps.  Well-thought out?  Certainly.  The sign of a valuable brand that will never die.

What's your experience?  Jim.

Jim Joseph
President, Cohn & Wolfe North America
Author, The Experience Effect and The Experience Effect for Small Business
Professor, NYU