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thegaslightbrigade · 1 year

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Peter Graves May Have Set Mark For Gray Hair Vogue Sarasota Journal - Monday, March 1, 1971 by Joyce Haber

Image sourced from [Here]. Shout-out to @chiickies for putting me onto this fansite! Transcription of the above image below the "Read More".

When Peter Graves was in Louisville last year for the Kentucky Derby, two of his women-fans came up to him and asked what he used on his hair to make it silver. “Nothing,” Peter answered. “It’s natural.” “Come on,” said one of the ladies. “You don’t have to play that game with us.” As the suave, decisive, unruffled and prematurely-gray chief of the impossible missions force, the only game Graves actually plays is on CBS’ suspenseful, Emmy-award winning series, “Mission: Impossible” which is in its fifth season. This year, he took the Golden Globe Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for best actor in a dramatic series for his portrayal of Jim Phelps. But the lady was wrong. Peter Graves is, for the most part, precisely what he seems. His hair, for example, began going gray when Peter was in his mid-20s. “I woke up one morning,” he says, “and there was this patch of gray right there.”

As we sat in Hollywood’s famous restaurant, Scandia, which boasts, among other things, a superb array of dishes ranging from Caesar salad to smorgasbord, Graves touched his left temple and laughed. “I thought ‘Oops’ - and it just continued. When I started going gray over-all. I appeared on a big TV star’s variety show. He started kidding me about it right on the air - as did everybody. Next day he came and apologized. ‘I’ve been gray myself for 15 years,’ he admitted, ‘But I touch it up.’” If gray is in now in Hollywood, as it seems to be, Peter started the trend. I noticed that actor George Kennedy, at the Golden Globes Awards, was completely silver-polled. He used to be very blond. But gray wasn’t always in, not even for Graves. Only three years ago, when Universal cast him opposite Doris Day in “The Ballad of Josie,” director Andrew McLaglen took him aside. “Listen,” he said, “no big star has ever been gray,” and; against the star’s protests McLaglen took Peter to makeup, where they “put on something from a bottle called Frivolous Fawn.” Andy McLaglen took one look and said, “OK, you win. We go back to gray.” The late Martin Melcher, Doris Day’s husband and manager, took a look at Graves’ first day rushes, gray and all, and asked him, “How come you aren’t a big star?” Quipped Graves: “Because I’m not married to Martin Melcher.”

But Melcher was wrong (Miss Day hadn’t started her TV series at that point). In terms of audience, Graves was even then a big star. “More people have seen me on TV in two nights,” he once put it, “than the total number of people who have paid to see ‘Gone With the Wind’ for 30-odd years.” Graves recalls a conversation with Joel McCrea in which the movie actor referred to Graves’ brother, Jim Arness, the seemingly eternal star of “Gunsmoke”. He commented on what a great job Jim had done and talked about how many years he’d lasted. He said when he was in studios seven years was the average endurance of a star, not the big ones - the Gables, the Bogarts - but take Dana Andrews.

"I’d guess,” says Peter, “if you look back, he was a star for only seven years.“ “In a sense, the stars today are on TV, because that is the medium. Movie stars, as we knew them, no longer exist, but I think they can again. For the past 10 years, everything has been anti-hero, but I sense a change. The heroes of the ‘60s were the John Kennedys or the John Glenns. People now want a hero they can identify with or admire. Once the motion pictures straighten themselves out, the first girl to make three good pictures in a row will be a star.” Graves, who once made a movie with Gary Cooper (“The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell,” 1955), was impressed with the late great star’s reply when someone asked him to what he owed his success: “Good parts in good pictures,” said the man who was spare with words, on-screen and off. “No truer words were ever spoken,” says Peter. “You can do bad parts in good pictures or good parts in bad pictures and maybe get a little personal satisfaction. But the key to it all is good parts in good pictures.”

It occurred to me then that for Graves, the “good part” might as well be the one that reflects his own self. He sat, the debonair man of 6 foot 3 inches, conservatively dressed in a Madison Avenue-gray worsted suit, a Rep tie that evoked the Brooks Bros. (logo [illegible] and all), a pale blue shirt that duplicated the costume-requirements of the early days of color TV. “Do you know what parts are right for you?” I asked. “Well, I think so. I doubt very much that I’d remove all my clothing and simulate any sex act on screen,” said Peter soberly. “I think that kind of appearance on screen is strictly faddistic and confined to its time. It fascinates me that the Readers Digest has had one article an issue for the past 40 years on sex education. I don’t know if that means that everyone is uncertain about sex.” “I think the general public’s attitude, particularly in the United States, has changed greatly vis-a-vis sex. I think whatever the Puritan ethic was that dictated restrictions on sex is being broken down. I think that’s a good thing, particularly concerning the teaching of the young. I think the pornographic movies do appeal to the prurient in us.” “People do want to read about sex in the Readers Digest. But they also want to see it on the screen, but pornography on the screen can be faddish, because the screen belongs first of all to the writer. When writers write good stories, people will go to look at them.” “Watching the sex act may turn you on for a while, but it’s got to get tiring. Pornographic films cater to the basic instinct, but not to all that instinct implies - which is love. I think that’s the reason for the high success of ‘Love Story.’ It’s about two people who go to bed together, yes - but mostly they’re in love.” Graves learned about love, and the Puritan ethic, as the son of a traveling salesman for a surgical supply company. He was born Peter Aurness on March 18, 1926, in Minneapolis. “I think we were born 6 feet tall and then started to grow from there,” he says.

His brother, Jim, is three years older and three inches taller than Peter. “My dad’s not particularly tall, only 5 feet, 11 inches," but his mother was almost 6 feet and straight as a ramrod - "a German woman who used to scare the hell out of me.” During high school, Peter took up the clarinet and the saxophone. At 15, he became the youngest member of the musicians’ union, playing with local dance bands for spending money. He once turned down a request to play with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, then on tour in nearby South Dakota. “I was at school, so there was no chance.” He’d joined the staff of radio station WMIN as an announcer at the age of 16. Upon graduation he enlisted in the Air Corps. After his discharge two years later, he wanted to go to the Julliard School of Music, but finally entered the University of Minnesota instead. Peter majored in drama, which led him west to Hollywood. His brother, Jim, already was here, but he’d had no degree of success. “He was a disaster case,” says Peter. “I came out with a friend from school, (director) Jack Smight. I remember we told the porter on the train we were going to be actors, and he said ‘Don’t. They’re all going the other way - to New York.’ “Jim met us at the station and said, ‘Go back.’ We wouldn’t, so he checked me into the Hollywood YMCA, which is a far cry from Hotel Bel-Air, I’ll tell you. Jim gave me a copy of the Hollywood Reporter and said, ‘Go.’” “We went, making the usual rounds of agents, but the going was rough.”

His college sweetheart, Joan Endress, followed him from Minnesota, and after he landed a job in a feature, “Rogue River”, with Rory Calhoun, Joan and Peter were married. Joan worked for some time as a doctor’s receptionist to keep them afloat in those difficult days when TV was just starting and giving the movie industry problems. Peter had taken a name from his mother’s side, Graves, because his brother was using their simplified family name, Arness. Peter’s first big break came with Billy Wilder’s movie, “Stalag 17”; “Paramount had seen me in a couple of Westerns, and said ‘No, Graves looks like an all-American. We need someone who looks like a German spy.’ My agent, Paul Kohner, persisted. He knew Billy Wilder. We went to Wilder’s house on afternoon and he kept walking around and looking at me like and going like this-“ Peter spread his hands on either side of his face, imitating the director’s gesture that simulates what you see through a camera lens - the frame. Wilder gave him a screen test and the part. But after the movie, at option time, “Paramount said, ‘Forget it. We’re only going to make two pictures a year. Not only that, but you’re a German spy. We’re looking for an all-American boy.’”

A new producer, Howard Koch (“Odd Couple”) used Peter in several films. With “Beneath the 12 Mile Reef” at Fox, that studio took an option for a contract. “I thought that was it. We were shooting in Florida and they kept saying, ‘Darryl Zanuck likes you.’ Pretty soon came word that Zanuck did like me, but he was dropping me because Fox was only going to make one picture in the next year.” The picture was “The Egyptian,” an extravagant project intended for Marlon Brando, who dropped out. Zanuck wanted to test his then-girlfriend Bella Daryl, for a role. He asked Graves to test with her. “It was massive,” he recalls. “Full wardrobes. Huge sets. We rehearsed for two weeks in Michael Curtiz’s office. Leon Samroy (a very top cinematographer) shot it. Well, anyway, Bella got the part but I didn’t.” (Edmund Purdom starred in the film.) Peter’s one try at Broadway was unsuccessful: He played in Paul Gregory’s “The Captains and the Kings,” which got “so-so notices,” and folded after 10 performances. Graves really found his legs, so to speak, in TV. Paramount’s “Mission” is his fourth series. The others were “Fury,” “Whiplash” and “Court Martial.”

Joan and Peter live with their three daughters in a house in Santa Monica, Calif., which Peter says is haunted. It was built by a German couple called Von Lichtenberg. “There was some sort of tragedy. I’ve never seen the ghost, but I’ve heard it. We have a cukoo clock that hasn’t worked for 20 years. Occasionally it strikes.” Although he works for the American Cancer Society, he hasn’t given up smoking: “I enjoy it, and I haven’t gotten to the point where it’s affected me. I resent the label on cigarets. If they’re going to warn you why don’t they put the same sign at the entrance to every freeway, or on every banana that’s sold? You can slip on the peel, you know.” The only “romantic lead” Graves ever wanted to play is the starring role in a remake of “Dodsworth”: “That story could be updated to now and would make a great picture. But I think Sam Goldwyn still owns it.”

On the other hand, with his conservatism, it’s unlikely the man who is as he seems would back a film. “You cannot simplify human intelligence, emotion, and growth. To watch the frills and foibles of a human psyche is fascinating. All of which adds up to the fact that I might not put a dime of my own in a movie right now.” With “Mission” and Graves both near-institutions, it’s not very likely he’ll ever have to.

#peter graves #old hollywood #mission: impossible #mission: impossible (tv)#mission: impossible (1966)#interview #transcript #feel free to add tags- I'm not sure what else I should include lol

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brookstonalmanac · 1 month

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Birthdays 8.11

Beer Birthdays

William K. “Bill” Coors (1916)

Greg Kitsock (1956)

Conrad Seidl (1958)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Dik Browne; cartoonist (1917)

Alex Haley; writer (1921)

Chris Hemsworth; Australian actor (1983)

Joe Jackson; rock pianist, songwriter (1955)

Steve Wozniak; Apple co-founder (1950)

Famous Birthdays

David Atchison; railroad mogul, politician (1807)

Enid Blyton; writer (1897)

Louise Bogan; poet (1897)

Erik Brann; rock guitarist, singer (1950)

David Brooks; journalist (1961)

Melky Cabrera; San Francisco Giants OF (1984)

Eric Carmen; rock musician (1949)

Arlene Dahl; actor (1924)

Viola Davis; actor (1965)

Mike Douglas; television talk show host (1925)

Jerry Falwell; preacher, hypocrite, wingnut (1933)

Mavis Gallant; Canadian writer (1922)

Martin Johnson Heade; artist (1819)

Hulk Hogan; wrestler (1953)

Robert G. Ingersoll; writer (1833)

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn; father of gymnastics (1778)

Bob Lacey; comedian (1946)

Jim Lee; Korean comic book artist (1964)

Gari Melchers; artist (1860)

Carolyn Murphy; model (1973)

Philip Phillips; archeologist (1900)

Gifford Pinchot; environmentalist (1865)

Vida Pinson; Cincinnati Reds CF (1938)

Nikki Randall; porn actor (1964)

Joe Rogan; comedian (1967)

Carl Rowan; journalist (1925)

Pablo Sandoval; San Francisco Giants 3B (1986)

Marilyn vos Savant; writer, columnist (1946)

Jah Wobble; rock bassist (1958)

#Birthdays

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wahwealth · 3 months

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🐉Bella Lugosi, Joan Barclay, George Pembroke. Clayton Moore | Black Dragons

Black Dragons is a 1942 US film directed by William Nigh. The stars are Bela Lugosi, Joan Barclay, George Pembroke. and Clayton Moore. The film was being made during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and was rushed into production. The movie is about Japan's diabolical Black Dragon Society. The Black Dragons are involved in an evil plot with the Nazis. A master scientist, Dr. Melcher, traveled to Japan on a secret mission. He operates on six Japanese, transforming them to look like six US leaders. The real leaders are murdered and replaced with their look likes. Cast Bela Lugosi as Dr. Melcher aka Monsieur Colomb / Cell Prisoner Joan Barclay as Alice Saunders George Pembroke as Dr. Bill Saunders Clayton Moore as Dick Martin Robert Frazer as Amos Hanlin Edward Peil, Sr. as Philip Wallace (credited as Edward Piel Sr.) Robert Fiske as Ryder Irving Mitchell as John Van Dyke Kenneth Harlan as FBI Chief Colton Max Hoffman Jr. as Kearney Frank Melton as FBI Agent Joseph Eggenton as Stevens I. Stanford Jolley as The Dragon (credited as Stanford Jolley) Never miss a video. Join the channel so that Mr. P can notify you when new videos are uploaded: https://www.youtube.com/@nrpsmovieclassics

#youtube

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dankusner · 4 months

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“Que Sera, Sera”

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 2019, Hollywood icon Doris Day died at 97.

The American singer and actress released over 600 songs in her lifetime and was featured in dozens of movies.

Doris Day’s Biggest Hit Is a Song She Could Have Done Without

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“Que Sera, Sera” is synonomous with the actress and singer who died on Monday at age 97, though she was never a fan of the tune she called ‘a kiddie song’

Hollywood icon Doris Day starred in dozens of movies and released more than 600 songs in her lifetime.

But the box office star, known for her singular voice, never came around to the hit that might have been most associated with her career, “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera).”

In fact, Day, who died at age 97 on Monday, May 13, never wanted to sing the song in the first place.

As it turned out, almost everyone involved with the tune was a bit reluctant to make it.

Here’s what happened.

Doris Day was cast in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film The Man Who Knew Too Much alongside Jimmy Stewart.

Hitchcock did not originally want Day in the film, but to get Stewart onboard, he had to agree to also hire Day and give her a song in the film penned by the famed songwriting duo Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, the writers behind such classics as “Silver Bells” and “Mona Lisa.”

Hitchcock agreed.

His instructions to the songwriters were vague:

“I don’t know what kind of song I want,” he said. “But Jimmy Stewart is a roving ambassador and it would be nice if the song had some foreign words in the title. Also, in the picture, I have it set up so that Doris sings to their little boy.”

With foreign inspiration on their minds, the team wrote “Que Sera Sera” after watching the Ava Gardner film The Barefoot Contessa, where they noticed the inscription “Che Sera Sera,” or “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” on the fictional family's Italian villa.

Inspired by the phrase, the team changed it to Spanish (it also works in French), and wrote the composition (they had called it, simply, “Que Sera, Sera” before realizing another song by that name already existed).

Hitchcock declared the song perfect.

But Day was not as thrilled.

In 2012, she told Terry Gross at NPR’s Fresh Air that she did not understand why such an upbeat, lilting song would be in a movie about a kidnapped boy.

“I thought I'm not crazy about that,” she recollected. “Where are they going to put it? You know, for what? Is it when I put him in bed sometime and I sing that to him or something? I did that in another film. And I thought maybe that’s what it’s going to be. And I just, I didn't think it was a good song.”

Martin Chilton at The Telegraph reports that Day also called it “a kiddie song,” but her third husband, Martin Melcher, who was also her manager, convinced her to record it.

In the movie she does sing it as a lullaby.

Playing Jo McKenna, one-half of an American couple whose vacation turns tragic after their child, Hank, is taken, she and her husband (Stewart) must follow various clues to find him, ultimately realizing he’s being held at an embassy.

There, Jo performs the song in hopes that Hank will hear it and recognize his parents are near.

Her performance won the film the 1956 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the song reached the No. 2 slot on the Billboard charts.

Day reluctantly accepted the popularity the song garnered.

“So maybe it isn’t a favorite song of mine but people loved it. And kids loved it,” she told Gross. “And it was perfect for the film. So, you know, I can’t say that it’s a favorite song of mine and I think it’s fabulous but, boy, it sure did something. It came out and it was loved.”

The song became so associated with the star that it ultimately became the theme song for “The Doris Day Show,” a sitcom that aired between 1968 and 1973.

In her 1976 autobiography, Day revealed that she was contracted to do the sitcom by Melcher and hadn’t even been aware of the arrangement before his death in 1968.

She didn’t want to do a television show, much less one with that song as a theme.

Luckily for Day, she wasn’t called upon to sing "Que Sera, Sera" after that.

When the series ended, she retired from showbiz, moving to Carmel, California, where she dedicated herself to being an activist for animal rights and sang whatever songs she so chose.

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#Youtube

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singeratlarge · 7 months

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Lili-Babs, Samuel Barber, Carl Betz, the late, great guitarist Chris Bovard, Trevor Burton (The Move), John Cale, Robert Calvert (Hawkwind), Ornette Coleman, Jane Antonia Cornish, Jim Cregan, Jerry Eubanks (Marshall Tucker), Jimmie Fadden, Linda Fiorentino, Martin Fry (ABC), Will Geer, Mickey Gilley, Zakir Hussain, Raul Julia, Kato Kaelin, Laura Lee, Mahler’s 3rd Symphony (1897), Mark Mancina, Jeffrey Osborne, Lloyd Price, Bobby Sands, Thomas Schippers, Bodhi Setchko, Keely Smith, Taeyeon, Chris Thompson (Mannfred Mann’s Earth Band), Diego Torres, Robin Trower, U2’s 1987 JOSHUA TREE album, Gary Walker (Standells, Walker Brothers), Paul Winter, and one of the greatest frontman in rock’n’roll: Mark Lindsay, best known as the singer for Paul Revere & The Raiders. In their major label era of the 1960s and early 70s, PR&TR were one of the tightest and most visible acts in the business. They were the first real rock band signed to Columbia Records, and their garage band energy and declarative stage look pushed back on the British Invasion bands of 1964.

The Raiders kicked out hit after hit in multiple genres including bubblegum, country rock, hard rock, psychedelia, and soul/r’n’b, all with dazzling excellence. They cut the first definitive version of “Louie Louie” before leaving their Oregon base for Los Angeles, joining Terry Melcher (Byrds producer) to launch a prolific and innovative run of great records that still play today: “Just Like Me”, “Kicks” and (recently in the film ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD) “Good Thing,” “Hungry,” “Mr. Sun Mr. Moon,” etc. Between 1965 and 1970, as Dick Clark expanded his jukebox TV empires, he hired PR&TR to host three TV shows. Before The Monkees even twanged “Last Train to Clarksville,” PR&TR had already set the bar for TV bands, gluing pre-adolescent me to the tube with rock’n’roll comedy and ear candy—and there was eye candy for 1000s of girls screaming for teen idol Mark Lindsay. He set the bar as a powerhouse vocalist, able to croon soft sensual pop ballads then flip to paint-peeling bluesy growls.

The Raiders crested in 1971 with the #1 hit “Indian Reservation,” which was a repackaging of a Mark Lindsay solo recording (backed by the Wrecking Crew). As a solo act, Mark was already charting with “Silver Bird” and the hippy girl anthem “Arizona.” He branched into other music business roles, composing jingles and songs for films and TV shows. Legendary author Stephen King expressed his fan-dom with Mark’s 2001 cover of “Treat Her Right,” backed by Los Straitjackets.

Meanwhile, Mark’s career intersected with The Carpenters, The Chesterfield Kings, Eric Johnson, Carla Olson, Gerry Rafferty, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, and The Monkees, whose orbit led me to cross paths with Mark a couple of times, and he always treated me like a gentleman. I first saw him in concert in 1993, and it was a rock solid show loaded with the hits and deep cuts. Lately he’s been active doing radio shows and webcasts, the latest being “The American Revolution” on Sirius XM.

If I had to pick one Mark Lindsay track, it’s "Too Much Talk.” It blew my mind when I was a kid—my 45 of it cracked but I kept pressing it with my fingers till the vinyl tissued. The fidelity on this clip is a tad distorted, but the visuals speak volumes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG30aN53GkY Meanwhile, HB and thank you Mark for continuing to inspire and entertain with your skills and talents.

#marklindsay #paulrevereandtheraiders #vox #davyjones #monkees #garagerock #countryrock #terrymelcher #birthday #psychedelic #bubblegum #silverbird #arizona #tvrock #keithallison #johnnyjblair #mickydolenz

#johnny j blair #music #pop rock #monkees #Mark Lindsay #Paul Revere & The Raiders #vox #Davy Jones #garage rock #country rock #birthday

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docnomore · 11 months

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My thoughts as of late have circled around questioning who lied, who’s telling the truth, and who benefits from (name) the policy. American-centric, I have studied people like Patton and to better understand him, the time in which he lived and those people who influenced him and those with whom he surrounded himself (I call them satellites). Studying one, leads to studying others. From Patton to MacArthur, to Eisenhower, to FDR, to Churchill, to Truman, to Wilson(Woodrow), etc.,etc., etc..

Terry Melcher, son of actress Doris Day, was a record producer. He was dating/living with actress Candice Bergen. He also recorded a number of singles for The Beach Boys. At that same time, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was working with none other than Charlie Manson.

Melcher and Bergen sold their house to Roman Polanski and his wife actress Sharon Tate. Angry that he’d been cut out of the record deals, Manson was unaware that the house had been sold. He gave the street address to his followers and sent them to kill anyone and everyone at the address. Charlie thought they were killing Melcher and Bergen.

So, why would the police and the “news” media sell the story of a race war? It was a tumultuous time. Detroit had been torched the year prior - over the racial divide caused wholly by Democrat policies of Jim Crow. Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated as had Martin Luther King, Jr..

In the late 1950’s, Eisenhower as President called upon Congress to present him a Civil Rights bill that was supposed to be his legacy legislation. It did well in the Republican held lower house, but stalled in the Democrat Senate (upper house). It wasn’t until after the bill was rewritten and rendered worthless that the Democrats passed the legislation. Who rewrote the bill? Senate Majority Leader LBJ and his underling, JFK. The question everyone should be asking is “Why would LBJ in the course of six years suddenly reverse course of 200+ years of institutional racism?” The answer is esoteric. The answer is Telstar. The communications satellite launched in 1962. LBJ was acutely and painfully aware that how he “handled” the racial divide he and his party had caused was being watched live stream all over the world.

It was LBJ who wantonly took the country to war in Vietnam - a war set in motion by FDR and Truman. The war Dick Nixon as VP wanted to take the country into. The war to which Eisenhower said “No.”.

So the question in my mind stands, why would the politicians, the police - enforcing the laws written by those politicians, and the “news” media say the Tate murders committed by Charlie Manson and his followers were intended to start a race war? Who benefits? The same politicians who insisted that there was a sudden and as of yet unexplained swap of political ideologies.

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megataskwebdubai · 1 year

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These 14 Digital Marketing Trends Will Have the Biggest Influence in 2023

In case you missed it, we covered some of the top digital marketing trends of 2023, which will include a mix of both familiar tactics and emerging technologies and strategies.

There’s blockchain, AR/VR, live streaming, short-form video, and more. Many of these trends have already made their debut in previous years but are picking up momentum and evolving in 2023. So in this post, we’re going to take a deeper dive into the patterns within these trends and how they will influence marketers throughout the year.

2023 digital marketing trends & predictions, according to experts

To get a well-rounded perspective on how the 2023 digital marketing trends will impact consumers, marketers, and brands, we came up with some key questions and interviewed marketers, advertisers, and business owners across verticals. They include:

Let’s take a look at what they said.

How will social platforms adapt to TikTok?

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right?

1. Some social platforms will imitate or partner with it

Six-year-old TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world with more than one billion monthly active users. It’s especially popular with consumers born between 1997 and 2012, who are collectively known as Megatask Web.

As this generation grows in spending power, other social platforms are scrambling to keep up—and to stay relevant.

2. Others will distinguish themselves

That being said, there are several ways social platforms could also distinguish themselves from TikTok in 2023.

One is by focusing on other types of content, such as long-form videos or live streaming, Sadique said.

What’s more, Averi Melcher, owner of OSO Content, said platforms may re-evaluate their creator monetization strategies to better compete with the TikTok Creator Fund, which compensates users who generate at least 100,000 authentic video views monthly, to encourage creators to stay on their platforms as well.

“We are seeing this with Instagram subscriptions, Facebook Reels, Pinterest’s beta program, and YouTube Shorts,” Melcher said. “If these platforms are able to incentivize and better reward creators, I think they will successfully gain back some market share.”

In addition, Melcher said it’s possible social platforms may improve their creator campaign attribution models or even build out native communities to connect people with brands—and therefore better ways to monetize their content.

Will AI content generation help or hurt content marketing?

If you have a finely tuned content marketing funnel, you’ll want to tune into the perspectives on this 2023 digital marketing trend.

3. The advantages will abound…

AI content generation started to go mainstream in 2022—and it will play an important role in marketing in the year to come.

For starters, there’s potential for AI content generation as a brainstorming tool for marketers.

“At Delightful Ads, we are already using it as a starting point for creating assets needed for our clients’ advertising campaigns—such as ad copy, headlines, hooks, graphics and even videos,” said digital ads strategist Jenn Martin. “AI offers new ideas and angles that we may not have thought of on our own.”

AI will also be increasingly used to create content tailored to specific audiences. That means taking data like demographics, past purchases, interests, and needs into account, added blog coach Becca Klein.

“[The resulting content] could include personalized emails or targeted ads that would be more tailored to the individual needs of their customers,” Campbell added. “As they become increasingly good at utilizing natural language processing, marketers will be able to develop more dynamic and engaging campaigns.”

As a result, relevance and effectiveness will also increase.

And, with better content, brands are better poised to win market share.

“With [the support of AI tools], content can be kept at a high standard over time and the brand’s reputation may be protected,” said Peter Drow, head of marketing at Nccttingtools. “Establishing a name for yourself in the marketplace is a surefire way to give yourself an edge over the competition.”

And, with quality content comes other advantages.

“AI content generation tools can help businesses to ensure the accuracy and consistency of their content, as the tools can be trained to adhere to specific guidelines and standards,” Sadique said.

In turn, this can yield improved return on investment (ROI), Drow said.

This may also help increase revenue.

“Using AI-driven processes, businesses can crank out more and better blog and social media material,” Drow added. “Users’ confidence in these methods can be bolstered through these outlets [as] customers are more likely to buy from reputable companies.”

What’s more, AI helps improve the speed of content creation, said Sugiya Oki, who runs reviews site We Recommend.

“Inevitably, AI-powered writing tools will outpace their human competitors when it comes to speed,” Drow added. “To that end, they are a time-saver for businesses and content producers. This frees up valuable time that may be used for other important tasks, such as improving the quality of the content provided by AI.”

Sadique agreed.

“AI content generation tools can help businesses to create a high volume of content quickly and efficiently, potentially increasing productivity and allowing businesses to focus on other tasks,” he added.

“This can significantly impact a digital marketer’s ability to quickly and effectively create content, as they no longer have to manually research and write blog articles, product descriptions, web content, or other forms of written marketing material,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, AI tools will increase competition on short-tail keywords with high volume. That’s according to James De Roche, managing partner at Lead Comet, who also noted, “While there can be initial anxiety around this for businesses, it will push content marketers to pursue more relevant, long-tail keywords with more conversion potential.

AI may even come to replace some of the services currently offered by search engines.

“This is likely to impact the way that companies approach the use of digital PR and link building,” said Phelan Gowing-Mikellides, business development manager at Digital Trails. “As a result, we are very likely to see a shift in the way that businesses approach their online presence and the strategies they use to reach and engage their target audiences, including changes to their backlink profiles [in 2023].”

AI may also automate the tasks performed by PR professionals.

“Think writing and distributing press releases, managing social media accounts or, at the very least, populating digital channels with high-quality, perfectly optimized AI-generated content,” he added. “This has the potential to displace many PR professionals, as AI is able to perform these tasks more quickly and efficiently than humans.”

4. Human copywriters, don’t panic

But human copywriters shouldn’t panic—they will still have a role to play.

That’s in part because the quality and effectiveness of the content AI produces are only as good as the inputs it receives.

“It still takes an experienced marketer/advertiser to determine not only what prompts to submit, but also what is useful in selecting and refining the finished product,” Martin said.

Oki agreed, noting AI doesn’t understand emotions and therefore can’t grasp search intent.

“There’s still a lot of room for unique creativity that only the human brain can conquer, at least for now,” added Dmitry Sokhach, founder of Admix Global.

That will help distinguish copywriter-generated content from “a massive increase in generic blog content,” as De Roche called it.

“[The latter] may address the query, but it will lack the advice needed to satisfy search intent,” he said. “To do that, you need expert insights and advice.”

This also ties into first-hand experience, niche expertise, and author authority, which we discuss in our 2023 SEO trends.

What will DEI efforts focus on in 2023?

In recent years, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become an increasingly important business initiative. Here’s what experts see as being the key focal points this year.

5. An emphasis on equity & intersectionality

In 2023, companies will continue to foster more equitable workplaces—with the key word being “equity.”

“It is also possible that there will be a greater emphasis on intersectionality and addressing the specific needs and experiences of diverse individuals,” he added.

This is something we mentioned in our Best Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses 2023 post.

6. More accountability through quantification

We can also expect more focus on accountability as organizations set targets to regularly measure progress.

That’s according to Sadique, who also expects to see more data and analytics—such as tracking diversity and inclusion metrics and identifying areas for improvement—along with the continued growth of employee resource groups and increased focus on diversity in leadership.

“This entails tracking and analyzing diversity and representation at all organizational levels, utilizing competency frameworks and other strategies to lessen bias in hiring and promoting employees, and coaching front-line managers on how to conduct team meetings and collaborative sessions to promote equal respect for all opinions,” he added.

Meanwhile, more companies will take steps to address DEI in campaigns that focus on underrepresented groups or specific social causes relevant to those groups.

Will PPC and automation make friends?

We are all too familiar with Google’s push for automation. We asked experts where they see things heading, sentiment-wise.

7. More positive attitudes toward automation

In 2023, expect to see attitudes toward automation become more positive.

“There has always been a bit of an aversion to automation and AI in marketing and PPC—a lot of people thinking that it will take their jobs,” said Sean Nguyen, a director at Internet Advisor. “The reality of it is automation is there to assist us and help us refine our jobs. While it might take over some tasks, that actually helps us to become better at more complex tasks that aren’t tedious or repetitive.”

Shee agreed, noting automation can help with keyword research, ad testing, and analytics tracking.

This is especially true when it comes to Google Ads.

8. Greater efficiency in Google Ads

To that end, we can expect Google Ads automation to grow as advertisers optimize their campaigns and reach their target audiences more effectively. This automation technology includes bid optimization, as well as ad creation and testing.

The result is improved efficiency and effectiveness, Boothe said.

That is especially true since the release of Google Ads’ Performance Max campaigns in 2021.

“They learn how to identify where someone is on their path to purchase and show the right ad at the right time on the right Google channel to help a prospect move further along the customer journey,” Martin said. “And they even provide feedback on what is working and what inputs to test in the future that we hadn’t even considered.”

“Businesses may adopt hybrid approaches that combine automation with manual management in order to get the best of both worlds,” he added.

Learn more about a hybrid approach to automation in Google Ads here.

How will the rise of Megatask Web impact brand strategies?

As Megatask Web becomes more influential, marketers are adjusting their strategies to engage them. Here’s how:

9. Greater influence on authenticity, transparency & accessibility

For starters, focus on authenticity and transparency.

“Brands will need to be genuine and transparent in their marketing efforts in order to appeal to this group,” Sadique said.

Fletcher agreed.

“Megatask Web is drawn to marketing that is honest… they prioritize word-of-mouth advertising from friends and influencers and social evidence,” she added.

That means incorporating user-generated content featuring consumers who resemble them and being transparent about their environmental impact, dedication to diversity, and core values.

“Megatask Web is more diverse and socially conscious than previous generations, so brands will need to prioritize diversity and inclusion in their marketing efforts in order to appeal to this group,” Sadique said.

Campbell agreed, noting this also includes accessibility.

“Through storytelling and cause marketing, brands can develop narratives that align with the values and beliefs of Megatask Web and that work to create an emotional connection with their target audience,” she added.

10. Immersive experiences

Megatask Web also values experiential marketing and immersive experiences, which are key to engaging this cohort, along with omnichannel marketing.

“One of the main challenges for brands when it comes to engaging with Megatask Web is understanding the various platforms and digital tools that this generation uses,” Campbell said. “Many Megatask Web have grown up with technology and are highly engaged on social media and digital networks. This means that for brands to capture their attention effectively, they must be present and active on the platforms their target audience uses.”

What changes will we make in privacy?

In addition to automation, privacy is the other unstoppable force that is carving out new paths in marketing each year. Let’s see what directions they’re headed in.

11. More transparent data practices

Meanwhile, privacy-friendly reporting dictates marketers must embrace a more transparent approach to data in which users give explicit consent—and, as Home Grounds CEO Alex Mastin noted, they must strike the right balance between personalization and privacy.

To do so, marketers must clearly communicate their privacy practices to clients and stakeholders and be transparent about the data they are collecting and how it is being used.

They should also use consent management systems and provide clear opt-outs.

12. Greater adoption of privacy-friendly tracking technology

“Additionally, they should invest in security tools that allow them to measure performance while still keeping customer data safe from misuse or attack by third parties,” Niezgoda said.

But, Sadique noted, marketers can implement privacy-friendly tracking methods, such as using anonymous identifiers or aggregated data, to track and report on key metrics without collecting personal data.

Google’s Topics API, the Facebook Conversions API, Facebook’s Aggregated Event Measurement, and Google Ads’ Enhanced Conversions are all examples of privacy-friendly technology solutions you can embrace in 2023.

Boothe agreed, noting it may also involve working with third-party organizations that have expertise in privacy-compliant data management.

“Marketers will need to be proactive in finding solutions that balance the need for data with the importance of protecting consumers’ privacy,” he added.

Will we get a handle on the supply chain?

Inflation and supply chain shortages were the biggest culprits behind Google Ads cost per lead increasing in 2022. Here’s what experts predict on the supply chain front.

13. More businesses will adopt supply chain automation technology…

To protect against the supply chain shortages that plagued the holiday season, businesses can diversify their sourcing, which includes working more with local suppliers, and/or strengthen ties with existing vendors.

They can also implement multi-modal transportation and invest in analytics for greater supply chain visibility and to better anticipate and manage risk.

“[Supply chain automation technology] can help to expedite the movement of goods, reduce delays in the supply chain and increase efficiency,” Campbell said. “Automation technologies such as robotics, machine learning, big data analysis and artificial intelligence can enable businesses to identify and respond to supply chain disruptions.”

14. …and build prevention and contingency plans

In addition, building up inventory levels, implementing contingency plans, and looking for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce costs can help mitigate bottlenecks.

“Some businesses may also be considering shifts in their operations, such as moving production to different locations or adopting new technologies, in an effort to reduce their reliance on certain suppliers or markets,” Boothe added.

Inventory optimization, which identifies when and where shortages may occur, is another tactic.

“Additionally, businesses may also look to build more robust safety nets, such as insurance policies and emergency funds, to protect them from unexpected economic changes,” Shee said.

Keep an eye on these 2023 marketing trends

We’ve covered a lot of trends, patterns, and perspectives in this post, on everything from AI content to supply chain automation. Here is the final list to sum up our top digital marketing trends and predictions for 2023:

Some social platforms will imitate or partner with TikTok

Others will distinguish themselves

The advantages of AI content will abound

But human copywriters need not panic

A greater emphasis on equity & intersectionality in the DEI realm

The use of metrics and KPIs for greater DEI accountability

More positive attitudes toward automation

Greater efficiency (but caution) in Google Ads

Catering to Megatask Web’s affinity for authenticity, transparency & accessibility

Immersive experiences on social

Increase of transparency in data practices

Greater adoption of privacy-friendly tracking technology