Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, but does anyone else think that dolphin music ad in SOS in bad taste??

I think a pubescent girl sucking a lollypop with the title..."Good-head for music?" just makes me wanna turn the page. Who's on their books, Gary Glitter?? Michael Jackson??

im with you on that one mate, theres a lot of bad taste in advertising but i thought this was a bit crude.

i saw it first in the march issue so mebbe nobody else is that bothered .. it would serpently make me think twice about buying anything from dolphin .. urgh

grainger

Yes, I thought the same thing.

God knows I'm no prude, but it just seemed incredibly tacky. Like one of those biker's magazines or something.

Perhaps not in the best of taste but, more than anything, simply naff advertising.

I've just checked the advert. To my mind it's not implying pubescence despite the schoolgirl bunches. The model appears quite mature. She doesn't appear innocent or vulnerable. However it certainly begs the question, is any sexually suggestive advertising necessary in advertising music-tech?

They seem like good guys at Dolphin. I've bought a couple of things from them and had excellent service. They seem very keen to make a success of online music-tech retailing. Let them know if you're that offended I'm sure they'll take your comments seriously.

Jim

--------------------
Original artwork and unique devices inspired by vintage technology http://www.thisisobsolete.com

I've not seen the advert...

http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/englisch/

I remeber when I got my first Music Store catalogue its the only audio catalogue I've ever seen to have models in bikinkis on everypage. I thought kylies bum on the bass page was funny.... They did it all in quite a comical way such as they photoshop there staff into photos and stuff....

I'll look out for the odd advert...

--------------------
P.I.G.L.E.T - where is polly?

nah the dolphin model is obviously supposed to be a kid, with the lolly and pigtails ..

I remember when Music Connections (before digital village acquired them) started placing sexy girls on their sos adverts. I though it was bad taste.

I have no issue with sexy girls and I'd happily enjoy looking at cute girls but Its just not right within the context of a magazine like SOS.

I personally blame Sound On Sound for allowing it. SOS is a respected serious publication and in my opinion those kind of adverts lower the tone.

SOS! you should ashamed of yourselves!!!

I thought that as well, bit tacky, for what it implies, and she looks a bit too young, although probably about 22.

Just stupid.

Well its not a good advert really at all, what has a lolly being licked got to do with music gear. The lass definately looks young and am not really convinced that it is at all relavent to advertising what Dolphin sell.

The ad tells me nothing about the range of products that Dolphin stock. At first I couldnt decide whether this looked like a recruitment poster or an advert.

More fool Dolphin Music for placing an advert that looks so rubbish. What a pointless advert. It wont stop me looking at their website as its already bookmarked. However if they read this thread then I suggest that they get better ad writers. Maybe a few special offers would not be a bad start for an advert in SOS.

"However it certainly begs the question, is any sexually suggestive advertising necessary in advertising music-tech?"

Is it necessary in ANY advertising? In terms of morality, what's the difference between sexy images in music-tech, car, beer, motorbike or any other ads.?

I have to say, I hadn't noticed the ad until this thread drew my attention to it. I have trained myself over some years to just blank TV, magazine and newspaper ads.

So, having had a look at it, I have to say that she's a pretty girl. The ad is seemingly calculated to draw the attention of (what I imagine is) a predominantly male readership. Didn't work on me.

So, liberal as ever, I'm neutral on this one.

Slightly surprised at the prudish (or is that "politically correct"?) reaction from some here. But not so surprised that I actually give a toss.

Shiv

--------------------
"Qui habet aures audiendi audiat"

yeh i totaly agree its not good

I have no problem with sex related advertising, as long as it's in the right context.

If i wanted images like that, i'd buy FHM.

If i wanted Music-tech related info i'd buy SOS.

I see no reason why the two need to be intertwined, people are not going to let an advert like this draw them in, and bring the shop business, as in SOS they're looking for Music-tech related info, Not borderline pornography.

Dolphin should know better, don't they realise that the only thing that gets the mostly male visitors to SOS sexually aroused is the sight of a shiny new valve preamp or some unaffordable esoteric microphone.......

Girls....hmmm where do I plug them in?

Shame on you Dolphin Music. We don't want smut in our beloved Sound on Sound magazine. Please use a more professional ad.

Send these perverts a complaint email. info@dolphinmusic.co.uk

Quote grAInger:

---

im with you on that one mate, theres a lot of bad taste in advertising but i thought this was a bit crude.

i saw it first in the march issue so mebbe nobody else is that bothered .. it would serpently make me think twice about buying anything from dolphin .. urgh

grainger

---

That's exactly how I feel about it.
It's in CM as well I've.....er.... been told Bad taste.

--------------------
www.myspace.com/arcanamusic

Quote The Bob Campbell:

---

Girls....hmmm where do I plug them in?

---

Yeah, I've tested my wife for USB compatitibility and she wasn't happy about it.

--------------------
need to get rid of this stupid sig...

Quote Ultimate Fish:

---

Yeah, I've tested my wife for USB compatitibility and she wasn't happy about it.

---

I am genuinely laughing out loud at that!

I agree, rubbish ad and in bad taste too with all sorts of suggestion that we don't need in SOS.

Firstly I would like to apologise to anybody for found our advert offensive or in bad taste. As a result of this feedback this will be the final issue we will run the lollipop advert.

Secondly with regards to the young lady in the advert she is certainly over 18, we purchased the image from a reputable image library called Getty Images.

Here is the original image:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/rs/adverts-feedback/original-girl.jpg

Our advert was meant to be cheeky, attention grabbing and stand outs in the magazine. Admittedly this has very little appeal to female audience, but at least 90% of the SOS readership is male. We liked and thought it was funny, lots of people agreed.

We have been getting feedback from our customers and it has been mostly positive, however being honest we have had a few negative comments which we have taken on board.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/196

We hope that our new advert will be more to your liking:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/222

It is our objective to become the best music retailer in the industry. We aim to to have all products in stock, expert staff, efficient logistics and a very high level of customer service. We aim to take the online retailing experience to the next level.

I know this last paragraph may sound like the usual propaganda companies say about them but give us a chance, or second chance, by considering us for you next purchase. We are good guys who mean well and work hard at what we do. Judge us on our service not our adverts.

If any of you guys would like to give us any further feedback please contact me directly.

Kind Regards

Rob Williams
Dolphin Music
Tel: 0870 840 9060
Email: rob@dolphinmusic.co.uk
Web: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

BTW, if any of you are looking for a new sound card please tryout a new search tool we are currently testing:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/223

Quote Ultimate Fish:

---

Quote The Bob Campbell:

---

Girls....hmmm where do I plug them in?

---

Yeah, I've tested my wife for USB compatitibility and she wasn't happy about it.

---

Yeah, same here. She claims she doesn't support 'Plug & Play', apparently...

On the subject of the ad, yes it is inappropriate - If I want pictures of girls sucking lollipops then I'm sure the internet can furnish me with more than I could ever need... Besides, what about the women readers of the mag - it's not going to entertain them, by and large, is it?

Good to see them responding to the discussion, but I still can't help seeing this as PC gone wrong. It's just an advert and hardly breaking the law.

I've been here before but I wrote to the editor of a computer magazine about inaccurate claims in a Microsoft supplement which he agreed. That was more offensiv to me as that was blatant lies and a company trying to mislead the public.

Any advert can be seen as offensive to certain people but if we pulled everything like that, we'd have no adverts.

Remember that the editor has the final say in what gets published which suggests SOS didn't see a problem with it.

Isn't the company name offensive to dolphins?

--------------------
Jack of all trades, master of some.

yeah good on dolphin ..

Quote BigAl:

---

Isn't the company name offensive to dolphins?

---

Yeah, but they didn't do it on porpoise

Quote Rob Williams:

---

Firstly I would like to apologise to anybody for found our advert offensive or in bad taste. As a result of this feedback this will be the final issue we will run the lollipop advert.

---

See told you! Can't get fairer than that. And do give them a chance. As far as online retailing goes they've really got it together. I used to browse the following sites

http://www.dawsons.co.uk
http://www.turnkey.uk.com
http://www.piedog.co.uk
http://www.gak.co.uk

when window shopping or considering purchases. But their search facilities are crude and you get a sense that they are simply brochures with no real connection to their stock system. If Dolphin haven't got it it says 0 available. Plus they're doing cool stuff like this

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/?page=shop/soundcard_selector

to help you select a soundcard.

As far as their website goes they're really streets ahead of any of the other retailers. They're also linking to magazine product reviews and so on. Dolphin, you could add sound demos, video clips?

Jim

ps. dear dolphinmusic, pm me if you'd like to give me some gift vouchers for all my +ve PR

--------------------
Original artwork and unique devices inspired by vintage technology http://www.thisisobsolete.com

Quote BigAl:

---

Good to see them responding to the discussion, but I still can't help seeing this as PC gone wrong. It's just an advert and hardly breaking the law.


Any advert can be seen as offensive to certain people but if we pulled everything like that, we'd have no adverts.

---

i dunno al, i like a bit of arse like most blokes, it wasnt anything to do with being pc .. the picture is just obviously supposed to be a schoolkid. no one said it was breaking the law, this is the first time in me life ive found an ad offensive, but i do have a daughter younger than that now so mebbe i really am getting to be an owd fart ..

i was surprised sos let it through ..

grainger

I hate kiddie violation just as much as the next person, but I saw the ad for what it was, i.e. a bit of harmless wink, wink, pnnarr, pnnarr, school boy humour.

Good on Dolphin for listening to other people's concerns though.


NCGM

the advert was just tacky, tacky, tacky and dare I say a little sad.

Now that's all done and dusted, and we know the girl is over 18, does anyone happen to have her phone number?

I'm looking for a piano tuna - do you think they could help?

--------------------
Jack of all trades, master of some.

There is no such thing as bad publicity, and whether or not you deem the ad tacky it definitely worked since we are all talking about Dolphin Music!

As Oscar Wilde said: "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about".

--------------------
Stand by for action - we are about to launch Stingray!
Cue irritating bongo music ...

This has just become the most successful advertising campaign Dolphin have ever run

This thread has got me wondering what the typical SOS reader demographic is ?

--------------------
-
"Computer games dont affect kids. If Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running round in dark rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music"

I think that some of you guys seem to be over reacting just slightly. Talking about michael jackson and gary glitter????

If any of you have been outside recently in the evening you will have seen that some older women actually dress like this to look young. I don't think Dolphin intentionally got a pubescent girl for this advert.

I have been buying my gear from Dolphin Music for years and they are really good guys. They are a lot younger than most people in this business and may be that is why the girl seems young. I think some of us are just getting old!

I certainly think that some of these posts are a little strong to say the least and the fact that they are pulling the advert says a lot for their reaction to peoples opinion.

I hope that people don't judge them on this advert, personally having "cheapest prices guarenteed" and "we will match any genuine price" is pretty tacky. Don't you think that most retailers adverts are all pretty similar? It's about time someone did something different in SOS adverts as I think the ones we have to put up with are getting a bit long in the tooth! If i want to check the retailers out I go to their website, long are the days of checking everyones prices in SOS. Long Live the New Style of advertising - RIP - crappy cheapest low price adverts!

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to say that as one of the few FEMALE readers of SOS... I think the advert is quite amusing!

I definately do not find it offensive... its just a bit of fun.

I thought it was quite refreshing to see an advert that wasnt just the same old collection of tiny pictures of products people are trying to get shifted...

Shouldn't we encourage creativity and new ideas within music tech? Think they're the first to try and develop a brand image?? Good on em I say... looking forward to the next one.

Cheekz ; )

> Shouldn't we encourage creativity and new ideas within music tech?

Indeed we should, but the advert wasn't creative or a new idea, it's been done to death before and was just naff, can't say it particularly offended me though.


> There is no such thing as bad publicity

Tell that to Gerald Ratner...

She has rather large hands.

Quote The real musiclover:

---

She has rather large hands.

---

Eh...????

wheter or not you'd liked it.. it has worked pretty well as this thread demonstrates, and everybody has seen this.. That's a good thing for them then..

but I do find it a bit cheap .. they could have put some more thought into it to turn this idea into a good add (or search a better add agency). Change the headline slighly or change the visual.. eg.. keep the headline, take a picture of some metal chick shoving a mic down her throat (while on stage, you know how these metal types handle their mics..).. now that would work better.

--------------------
Didn't your mother ever tell you not to eat nuclear warheads?

Quote Rob Williams:

---

Firstly I would like to apologise to anybody for found our advert offensive or in bad taste. As a result of this feedback this will be the final issue we will run the lollipop advert.

Secondly with regards to the young lady in the advert she is certainly over 18, we purchased the image from a reputable image library called Getty Images.

Here is the original image:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/rs/adverts-feedback/original-girl.jpg

Our advert was meant to be cheeky, attention grabbing and stand outs in the magazine. Admittedly this has very little appeal to female audience, but at least 90% of the SOS readership is male. We liked and thought it was funny, lots of people agreed.

We have been getting feedback from our customers and it has been mostly positive, however being honest we have had a few negative comments which we have taken on board.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/196

We hope that our new advert will be more to your liking:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/222

It is our objective to become the best music retailer in the industry. We aim to to have all products in stock, expert staff, efficient logistics and a very high level of customer service. We aim to take the online retailing experience to the next level.

I know this last paragraph may sound like the usual propaganda companies say about them but give us a chance, or second chance, by considering us for you next purchase. We are good guys who mean well and work hard at what we do. Judge us on our service not our adverts.

If any of you guys would like to give us any further feedback please contact me directly.

Kind Regards

Rob Williams
Dolphin Music
Tel: 0870 840 9060
Email: rob@dolphinmusic.co.uk
Web: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

BTW, if any of you are looking for a new sound card please tryout a new search tool we are currently testing:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/223

---

OMG what's this?!

A music technology retailer actually listening to its customers? Bizarre...

Good reply Rob, and good attitude.

I don't think anyone's over-reacted or suggested the ad was illegal, which it obviously wasn't. Just a bit tacky - people are simply voicing their opinions, I don't see anyone phoning up the Christian Coalition to have Dolphin blacklisted. And it's obviously been useful for Dolphin to have the feedback.

Interesting that.

2 people join Sos at almost the same time, one male, one female, both have no user data about themselves apart from a handle. Both come in and support Dolphin in this post and then post in no other threads.

Mmmmm...interesting.

--------------------
Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

It's good to see a healthy debate on this topic... Personally I hate the use of sex in advertising. It's everywhere, so most people are immune to it. It's not clever, or original, and stopped being funny a long time ago. It points to a much bigger social problem that I won't go into here because this is not the place.

Kudos to Dolphin Music for responding so quickly and respectfully to the objections raised.

Finally, some of you might be interested in how advertising is regulated:
http://www.asa.org.uk/

--------------------
madtheory creations
Synths and pianos for Kontakt

I am one of those frequent unregistered browsers... never really bother with the techie talk... I guess its a bit of a man thing!

This post got my attention though - and as you're all blokes I thought i'd give my female perspective : )

I might even become a frequent forum contributer... that is if I didnt have so much much bloody coursework to do : (

Cheekz ; )

i thought it was a stupid and naive advert and were surprised to see SOS run it, seemed more of a FM/CM type of thing, but agree that it was good to see Dolphin respond in this thread

Quote BigAl:

---

Good to see them responding to the discussion, but I still can't help seeing this as PC gone wrong. It's just an advert and hardly breaking the law.

---

I think some of it probably is PC gone wrong, but as the wise man said - 'There's a fine line between clever and stupid'. I'm certainly not pooing my pants in PC-rage about it, that's for sure. In fact, she gives me the horn. Ooohhh.

Steady Jon..

--------------------
Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Yeah, but her hands could be a bit smaller though.

I use sound on sound for the tips and help guides. To be honest I am usually far too busy to actually post discussion groups and also have better things to do with my time to spend all my life on them.

This was actually brought to my attention by a colleague at work (IN LONDON) 200 miles from Dolphin Music. Once I saw it I really wanted to say something as those guys have sorted me out in the past. I don't know what you were insinuating. May be they are offering people money to say nice things. If so then I might just call them up and see if I can get even better deals!!

Just to recap, this is my genuine opinion and I don't like people insinuating otherwise!

The ad is terrible - it's the dumbest form of advertising. I thought about emailing SOS about it. Cheap, tacky, but well done for pulling it Dolphin. The new ad also makes me cringe a bit if truth be told - trying too hard to be cool. Just show us some pics of gear and cheap prices!

The lollipop ad reminds me of an another ad in SOS a while back that had a PC with a disk drive made to look like moist lips - for god's sake get a life!

Quote:

---

for god's sake get a life!

---

I could say the same, do you not think it's being just a little bit reactionary to react this strongly to something that stupid?

For once a different type of PC is causing all manner of chaos

true - a bit of an over reaction, but i just find it amazing that a advertiser can try to link a PC with sex! It reminds me a bit of The Price is Right with sexy girls draped all over the prizes!

They do it because it works. See er, see above!

--------------------
With a boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, wee.

Sex has been used to sell many items on this planet which have nothng to do with sex or sexuality so the idea isn't exactly new.

Being offensive is very subjective and anyone could take offense to any advert rather than see it for what it is.

So you used to watch those sexy girls on The Price Is Right?
Or did you excercise your right of self-censorship and switch the TV off?
(if Mary Whitehouse only had a remote control)

--------------------
Jack of all trades, master of some.

Thanks Dolphin dude, this was not ever a flame-up for your company, just meant to be a quick observation.

But i'm glad the ad was pulled. It's interesting to observe peoples behavior towards sexually explicit material. I'm only 31, but over the years I have noticed a complete barrage of sexy stuff, from giant billboards to page 3 girls with full nudity, FHM mags, French cinema with full penetration sex scenes (yawn), the internet, celebrity paedophiles, celebrity porn, even the bloody Argos catalogue for fecks sake.

Is this turning some men into raging hornbags? Probably.

Are woman getting a better deal these days? Debatable

Personally I think it affects different people in different ways. If i want some porn, i'll seek it out, what this type of advertising does is slap it in my face. I hate that.

Now, where's my copy of Razzle, cor look at the tits on that!

Quote Jon Dickinson:

---

In fact, she gives me the horn. Ooohhh.

---

So, your name is really Dick Johnson?

--------------------
* wossname * ...if .sig's were fish, this would stink *

Quote jellyjim:

---

If Dolphin haven't got it it says 0 available. Plus they're doing cool stuff like this

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/?page=shop/soundcard_selector

to help you select a soundcard.

As far as their website goes they're really streets ahead of any of the other retailers. They're also linking to magazine product reviews and so on. Dolphin, you could add sound demos, video clips?

---

Yeah I totally agree, very helpful website and the sound card selector is excellent.

Greg

I didn't even notice the ad so it couldn't have been that eye catching...

It appears that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, recently spotted in a London restaurant allegedly talking to representatives of Chelsea, was actually discussing his forthcoming appearance in a Dolphin ad..

Have to say, the whole use of the girl reminded me of the REALLY bad old days (in the year or two before Issue 100) of Future Music where they decided to make the mag 'cool' and started putting (male and female) models on the front cover grasping various bits of kit and posing... oh dear!

It does look like an ad one would see in some other publication,though which publication i dont rightly know.

Enjoyable or fun adverts would seem to be possible though not widely used in these dark foreboding islands.

Perhaps in Community there could be a critique of each advert appearing,getting ones moneys worth and all that.

Whether the ad is PC gone wrong or not is besides the point.

The customers voiced their opinion, and dolphin responded thus.

I'm sure there will be people here who will now consider buying from dolphin as a direct result of their reaction to customer's comments in this instance.

Would Turnkey have responded this way?

to be fair yes i think turnkey have responded here in the past...

It's an advert, it's done its job as has been pointed out already, if you don't like it look at something else.

When did everyone get so highly strung around here?

As for being surprised that SOS ran it...

--------------------
This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

I think it is great to see Dolphin respond, but as has been mentioned, the ad ultimately worked great in attracting attention to the company, which is the goal of all adverts.

Any publicity, good or bad, is usually good news.

--------------------
James
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake" ~Napoleon Bonaparte~

Quote Bazza:

---

It's an advert, it's done its job as has been pointed out already, if you don't like it look at something else.

When did everyone get so highly strung around here?

As for being surprised that SOS ran it...

---

We're all entitled to our opinion. I'm glad to see that most of the posters in this thread objected to the ad, and that Dolphin responded respectfully. It would be interesting to see if it affects sales...

Why is it that the "look somewhere else" argument always comes up at some point in a 'net debate? Sorry, but it's nonsense.

Some of you might be interested in how advertising is regulated:
http://www.asa.org.uk/

--------------------
madtheory creations
Synths and pianos for Kontakt

I noticed the ad a while back and thought, uh oh, that is a bit suspect - thinly disguised pornographic reference to buying music gear, a bit poor taste and off the mark. I thought perhaps it is just my age I'm getting too old.

So it was really interesting to see this thread. Glad Dolphin have responded and are reviewing it.

Just put a Weiss EQ 1 on the front cover or let's say a Manley Massive Passive, now where is that box of tissues?

--------------------
The 'Perfect Mix', like the 'Lost Chord' is just around the corner...

"Calm down dear, it's just a commercial"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Quote Bazza:

---

It's an advert, it's done its job as has been pointed out already, if you don't like it look at something else.

When did everyone get so highly strung around here?

As for being surprised that SOS ran it...

---

i don't really understand your point bazza, i mean i could say if you don't like these opinions then don't read them! but i won't, because i think that would be entirely superfluous and also a bit patronising...

Quote Gelled_Fringe:

---

i don't really understand your point bazza, i mean i could say if you don't like these opinions then don't read them! but i won't, because i think that would be entirely superfluous and also a bit patronising...

---

lol

Funny, some people just don't get what a web forum is about do they

--------------------
The 'Perfect Mix', like the 'Lost Chord' is just around the corner...

Irrespective of what I think of the ad, a few weeks ago I wanted to buy a Motu 24 i/o and found it was cheapest at Dolphin.

It was shipped promptly and the service was excellent.

(In the same week I also bought another relatively big-ticket item elsewhere - a Focusrite ISA 428 - because "elsewhere" was cheaper on that item).

Now how many of you would actually do anything different?

--------------------
Dynamite with a laser beam...

Quote Rob Williams:

---

Firstly I would like to apologise to anybody for found our advert offensive or in bad taste. As a result of this feedback this will be the final issue we will run the lollipop advert.

Secondly with regards to the young lady in the advert she is certainly over 18, we purchased the image from a reputable image library called Getty Images.

Here is the original image:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/rs/adverts-feedback/original-girl.jpg

Our advert was meant to be cheeky, attention grabbing and stand outs in the magazine. Admittedly this has very little appeal to female audience, but at least 90% of the SOS readership is male. We liked and thought it was funny, lots of people agreed.

We have been getting feedback from our customers and it has been mostly positive, however being honest we have had a few negative comments which we have taken on board.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/196

We hope that our new advert will be more to your liking:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/222

It is our objective to become the best music retailer in the industry. We aim to to have all products in stock, expert staff, efficient logistics and a very high level of customer service. We aim to take the online retailing experience to the next level.

I know this last paragraph may sound like the usual propaganda companies say about them but give us a chance, or second chance, by considering us for you next purchase. We are good guys who mean well and work hard at what we do. Judge us on our service not our adverts.

If any of you guys would like to give us any further feedback please contact me directly.

Kind Regards

Rob Williams
Dolphin Music
Tel: 0870 840 9060
Email: rob@dolphinmusic.co.uk
Web: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

BTW, if any of you are looking for a new sound card please tryout a new search tool we are currently testing:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/news_story/a/news_id/e/223

---

I don't find this in the least bit offensive, just juvenile and irrelevant. If you want to be judged as good guys working hard and offering good service why not advertise yourselves as such......... or is the underlying message behind this advertisement the ultimate expression of service! Pathetic.

Quote wossname?:

---

Quote Jon Dickinson:

---

In fact, she gives me the horn. Ooohhh.

---

So, your name is really Dick Johnson?

---

No - my name is Dick Darlington!

you sad bastards

listen to yourselves

Quote morphsville:

---

Quote BigAl:

---

Isn't the company name offensive to dolphins?

---

Yeah, but they didn't do it on porpoise

---

the most shocking thing about this thread is that the above joke passed without as much as a comment. Top quality, morph !

as for the advert- well it looks as if you are getting your knickers in a twist over nothing really. If it offends you dont buy from them. Its all about personal choice. i like birds with lollipops so i'll buy from them in the future !

Over-reactions R this thread.

Good God, people, find something worth complaining about. Look around you; this is nothing!

Booooo! Go back to the original ad, she looks hot!
My ex-girlfriend has a mate from Uni who did a bit of modelling to support her studies and got a lot of work simply because she looked quite young, well a few years yonger then her 21 years, but it was only pics for reputable agencies & photographers.

I'm going to masturbate over some dolphins now. Goodnight.

--------------------
My Jukebocks

Are they trying for the Jackson vibe?

http://www.jacksonguitars.com/whatshot/jenna_jpgs/jenna2_large.jpg

I think the ad is OK - - and funny. Sod political correctness.

And without going through the mag, wasn't there another similar ad in there as well?

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PA stuff on FB

I wanna see the ad for Dickinson Guitars,on second thought maybe not.

rofl. some of you people shd have been around in the late '70's & early '80's when the major music publication was actually pwned by the company that published "mayfair".

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"We hate all those who diss them, but shot all those who like them"

plus, what about that ad where they had a bunch of mic cables threaded through a womyn's knickers? That ran fairly recently, didn't it?

I think it's a bit naff, I must admit. Music making & music tech is a lot too much of a boys' club, really. (self censorship of suggestion for dolphin's next advert, ahem)

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"We hate all those who diss them, but shot all those who like them"

Quote Jim:

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Over-reactions R this thread.

Good God, people, find something worth complaining about. Look around you; this is nothing!

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complaining about people complaining seems a really odd pastime to me .. listen to YOUR selves for god sake think what youre typing about before you type.

it was a completely genuine and worthwhile thing to post about in the first place, some of us dont like to see kids (or images of kids) used as sex objects ... what is wrong with that ?

this thread would have faded out after dolphin came in and said their piece except for all the people who came in afterwards desperate to show how 'liberated' they are, they never complain about anything !!!!

grainger

Just for the record, I am not "PC". I do not agree with the conservative views of that particular movement. I would venture to say that none of the other objectors are either. The healthy debate has largely left this thread at this stage.

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madtheory creations
Synths and pianos for Kontakt

Quote grAInger:

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Quote Jim:

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Over-reactions R this thread.

Good God, people, find something worth complaining about. Look around you; this is nothing!

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complaining about people complaining seems a really odd pastime to me .. listen to YOUR selves for god sake think what youre typing about before you type.

it was a completely genuine and worthwhile thing to post about in the first place, some of us dont like to see kids (or images of kids) used as sex objects ... what is wrong with that ?

this thread would have faded out after dolphin came in and said their piece except for all the people who came in afterwards desperate to show how 'liberated' they are, they never complain about anything !!!!

grainger

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hear hear. seems some people want to add their two pence to show how cool/media-savvy/rock'n'roll they are

Quote Gelled_Fringe:

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seems some people want to add their two pence to show how cool/media-savvy/rock'n'roll they are

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so whats that then? isn't that your two pence worth, to show how above-all-this you are?


pfffft !

you really do all want to be ashamed of yourselves. really.




Mr. Gilby, when will you be starting the christian fundamentalist/frothing moron/ daily mail readers forum area? clearly the market is crying out for it.

Quote:

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it was a completely genuine and worthwhile thing to post about in the first place, some of us dont like to see kids (or images of kids) used as sex objects ... what is wrong with that ?

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it should be perfectly clear to all but those of the meanest intelligence that the girl was in no way under age. it would require stupidity of a quite breathtaking level to think otherwise.

Edited by Nimhbus (24/04/05 10:31 PM)

The one ad that actually annoys me running at this moment is the HP sauce one.. Stupidly small thing but it just gets to me..

When was the last time you visited a chippie/burger van/ greasy cafe that actually had genuine HP/ Daddys sauce?? , or for that matter Heinz Ketchup.


Its always that insipid vinegar dyed red/brown they buy in bulk from catering warehouses.

As for the Dolphin ad.. well its better than that one that ran for years with a gimp of a bloke grinning inanely at the camera hands carefully placed on the mixing desk with its faders arranged in a neat smiley pattern

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nibbled to death by an Okapi http://www.soundclick.com/tubilahdog

I noticed the ad last month - thought it was a bit tacky but certainly didn't find it offensive - there are hundreds of companies pulling the same tricks.

I get a copy of one of the larger Bi-Weekly Trade Only computer magazines and if you were offended by the Dolphin ad then you should see the scantily clad women who endorse products such as generic Taiwanese motherboards.

I'll be the first to admit that it's slightly insulting to my/our intelligence, but ultimately I'd rather look at that ad than pages of nice gear (that I can see anywhere else in the mag) with "£POA" or "Phone for Best Price!" emblazoned all over - does that make me a bad person?!?

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:::delaware
www.delawaremusic.co.uk

Quote G-2:

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Quote Gelled_Fringe:

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seems some people want to add their two pence to show how cool/media-savvy/rock'n'roll they are

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so whats that then? isn't that your two pence worth, to show how above-all-this you are?


pfffft !

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no, because i already said i thought the ad was stupid and this was a good post. i was talking about the people who had nothing to say about the ad per se - they just wanted to bash the people who found it offensive/tacky

Quote Nimhbus:

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it should be perfectly clear to all but those of the meanest intelligence that the girl was in no way under age.

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It should be perfectly clear to all but those of the meanest intelligence that this debate does not centre around whether or not she was actually under-age.

Hell, if they used a granny image from Getty Images™, sucking a lolly pop, with the title "Good head for music", I'd probably have thrown up, or at least have a bad taste in my mouth.

Still wouldn't be less crass.

Can we end this thread now please, and move on from our socially aware viewpoints.

Quote Nimhbus:

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Quote:

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it was a completely genuine and worthwhile thing to post about in the first place, some of us dont like to see kids (or images of kids) used as sex objects ... what is wrong with that ?

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it should be perfectly clear to all but those of the meanest intelligence that the girl was in no way under age. it would require stupidity of a quite breathtaking level to think otherwise.

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and stupidity of a quite breathtaking level not to read the post you quoted ... IMAGES OF KIDS ... ie insinuating it was a kid . .. if you think ANY of us thought it was a real schoolkid, you must be very sad and mentally incapable

grainger

Quote Stickybud:

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Can we end this thread now please, and move on from our socially aware viewpoints.

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yes please, im sorry i ever replied to it in the first place now ..

grainger

I'll tell you a worse ad in SOS than the Dolphin Music one (for the right reasons):-

Carillon. (I've posted this before but is relevant to this thread).
In their advert they say they have a "restore" program option which restores an image file form a partition on the disk (like Ghost or drive image) to restore your PC to its former glory "should the worst happen".
Now that IS a bad ad.

Q:The worst thing which can happen to a PC?
Answers on a postcard please....

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Jack of all trades, master of some.

i thought it was a pathetic advert which would dissuade me from buying from there more than anything, but i'm pleased to see Dolphin have taken comments on board and have changed the ad - nice one.

reminds me of that other ad which has a women walking naked down the street (er, i think it was SOS). what a crap ad...

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ochremusic.com

QUOTE:"would dissuade me from buying from there more than anything"

Do you buy anyone's goods at all?

Many companies tell blatant lies on their adverts (Microsoft is a major culprit) and I use that as a way of judging companies rather than the harmless Dolphin advert. However, I don't ignore companies completely if an advert offends me, although telling blatant lies is unacceptable in my book.
If Dolphin music changed it's name ot "Goat Music", you could offend any religeous group who sees the goat as sacred.
Personally I don't get it at all.

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Jack of all trades, master of some.

eh? er yes, i buy goods from stores...

just though the ad was pathetic - not offensive.

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ochremusic.com

And if Dolphin Music offered you a U87 for 200 quid you'd obviously tell them where to stick it?

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Jack of all trades, master of some.

Forget the U 87 - what about a used lolly??

G

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PA stuff on FB

Quote Guy Johnson:

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Forget the U 87 - what about a used lolly??

G

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depends what it had been used for

grainger

Yes, it does depend!

Just had a thought about their next ad. Will email them now.

G

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PA stuff on FB

Quote BigAl:

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If Dolphin music changed it's name ot "Goat Music", you could offend any religeous group who sees the goat as sacred.

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Yeah, especially if they had a picture in the ad of a goat sucking a lollipop. Mmmmmm....

Quote Mr Boules:

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I wanna see the ad for Dickinson Guitars,on second thought maybe not.

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That's right, that's tight - the product is called 'The Goat of Mendez' and the ad's tagline is 'Feeling Horny?'....

Hi Guys

What a post! Lots for us to take on board and all I can say is watch out for future dolphin adverts in SOS.

I would like to share some feedback I got from the designer who was a little disapointed by the response:

"Nobody seemed to get the irony or the point of the ad.
i.e. You don't have to be a young blonde to be a good/successful musician, it was meant to be a nod and a wink to your 'erudite' audience, who 'should know better'. They mustn't have read the substantiating bodycopy - just the headline."

I will leave it at that for now, if anybody would like to contact me about this issue or anything related to Dolphin Music please do so.

Regards

Rob Williams
Dolphin Music

Tel: 0870 840 9060
Email: rob@dolphinmusic.co.uk
Web: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

Any U87's for 200 quid?

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Jack of all trades, master of some.

Sorry mate, all sold out. They flew off the shelves at that price.

Quote Rob Williams:

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"Nobody seemed to get the irony or the point of the ad.
i.e. You don't have to be a young blonde to be a good/successful musician, it was meant to be a nod and a wink to your 'erudite' audience, who 'should know better'. They mustn't have read the substantiating bodycopy - just the headline."

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ha i see now .. it was ironic oh well that explains it ... good HEAD for music ... we just thought it was something to do with oral sex and schoolkids. so it had NOTHING to do with oral sex then ? or children ? and your designer thinks we 'should know better' ? .. thats ok then.

damn i wish i was a bit more 'erudite'

grainger

Quote grAInger:

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ha i see now .. it was ironic oh well that explains it ... good HEAD for music ... we just thought it was something to do with oral sex and schoolkids. so it had NOTHING to do with oral sex then ? or children ? and your designer thinks we 'should know better' ? .. thats ok then.

damn i wish i was a bit more 'erudite'

grainger

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Grainger speak for yourself, you miserable tosser.

no offence

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Looking for musicians?
www.partysounds.co.uk

Quote Mr DiBergi:

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Quote grAInger:

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ha i see now .. it was ironic oh well that explains it ... good HEAD for music ... we just thought it was something to do with oral sex and schoolkids. so it had NOTHING to do with oral sex then ? or children ? and your designer thinks we 'should know better' ? .. thats ok then.

damn i wish i was a bit more 'erudite'

grainger

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Grainger speak for yourself, you miserable tosser.

no offence

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Now, that's what I call erudite

Quote Rob Williams:

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"Nobody seemed to get the irony or the point of the ad.
i.e. You don't have to be a young blonde to be a good/successful musician, it was meant to be a nod and a wink to your 'erudite' audience, who 'should know better'. They mustn't have read the substantiating bodycopy - just the headline."

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The substantianting bodycopy reads: "You need a little more than just raw talent to make it in the music industry these days. At Dolphin Music you can get a lot more for your lolly for all your music making needs and when it comes to great service, we've got others licked" (ooo matron!!)


Can you clarify (for a less than erudite reader) whether or not I get a BJ from a school girl (albeit over 15) if I buy something from you?

Quote Mr DiBergi:

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Grainger speak for yourself, you miserable tosser.

no offence

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i wouldnt dream i was doing otherwise you humourless prick

lots of offence

grainger

Quote grAInger:

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i wouldnt dream i was doing otherwise you humourless prick

lots of offence

grainger

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Argh, a mortal wound - if only I had been more egotistically conservative this would never have happened...

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Looking for musicians?
www.partysounds.co.uk

Come on guys! Too much bitchin already!

... and people say thats its women that are the bitchy ones!


I reckon Dolphin should run a competition in SOS for someone to design their next add... bet it couldnt cause so much controversy...! You could give free lollypops to the runners up!

Quote Rob Williams:

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Hi Guys

What a post! Lots for us to take on board and all I can say is watch out for future dolphin adverts in SOS.

I would like to share some feedback I got from the designer who was a little disapointed by the response:

"Nobody seemed to get the irony or the point of the ad.
i.e. You don't have to be a young blonde to be a good/successful musician, it was meant to be a nod and a wink to your 'erudite' audience, who 'should know better'. They mustn't have read the substantiating bodycopy - just the headline."

I will leave it at that for now, if anybody would like to contact me about this issue or anything related to Dolphin Music please do so.

Regards

Rob Williams
Dolphin Music

Tel: 0870 840 9060
Email: rob@dolphinmusic.co.uk
Web: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

---

Oh good, it was ironic. Next time, can we see her arse please ?

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I've got rhythm, I ain't got pitch

Quote Rob Williams:

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I would like to share some feedback I got from the designer who was a little disapointed by the response:

"Nobody seemed to get the irony or the point of the ad.
i.e. You don't have to be a young blonde to be a good/successful musician, it was meant to be a nod and a wink to your 'erudite' audience, who 'should know better'. They mustn't have read the substantiating bodycopy - just the headline."

---

A hilarious explanation! You are firing this guy, right?

The ad director is admitting that no-one in his target audience got the point of the ad! Basic business sense would seem to preclude giving any repeat business to such a moron, surely? (Quite apart from the advert itself, which was clearly thought up by someone of severely limited imagination.)

Yeah, I concede that that explanation was quite funny.

However, when was the last time Dolphin were as talked about on this forum? If you wouldn't buy from a company on the basis of a crap ad alone then you really ought to have a word with yourself.



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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

Mr. DiBergi your reply to grAlnger was totally out of hand.

I probably fall into the exact target audience yet the advert actually actively put me off buying from Dolphin as not only did it offend me (not because she was trying to look like a kid) but because in every way the advert tried to appeal to me, it directly played against anything that actually does turn me on. And to reliterate:

Quote Stickybud:

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If i want some porn, i'll seek it out, what this type of advertising does is slap it in my face. I hate that.

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. It also made me instantly associate Dolphin Music as yet another distriubtor aimed at the low end of the market. However much they try to cover up their blantent intentions of appealing to those who think working in the music proffesion will get them laid more often, this was certainly the vibe I recieved fromt the advert and the fact that I saw this in SOS deeply pissed me off. SOS has mostly managed to keep away from such rubbish advertising. Forget subliminal advertising. Start genuinely advertising and perhaps I may find a reason to further investigate!!

However, Rob's swift apology has done much to counter the bad vibes I got from the advert, though the new ad is not much better.

Bazza, it's not that I'm not going to buy from them on the basis of the advert. It's that the advert has given me no reason whatsoever to buy from them.

Quote E D:

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Bazza, it's not that I'm not going to buy from them on the basis of the advert. It's that the advert has given me no reason whatsoever to buy from them.

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Fair enough mate I wouldn't buy from them on the basis of that ad either, however, I'm aware of who they are now rather than being just another one of the web advertisers at the back of SOS.

If this thread carries on it could be the equivalent of Mike Reed banning "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and spawn a new generation of [ ****** ] T Shirts! Bring it on I say!

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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk