Agency takes the prize for campaigns for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and the state of California 

LOS ANGELES —Muse Communications took home four prestigious Telly Awards for broadcast spots created in 2009. The agency received two silver and two bronze awards for work for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and the state of California.

“We are honored to win four awards for our varied broadcast work,” states Jo Muse, chairman and chief creative officer at Muse Communications. “The Telly Awards receive more than 13,000 submissions, so these wins mean a lot to us as a creative agency specializing in multicultural marketing. Muse Communications has a long history of developing award-winning marketing campaigns for our clients and these four spots are a sampling of what we have done and will continue to do for our clients.”

Muse received the following awards:

2009 Commercial Silver Award – “Hero,” American Honda Motor Co., Inc.2009 Film/Video Silver Award – “Save the Bullet,” the state of California2009 Commercial Bronze Award – “Pleasure,” American Honda Motor Co., Inc.2009 Commercial Bronze Award – “Circle,” American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

About Muse Communications
Muse Communication’s multicultural heritage adds a unique dimension to its client’s marketing campaigns. Muse Communications is a leading independent multicultural agency that created the category 23 years ago in California. The agency services clients in various industries, including healthcare, automotive, banking, insurance, government agencies and beverages. Muse is located in Hollywood, Calif., where the agency strives to foster a new era of growth in the digital platforms as well as film, music and other entertainment properties. For more information contact Muse at (323) 960-4080 or visit www.museusa.com.

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Campaign Chronicles Up-And-Coming Rapper

Mickey Factz As He Launches First Album

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2009 — Chronicling one musician’s quest to follow his lifelong dream to share his music with the world, Honda has launched a webisode series featuring up-and-coming rapper, Mickey Factz. Developed by Honda’s African-American advertising-agency-of-record, Muse Communications, the new campaign is designed to highlight the style and sensibility of Mickey Factz, who raps with a purpose, and who is following an independent path to pursue a career in music.

The new campaign features five webisodes and one 30-second broadcast television spot, featuring Factz’ single, “Automatic.” Webisodes will be released once per month beginning Dec. 5. Television creative will air on local cable in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, as well as on BET, ESPN, TNT, BRAVO, VH1 and TBS.

“This new campaign aligns the personality of Mickey Factz – creative, inspiring and sensible – with the Honda Accord’s stylish and sensible brand traits,” said Barbara Ponce, Manager of Diversity Advertising for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda and Mickey Factz are coming together to celebrate the fact that success in music and the arts is now more attainable than ever – and the fact that the Internet and brand partnerships can change the rules for launching a music career.”

“This campaign combines the influence of hip-hop music with the more traditional qualities of the Honda Accord in a creative way that allows us to reach a hip, urban consumer interested in fashion, music and style,” states Jo Muse, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Muse Communications. “The audience is given a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at Mickey’s journey and appreciate him as an artist and a person. It also allows us to showcase the Honda Accord in real-world scenarios showing how well it fits with a person’s lifestyle.”

The five webisodes will be featured on www.rhymesandreasons.honda.com, and traffic will be generated via online ads running on BlackPlanet.com, Google Ad Network, Complex.com and in Complex Magazine. The website also includes Mickey Factz’ music and photos of his personal sense of style.

Now a full-time rapper, Bronx-born Factz — previously a paralegal by day and rapper by night — is now making a name for himself in the hip-hop genre by creating a following over the Internet.

Webisode one focuses on Mickey’s early days growing up in the Bronx, while future webisodes will focus on how Mickey selects which single to release first, and his attempt to get radio air time for this single.

Webisodes will be released as follows:

• Webisode #1 – How It all Began – Debuts Dec. 5, 2009
• Webisode #2 – Not Your Average Rapper – Debuts Jan. 5, 2010
• Webisode #3 – The Making of a Hit – Debuts Feb. 2, 2010
• Webisode #4 – Play Radio Play – Debuts Mar. 2, 2010
• Webisode #5 – A Dream Visualized – Debuts Apr. 6, 2010

About Honda
Honda is the world’s largest engine maker, producing a vast array of products, including automobiles, motorcycles, power equipment and jet aircraft – all designed to advance mobility and improve the lives of people through continued innovations in technology and design. June 2009 marked Honda’s 50th anniversary of doing business in America.

Honda Web site: http://www.honda.com

Honda Multimedia Newsroom: http://www.hondanews.com

Honda on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/honda

Honda on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alicia_at_honda

Honda on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/hondanews

About Muse Communications
Muse Communication’s multicultural heritage adds a unique dimension to its client’s marketing campaigns. Muse Communications is a leading independent multicultural agency that created the category 23 years ago in California. Its recent move to Hollywood is fostering a new era of growth in the digital platforms as well as film, music and other entertainment properties. For more information contact Muse at (323) 960-4080 or visit www.museusa.com.

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Model Mercedes Yvette Joins Acting Surgeon General to Unveil the Campaign

New York (March 31, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — Eighty percent of young women in the United States say they have little or no knowledge of lupus, according to a national online survey released today by the Ad Council.

In an effort to raise awareness of lupus among women who are at greatest risk for the disease, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health is joining the Ad Council to launch a national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign to address the disease.

The campaign is being unveiled this morning by Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H and model Mercedes Yvette in the Great Hall at HHS and the PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this week.

Lupus is a serious national health problem, affecting as many as one of every 200 Americans, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Ninety percent of those with the disease are women and it is three times more common among minority women.

As a chronic autoimmune disease, lupus causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the body's own healthy cells and tissue as though they were foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. It is one of the least recognized diseases and one of the most difficult to diagnose. It is an inflammatory disease that can attack many body systems.

The new PSA campaign primarily aims to reach minority women of childbearing age (18 to 44), who are at greatest risk for lupus. The objective is to help these women understand the disease and its effects and help them identify early warning signs so they can ask their doctor for a medical evaluation.

"Despite its prevalence in the United States, lupus is rarely discussed and often misunderstood among women in our country," said Dr. Wanda K. Jones, deputy assistant secretary for women's health at HHS. "Through this campaign with the Ad Council, we can significantly increase awareness and help women achieve early diagnosis, which will give them the greatest chance for improved health and long-term survival."

Without intervention, lupus can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, disability, and in many cases, death. The disease can have a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, hair loss, painful or swollen joints, fever, skin rashes and kidney problems. However, in the majority of people who are living with lupus, early and effective treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation and pain, help maintain normal functions and prevent the development of serious complications.

"I took my symptoms seriously and was able to get diagnosed and start treatment early. As a result, I've been able to lead a healthy life," explains Yvette, a Lupus Foundation of America spokesperson. "Taking care of myself is all about finding the right balance - the right doctors, the right meds, the right people and the right workout."

"Our research found that lupus is not listed among the top health concerns for women and many have minimal knowledge of the disease," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "By increasing the level of awareness and understanding about lupus and its symptoms, we can encourage women to seek a medical evaluation early so they can take control of the disease and reduce their risk for serious complications. We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for this critical campaign."

The Ad Council's survey found that only 18 percent of women are personally concerned about lupus. The majority of respondents expressed concern about other health-related conditions, including cancer (67 percent), depression (61 percent), high blood pressure (58 percent), diabetes (57 percent) and arthritis (52 percent). Furthermore, approximately 29 percent could not correctly define lupus as an autoimmune disease, and 31 percent were not aware that women of childbearing age are most at risk.

Created pro bono by Los Angeles-based ad agency Muse Communications, the campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and Web advertising, which will all be available in Spanish. The new ads feature real women in the target audience who have been diagnosed with lupus. They portray women who are experiencing symptoms of the disease but have not yet asked their doctors, "Could I have lupus?"

The PSAs conclude with the tagline, "For answers. For support. For hope." and direct women to visit a new interactive and comprehensive Web site, www.couldIhavelupus.gov, or call a toll-free number (1-800-994-9662) to learn more about the symptoms and treatment options for lupus and access local resources. The site, which is also available in Spanish, encourages visitors to upload their personal stories and post comments in an effort to initiate a dialogue about the disease among the target audiences.

"The Diaries' creative is a special body of work that starts and ends with the women that are affected by Lupus," said Jo Muse, executive chairman and creative director "They spoke to us so deeply and we just wanted the messages to ring true and be impactful."

Beginning this week, an integrated social media program will extend the reach of the PSA campaign on popular social networking sites and blogs frequented by women.

Also, the Ad Council and HHS' Office on Women's Health are engaging a series of campaign partners in the federal government and nonprofit sectors to further the reach of the messages to their groups and members. These include the Lupus Foundation of America (founding partner), Alliance for Lupus Research, American College of Rheumatology, The Black Women's Health Imperative, Center for Lupus Care, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic Federation, Lupus Alliance of America, Lupus Support Group, National Institutes of Health, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and The Wright Group.

The new PSAs and Web sites have been researched extensively and tested with women in the target audiences. The ads are being distributed to approximately 33,000 media outlets nationwide. Per the Ad Council's model, all of the ads will air and run in advertising time and space donated by the media.

Campaign launch activities will continue throughout the next several months to coincide with Mother's Day and Lupus Awareness Month, which is May.

The online survey was commissioned by the Ad Council and HHS and conducted in partnership with Greenfield Online from Feb. 28 to March 8, 2009. The sample consisted of 430 women between the ages of 18 and 44 who had never been diagnosed or treated for lupus. Respondents were part of households that are members of a large national opt-in panel managed by Greenfield Online. The Greenfield panel is nationally representative of the U.S. online population. Preset sampling specifications were set to ensure a nationally representative sample of women, reflecting a range of demographic groups.

OWH
The Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Vision is to ensure that "All Women and Girls are Healthier and Have a Better Sense of Well Being." Its mission is to "provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches." The strategy OWH uses to achieve its mission and vision is through the development of innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.

The Advertising Council
The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies in issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.

Muse Communications
Muse Communications is an independent multicultural agency. The agency services clients in various industries, including health care, automotive, banking, insurance, government agencies and beverages. Muse resides in Hollywood, Calif. For more information contact Muse at (323) 960-4080 or visit www.museusa. 

New Campaign Features Up-And-Coming Rapper Who Represents the Accord’s Characteristics and Appeals to a Smart, Stylish, Confident Audience

LOS ANGELES, (Feb. 27, 2009)—To highlight the style and sophistication of the 2009 Honda Accord, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has enlisted Muse Communications to develop an integrated advertising campaign to appeal to African-American consumers. The new campaign features Mickey Factz, a real-life rapper, with a unique, relevant style -- who raps about being smart, saving money and planning ahead.

“Today, style is being redefined, not by outside appearances, but by substance that comes from within. We wanted to create a unique platform to showcase the stylish and practical qualities of the Honda Accord in a way that reaches African Americans. The result is this campaign about ‘Style that Make Sense,’” said Barbara Ponce, Manager of Diversity Advertising for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“The Rhymes and Reasons campaign combines the influence of hip-hop music with the more traditional qualities of the Honda Accord in a creative way that allows us to re-affirm the vehicle as a smart choice for consumers,” states Jo Muse, chairman and CEO of Muse Communications.

In the search for an artist who simply embodied the qualities that make the Honda Accord popular, Muse Communications and Honda discovered Bronx-born Mickey Factz, a paralegal by day and rapper by night, who is silently taking over the hip hop game by creating a following over the Internet. Mickey stays connected to his fans through his online presence, and now is sharing his unique insights through his Honda-sponsored hip-hop show “Rhymes and Reasons” -- a guide to living a smart and sensible, yet cool and hip lifestyle.

Mickey Factz and his sidekick, DJ Gomez Warren IV, are introduced through a :30 television spot that offers a glimpse into Factz’ life and directs consumers to the website, www.rhymesandreasons.honda.com.

The new campaign moves beyond traditional television spots, and features the following engaging content:

An original, downloadable song written by Factz for the Honda Accord, titled “Sensibility.” An interactive blog, music downloads, and video performances on YouTube.Sensibility tips by Mickey Factz on topics such as “Financial Security,” with new tips regularly updated on the site.

The online elements are designed to connect with consumers and keep them engaged far beyond the debut of the initial broadcast spot.

The “Rhymes and Reasons” campaign debuts on BET, on Feb. 26, 2009. For additional information, please visit www.rhymesandreasons.honda.com.

About Honda
Honda is the world’s largest engine maker, producing a vast array of products, including automobiles, motorcycles, power equipment and, jet aircraft – all designed to advance mobility and improve the lives of people through continued innovations in technology and design. For more on Honda visit http://www.honda.com.

Honda’s online multimedia newsroom: http://www.hondanews.com

About Muse Communications
Muse Communication’s multicultural heritage adds a unique dimension to its client’s marketing campaigns. Muse Communications is a leading independent multicultural agency that created the category 23 years ago in California. Its recent move to Hollywood is fostering a new era of growth in the digital platforms as well as film, music and other entertainment properties. For more information contact Muse at (323) 960-4080 or visit www.museusa.com.

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