Recently, one of my classmates wrote a blog post on a controversial person whose music can be heard playing in our very own COMM 296 class: Miley Cyrus. Madeline’s post on Miley’s marketing tactics can be read here:  https://blogs.ubc.ca/madelineweedle/2013/10/09/miley-cyrus-marketing-genius/

Being around the same age as Miley, her transformation is not as big a shock to me as it is to her younger fans and parents. I believe her new style and song lyrics create an image that is true to the personality of her young adult self. Her self- marketing brings us back to the topic of ethics.  Wouldn’t it be unethical if she kept up the Disney image of Hannah Montana when it is no longer a true representation of who she is? Ethical marketing values include being truthful in situations and displaying transparency, which is what Miley has done by expressing herself freely. Miley has accepted the consequences of her marketing decisions;she says, “I’m not really worried about alienating fans. Everyone has to work on the things that they don’t care about to get where they want to be.” Companies that have been found guilty of false advertising have damaged credibility and broken trust with their consumers. Both products and people change, and ethical marketing should likewise adjust to reflect an honest portrayal of what is being advertised.

Miley can be further seen promoting her new image hosting the October 6, 2013 episode of Saturday Night Live and in Miley: The Movement, a one hour documentary about her life.

Source: http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/miley-cyrus-isn-t-concerned-about-alienating-fans-1.1375743