Why listen
Why HBO took back its name and what that tells you about brand equity that matters.
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In this episode
- When to protect a strong brand instead of reinventing it
- How to reverse a branding decision without looking like you failed
- What Gap, Tropicana, and Twitter teach us about costly rebrands
- Why listening to customers is a strategy, not a concession
About this episode
What do you call a streaming service that can’t sit still? Apparently, HBO Max… again.In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason unpacks why the HBO brand is once again reclaiming its name, and what this says about brand equity, consumer sentiment, and the fine art of knowing when to walk it back. From Gap to Tropicana to the Twitter-that-shall-not-be-named, some branding detours are better left reversed.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Don’t mess with strong brand equity—especially when it’s called “HBO.”
✅ A reversal doesn’t have to be a failure if you own it.
✅ Smart brands listen, learn, and even laugh with their customers.
Backtracking isn’t always a step back. Sometimes, it’s just better branding.
Brought to you by Mekanism.
About Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind
Soul & Science is an award-winning podcast where marketing’s brightest minds reveal what it takes to build breakthrough brands. Hosted by Jason Harris, each episode explores the balance between brand building (Soul) and business performance (Science).
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