Apple’s secret scandal 

We all come into contact with Apple products at some point during the day, whether it be our smart phones, laptops or whilst listening to music. Apple has become a global super power with their trademark bitten apple recognised all over the world. 

Imagine my horror then when I read that such a trusted multi-billion international company is allegedly then avoiding tax. I mean it’s not like they are short of money. Apple’s accounts have been under investigation for months, but it has been reported they have dodged more than £30 billion in tax-avoided profit. 

How has such a massive company seemingly got away with this? It almost doesn’t seem possible, yet with a base in Cork, Ireland and the US it would appear they have discovered a loophole. Allegedly informing the Irish government they have a US address and base for paying tax and notifying the US they have an Irish address where they pay all taxes.

I am shocked that such a reputable company as Apple have apparently avoided paying tax on such a large amount of money. If there is some truth in these claims, will this change your opinion and persuade you to swap your Apple smartphone to a Galaxy phone and convert your MacBook into a notebook?

Competition is rife between the smartphones and no doubt companies like Windows, Samsung, HTC (belonging to Android windows) and Blackberry will be thrilled to see such negative PR surrounding Apple.  

Their PR strategy will no doubt be very different to Apple’s capitalising on their apparent dishonesty, trying to gain as many converts as they possibly can.

Apple on the other hand, will be in crisis management mode trying to save any loyal customers that might be slipping away. 

With such high prices that seem to represent Apple, what is there to stop people from switching to a more honest, better value for money brand? Let’s just hope Apple do the right thing if found guilty, face the music and promise change. 

Sarah 

Can you leave a band and become a success? 

With Take That Mark Owen the latest to announce another “solo” project, does going it alone work? 

Millions of screaming fans have been left devastated when popular boy and girl bands split. Can you remember the moment when Take That announced they were splitting up? Or when Spice Girls were no longer Viva forever?

Bands splitting up crush the fans, so imagine their delight when they find out their idols are continuing as individual solo artists. However, they gradually become increasingly disappointed as many attempts to launch these solo careers flop!

Does anyone remember Victoria Beckham’s single? I surely don't. Yet she was a member of one of the most successful bands of all time. Victoria’s PR team made a mistake when they brought out her debut single the same time as Kylie Minogue -  and she quickly disappeared off the solo singing radar. Was she always doomed to be unsuccessful in her solo career? (Lets face it her voice isn’t that great.) Or with the right PR team, could she have been another Beyonce? (Unlikely, but you never know.) 

Take Girls Aloud for example. One thing for sure, when looking for a PR agency to promote a solo career, I would go with Cheryl Cole’s PR backing over her band mates any day. Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberly Walsh have all attempted it with singles that have faded into the darkness and only peaked at number twenty in the charts.

Cheryl has come out on top, with three successful albums, a stadium tour and lucrative deals worth millions off the back of her “nations sweetheart” status – all thanks to her savvy PR team! (And she doesn't even have the best voice!)

Although few manage to break away from their band status, some have actually risen to the challenge. As well as Cheryl, Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake all launched their own solo careers, and in fact are known more so for this today. 

Is their success all down to choosing the right PR company - to create the right image and release the right single at the right time for the member going it alone? Lets just see what happens with JLS, the most recent band to enter the pop graveyard! 

Sarah