In April 2010, Atomic PR was selected as agency of record for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., following a competitive review involving some of the top public relations agencies in Los Angeles and the US. Our first assignment was to attend the electronic leader's fourth annual Pioneer Sound Build-off event in La Quinta, California.
We came, we saw, and were blown away by the sound and the enthusiasm as twelve of Pioneer's top audio specialist retailers displayed fully outfitted vehicles with Pioneer's Stage 4 reference quality products. These speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and in-dash head units are devoted purely to sound quality and reproducing the artist's original intention. Many of us at Atomic had never heard a sound system that wasn't factory installed, and just sitting in these specially designed cars was like hearing a CD or watching high definition TV for the very first time. You don't realize what you're missing until you experience it.
To this crowd, having an ear for the intricacies of balanced, high-fidelity sound is like having the palette to discern the terroir of a fine wine. We spoke with reporters who've owned Pioneer products for decades, refusing to get rid of them. Not many industries, or brands, have a following so devoted, and while we're still in the process of hammering out our plans for helping shape Pioneer's image, media coverage and online conversations into the future, we're looking forward to leveraging the incredible loyalty of the brand's enthusiasts.
What a great assignment.