Here’s the Top 10 list of the best IR songs in the world, ever. You probably had no idea they were about IR, but they are
1. Regulate – Warren G & Nate Dogg
Warren G never worked in IR (at least as far as we know), but he might not have made too many friends in the nance world with his calls to ‘regulate’. Released the year before Barings Bank collapsed, however, Mr G may have had a point.
2. Honesty – Billy Joel
Have you ever felt that some companies from your peer group are being overly optimistic in their investor communications? If so, you may find solace in the lyrics of Mr Billy Joel: Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue.
3. Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
Getting the phrase ‘communication breakdown’ into a song is no mean feat. But these rockers managed. Fed up with sell-side analysts bad-mouthing you in the press? Sing along to this and you’ll feel better: Communication breakdown – It’s always the same – I’m having a nervous breakdown – Drive me insane!
4. What’s In Your Head? – Disclosure
What could be more IR-friendly than an act called Disclosure? We picked What’s In Your Head? as the theme song for any IR professional who has questioned a new activist shareholder’s intentions.
5. Keep Talking – Pink Floyd
We don’t know whether anyone from Pink Floyd ever met an IRO. But their knowledge of what makes for effective IR is uncanny: All we need to do is make sure we keep talking. Sing it, guys! Investor audiences will get their lighters out…
6. Mixed Messages – The Bangles
No ode to financial communications could be complete without a reference to mixed messages. No IRO would want to be accused of doing it: You’re sending me mixed messages – Mixed messages that I can barely work through.
7. Call Me – Blondie
Millennials may have stopped using their phones in favor of texting and WhatsApping but the earnings call is still alive and well in the world of IR. And there are plenty of tunes to sing along to, from Blondie’s Call Me to Kraftwork’s The Telephone Call.
8. Take Care Of Business – Nina Simone
Are your investors wanting more meetings with the CEO? It’s time to set things straight. The CEO is here to run the company in the interests of long-term stockholders, not spend all day in IR meetings. Play this tune down the phone to your needy investors. You’re welcome.
9. Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles
You’ve got your meetings scheduled and your flights are booked. It’s roadshow time. And what better soundtrack to your investor roadshow activities than this?
10. Hold Me – Fleetwood Mac
This is for any IR professional whose company’s stock has suffered a slew of sell recommendations. Surely only a sell-side analyst with a heart of stone could resist this earnest plea from British-American rock group Fleetwood Mac to Hold Me?
This article appeared in the summer 2018 of IR Magazine
