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Whitney Houston was a great pop singer/brand. No one can deny this fact. History has it she was the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.  Houston was a hit maker extra-ordinaries. She had talents and she worked hard on developing and maximizing these talents. This was no surprise as her pedigree showed a lineage of great singers. Whitney Houston’s mother- cissy Houston, was a great gospel singer and her lineage was also blessed with a cousin, pop singer- Dionne Warwick. To add to this pedigree, Houston had a godmother who served like an initial mentor in the person of queen of soul-Aretha Franklin.

In terms of talents, she was Grammy, Emmy, American Music and 30 Billboard awards among many others. In all she was credited with nothing less than 45 Awards. This award winner, singer, model, producer, and actress touched many with her kind of music genre. Whitney Elizabeth Houston started her musical career in Church. This was no surprise given the fact her mother was a gospel singer. She did not become a household name just with the release of one hit song. Whitney Houston had several hit songs to her credit. Starting with ‘I will always love you’ to, ‘My love is your love’, I am Your Baby’ and ‘I look to you’.

But yesterday around 3.58am, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the age of 48. Known stars had sent their condolences. Stars like Maria Carey and Rihanna have sent in their messages. Whitney Elizabeth Houston’s life and death was a great loss to the music industry especially when it occurred few days to Grammy awards event. Here we assess 5 great lessons brand custodians, communicators can learn from this great brand

Talent, Innovation is essential: There is no brand that can survive without a Brand differentiation that is properly honed. Whitney discovered her DNA early at 11. She observed her Mummy and many other star singers around her and she worked her on her own skill.

Market leadership/fame comes with responsibility: Nature and circumstances help Whitney through dints of hard work, her hit songs received global acceptance. This pushed Whitney brand to the global arena. The fame and many other associated factors led Whitney Houston to drugs. We must always remember market leadership comes with a lot of opportunities and responsibility. Brand custodians must prepare for both and develop capacity for the top even before they reach there.

Brand association must be based on great and informed opinion: Whitney association and marriage to R&B bad boy-Bobby Brown in 1992. Her audience became concerned about this association but they indulged her because they wanted her to be happy.

 Listen and stop taking Audience for granted: There was a point in the life of Whitney when it became obvious her drug use was affecting her voice and performance. In fact commentary had it that even though Whitney’s come -back album of 2009 was great, her life performances were so bad that audience stormed out of her performances and sometimes demanding for return of their ticket money. Unfortunately Whitney made a light thing of this obvious struggle.

Never lose focus of what makes you great: While we cannot out rightly judge Whitney Houston for moving from Church music to pop and R&B song, one can only suggest brand must never forget what brings them to stardom. Staying within this confine sometimes helps. May be if she had stayed within this genre, she might have escaped brand association with people like Bobby Brown and she might have escaped drug. This is all hypotheses though. But staying within the arena of brand’s initial success factor does not hurt. This is in no way suggesting brand must not embrace change.

What is your opinion?