Super Bowl 2010

Ad touchdown gets nostalgic

Rihanna referred to the Super Bowl as a “big, walking music video”, and the sporting and advertising highlight of the year didn’t disappoint on the music front in 2010. The Who’s performance during half time – a lucrative slot for any band – has been both praised and panned by critics – with one citing it as “an act of terrorism on US soil”. However, even if the viewing audience is equally split it will still mean the band have appealed to at least 50M possible music buyers. Read more

I’ll buy that for a dollar

Fast food takes to the road

McDonald’s kick started the New Year with a series of hip hop inspired commercials as part of a musical campaign in support of its Breakfast Dollar Menu. In its latest bid to woo the urban consumer the fast food chain has partnered with ‘Dollar Van Demos‘ to showcase talented musicians, rappers and comedians performing inside a dollar van (a shared taxi).The promotion enabled New York rappers to record specially composed promotional McDonald’s raps inside the vehicle – complete with an audience of real passengers. Read more

Magic Pixie dust

Mama do endorsements

Pixie Lott is busy racking up some major endorsement alignments as she proves to be a hot commodity among a number of varied brands.  One of Pixie Lott’s most recent endorsements  saw her become the face of Nokia’s new Illuvial Pink collection, designed exclusively for The Carphone Warehouse.  ”I spend loads of time on my mobile, so it’s important to me that it looks good. The phones in the range all look fab – they’re stylish and yet still girlie,” said the singer Read more

Sound Investment

Brands see the value of music

This week saw the 50th edition of the Brands Bands Fans newsletter. Since its inception in May 2007 – and the subsequent launch of our blog, Twitter feed, events and panels, we have covered a vast and ever expanding selection of brand and music partnerships and marketing activity. We hope you’ve found it as invaluable as we have and that it has opened your eyes to the full spectrum of opportunity available within music. Read more

Pixie Powered

Time flies when you’re marketing watches

Rising UK singing sensation Pixie Lott became the new face of Casio’s Baby G range of watches earlier this year.  Casio felt the 18-year-old songstress was a natural fit as a brand ambassador for Baby G – their  “toughest and prettiest” range of watches available. “With her contagious exuberance and her hip performance, she’s a perfect match for the music and fashion lovers of the Baby-G target group,” said Harald Schröder, General Division Manager Marketing of Casio Europe GmbH. Read more

Born to run

The gig race is on

Ted Baker’s new Born menswear range has launched a new campaign which will require dedication, stamina, and quite possibly ear plugs. In order to promote its new Born clothing range of shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, and hoodies  – all aimed at a younger 18-24-year-old audience than its mainline brand – Born is setting a ‘Gig Race’ challenge.  Contestants involved will have two weeks to attend as many gigs as they can, whilst blogging and twittering their exploits as they go. Read more

In the Beat of the night

Samsung looks to new music TV generation

Bebo and Samsung are teaming up on a new online TV initiative in order to promote Samsungs new Beat DJ Handset. As with previous tried and tested Bebo webisode models – Kate Modern, Sofia’s Diary, and The Secret World of Sam King -  the Beat series will follow a fully interactive pathway. Viewers will be given the chance to interact through blogs, upload track reviews, share music news and also be offered the chance to appear in the show itself. Read more

Fashion takes control

Topman offers bespoke access for music fans

UK high street youth clothing retailer Topman has embarked on a unique music initiative that sees it handing over control of its current music campaign to a selection of emerging artists. The CTRL platform – inspired by the recognition that fans want greater access to bands – enables one act per month to curate a bespoke live event featuring a selection of their favourite artists Read more

Upfront marketing

Under wired for sound

“What’s that noise, here come the Vassarettes/c’mon boys the girls you can’t forget”.

In 1994 Eva Herzigová stared down from a billboard causing alleged multiple car pile ups with her cleavage, under the now iconic Wonderbra tag line “Hello Boys”. Now, 15 years later, The Vassarette underwear brand (part of Vanity Fair) is taking that same concept and giving it a musical spin. Read more

Cruisin’ Tough

New Kids on the boat

New Kids on the Block are to take a three-day cruise around the Caribbean with some of their biggest fans. The event will see performances from the reformed group and includes special ‘meet and greet’ sessions. The move echoes similar water-bound activity from the likes of Motley Crue, John Mayer and to some extent Josh Groban.

The (not so new) kids set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the 15th May Read more

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