Yelle
February 26, 2008
France’s latest upstart upsets the pomme-cart
Yelle, aka Julie Budet, hails from the French Techtonik scene (or brand, depending on how you view it – the term Techtonik has been trademarked). Techtonik, a meld of Belgium and Dutch cultures, started in 2000 Read more
Soko
February 22, 2008
She’s a killer queen
Soko – as well as being a helicopter factory in Bosnia (apparently, thanks to Wikipedia) – is also the shortened name of singer/songwriter Stéphanie Sokolinski. Imagine if Kate Nash had been born in Bordeux, hadn’t had the backing of the Brit School, and owned a ukulele Read more
Pop goes East
February 20, 2008
Music marketing gets a sugar rush
What?: Music is dropping a pack of Mentos into the soft drinks arena with the major brands eying up the emerging Far East market. Read more
Alesha car keys
February 20, 2008
An orchestra pit stop for Ford
What?: Ford is shelling out £45M on a new ad campaign that shows a 15-piece orchestra playing 21 instruments customised from parts of a Ford Focus, including a “clutch guitar” and “window harp”. Read more
Golden Locks
February 20, 2008
What the fees are like for a curl
What?: Unilever allegedly paid Madonna $10M to front a new advertising campaign for Sunsilk hair-care products. As part of the Life Can Wait campaign, Madonna made a five-second appearance in a Sunsilk ad at the Super Bowl Read more
Taking the Mickey
February 20, 2008
American Idol takes you for a ride
What?: American Idol is going to be immortalised as an ‘attraction’ at Disney World. Yes, Mickey and Minnie are moving in the leave-no-licensing-stone-unturned franchise (I can’t see Donald getting through the first round). Unless this involves pushing Simon Cowell headfirst down a water slide, or throwing wet sponges at Paul Abdul in stocks, quite frankly we’re not interested.
Smells like teen angst
February 20, 2008
What?: Avril Lavigne is all set to join a string of other celebrities with the release of her own range of perfume, shampoo and bath soaps as she applies for multiple patents. Either that or she’s planning on having one hell of a bath. A clothing line is also apparently imminent. Hair straighteners and oversized mascara brushes have to be next, surely.
Jive bunny
February 20, 2008
Get the Playboy lifestyle
Playboy is embarking on its Rock The Rabbit programme for a second year with sponsorship from Jack Daniel’s. Playboy has asked 20 musicians – including Iggy Pop, Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club, Jamie T, Daft Punk, The Shins and Duran Duran Read more
Gimme all your flat packs
February 20, 2008
What?: A US couple won an IKEA contest to be wed in store on Valentine’s Day and have their marriage presided over by ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons. “I can think of no better way to spend Valentine’s Day than to join a loving couple in wedded bliss in the middle of a cool furniture store,” said Gibbons, trying to keep a straight face while combing owls out of his beard.
The Jackson revive
February 20, 2008
Something viral is lurking in the dark
What?: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, Sony BMG has seeded a spoof viral of commuters reenacting the dance sequence from the ‘Thriller’ video on the London Underground. Read more
