Rally driver
April 30, 2008
LG’s music network gears up
What?: “Rally For Music The Right Way,” says LG as it unveils its new online social network, which aims to discover new artists. LG: Rally For Music will see unsigned bands uploading content (that will be rated and reviewed by the online community) as they battle it out for a $15,000 grand prize. The top four finalists will also be flown to New York City for the opportunity to showcase their talent at a public concert. Read more
Super massive bankroll
April 30, 2008
What?: American Idol judge Randy Jackson is apparently having success with his range of eyewear for people with large heads, sitting just behind Chanel frames in the in-demand stakes. When is Sophie Ellis Bextor’s next eye test? While we’re talking about American Idol, am I the only one who sees the irony in the tour being sponsored by Pop Tarts?
Reverse marketing
April 30, 2008
What?: Good news – Gnarls Barkley are giving away their recent album release. There is a slight catch though; the download is backwards and comes as one 38:45 minute track. Having said that, elpuoC ddO ehT (The Odd Couple) is worth having in its own right. A word of warning though: if you find there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now.
www.fronttobackbacktofront.com
Party of five
April 30, 2008
What?: Introducing Poll The People, whereby you can play at being Rob Gordon from High Fidelity and create your own Top 5 lists. The site aims to create a global poll of the best in albums, books and films. Nick Hornby is partial to Al Green; Katherine Jenkins reads Memoir Of A Geisha; and Gareth Gates’s favorite film is Top Gun.
Portishead
April 25, 2008
Third
As Adam & Joe once said: What is it with Portishead only showing up when a recession is looming? Dummy emerged in 1994 and might have sprung from the same paranoid mindset as Massive Attack and Tricky, but it existed entirely in a world of its own imagining. Read more
Tailor-made?
April 16, 2008
Tommy guns for music
What?: Tommy Hilfiger is embarking on a committed music campaign, integrating live performances with HD Internet TV:
The Hilfiger Sessions are a series of invitation-only live music jam sessions across a variety of European and US locations (first launched in 2005). Read more
All dolled up
April 16, 2008
Music industry still shifting plenty of plastic
What?: Country starlet Taylor Swift is to be immortalised as a plastic toy. The JAKKS toy company plans to launch a line of fashion dolls and role-play toys (including Swift’s signature crystal guitar).
Plastic effigies of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana hit UK shelves this month, jostling for shelf space beside Barbie, Bratz and the ever-popular HSM spin-off doll range. Read more
Appetite for procrastination
April 16, 2008
What’s the worst that can happen?
What?: Dr Pepper recently stated that it would give a free can of its soft drink to every American if Guns N’ Roses release their long-promised Chinese Democracy album in 2008. Read more
The free degrees
April 16, 2008
Rock and roll-on marketing
What?: Ashley Tisdale, singer and star of the Disney Channel’s High School Musical mega-franchise, is to appear in a number of commercials for Unilever’s new Degree Girl deodorant. Print and TV ads will feature Tisdale in awkward or embarrassing ‘OMG!’ (that’s web-speak for ‘Oh My God!’ if you’re wondering) moments. The campaign invites fans to “Tell us your OMG! Moment” to be in with a chance of meeting Ashley Tisdale in person. Read more
Hard sell Candy
April 16, 2008
Madonna gets mobilised
What?: Madonna’s 11th studio album (and her last for Warner Music), due for release on 28th April, has allegedly netted the Queen Of Pop millions before actually going on sale. A number of lucrative tie-in deals with the likes of Vodafone, Fuji and Unilever are also guarantying free promotion for the forthcoming release. Read more
