Will brand sponsorship bring back music videos?

For most bands in the slumping music industry, the day of big budget videos is a luxury of the past. But last week undisputed kings of the viral music video, OK GO, found a new avenue to make their art a reality: corporate sponsorship.

The band’s clip for “This Too Shall Pass,” which features a mind blowing two story Rube Goldberg contraption, was bank rolled by none other than State Farm Insurance. In a brilliant move, the band also arranged the deal so that State Farm paid for the right to make the YouTube clip embeddable anywhere on the web. The band’s singer Damian Kulash recently wrote a piece for The New York Times questioning EMI’s decision not to allow embedding of YouTube videos and State Farm graciously presented a work around solution.

This is the first example of prominent corporate sponsorship of a major music video that we know of and State Farm’s bet has paid off handsomely– the clip received close to a million views a day in the first week of launch. The video includes a toy car with the State Farm logo as well as a State Farm teddy bear and a closing thank you to the brand for making the video possible.
The deal was put together by the band’s label Capitol, which still maintains ownership of the video. I spoke to the band’s guitarist Andy Ross, who says their experience with State Farm was great. ”They paid for the video without getting in the way,” says Ross. “They had minimal requirements.”

To see more of this article click on the link below

Coca-Cola and Maroon 5 Set to Make Music History with the "Coca-Cola Music" 24hr Session

On March 22 live from London, Coca-Cola and Maroon 5 are bringing fans from around the world together for an unforgettable moment.
Coca-Cola has recruited US pop group Maroon 5 to write a song for the brand, based on fan-sourced material from a 24-hour streamed event. Fans will be able to watch the band in the recording studio and contribute to the creative inspiration to lyrics, riffs and rhythms for the new song via the site coca-cola.com/music on 22 march.
Followers can also participate through the Coca-Cola Facebook page and Coca-Cola Twitter feed.

Converse & 100 Club

London's 100 Club has been saved from closure after its owner struck a deal with the Converse shoe company.

The iconic venue had been threatened with closure due to rent increases. Musicians including Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Mick Jagger came out in support of keeping it open.

Now owner Jeff Horton has revealed that Converse are set to sponsor the venue – although he told XFM that this would not mean the venue would be dominated by logos and other corporate presence.

He said the company "wanted to give us a hand".

Converse released a statement saying: "Converse and the 100 Club both share a love for music and this partnership is a great opportunity to reunite the 100 Club with a generation who experienced history inside its walls, as well as introduce it to a new generation with a vow to bring the best in music to its legendary stage."

Sex Pistols, The Libertines, The Clash, Gallows and The Specials are among the acts who have played at the Oxford Street club.

See The100club.co.uk

BodyTrain with Kimberley Walsh and PUMA!

Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh has partnered with sports brand PUMA to front a new campaign by the company.
The pop beauty will endorse the brand's new fitness and toning trainer BodyTrain, which will be available from January 1st, 2011.
The shoes are designed to help tone, shape and give a beautiful derriere. We think they chose very well indeed, Kimberley has one of our favourite, shapely celeb bums! And doesn't she look as pretty as a picture in the....well, pictures.

In a statement, Kimberley says of the venture: "I am really excited to be involved in the launch of BodyTrain.
"With such a busy lifestyle I often don’t have time to go to the gym and so this is the perfect way to do something positive for my body."

Vauxhall's new pop act!

Katie Melua has been named as Vauxhall's new "brand ambassador" as the car firm intends to inject a little celebrity stardust into its range.

The partnership was announced this week, as Vauxhall and Opel revealed that they were headline sponsors for the songwriter's European concert tour in spring 2011.
"We are thrilled to be working with Katie," said Peter Hope, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. "Vauxhall is all about being British, forward thinking and energetic and we think Katie embodies these values perfectly. In addition, we are passionate about consistent environmental awareness and social responsibility; as a subject very close to Katie's heart, it only makes the partnership more fitting."

Katie Melua follows in the footsteps of many other celebrities who have endorsed Vauxhall, including Boyzone's Shane Lynch, actors Ross Kemp and Bradley Walsh, model Jennifer Ellison, actress Amanda Holden, cricketer Angus Frazer and comedian Griff Rhys Jones to name but a few.
"I like the way Vauxhall addresses topics like environmental efficiency and sustainability," said Melua. "I feel very comfortable with the partnership; it's a great fit."

Thomas Sabo snaps up Katy Perry!

German jewellery brand Thomas Sabo has secured Katy Perry as its first brand ambassador.

In addition to appearing in the brand's forthcoming Pop Now advertisements,Perry will also wear Thomas Sabo jewellery exclusively at her concerts and press appearances.
"Katy is a match made in heaven for us," said the brand in a statement. "In terms of her personality and charisma, she is absolutely the perfect complement to our brand, so much so that we just couldn't imagine a better partner."

In return, Perry said she was excited to make things "pop" for Thomas Sabo. "I'm such a fan of all things cute and collectable – I like the Charm Club the best because I get to make it my own."

The new Thomas Sabo collection for spring/summer 2011 called "Pop Now" is inspired by a wide array of elements such as pop art, popmusic, disco, neon and Andy Warhol. Making Perry the perfect fit for the brand. The 26 year old singer has previously spoken of her love of "quirky jewellery", with her favourite piece given to her by husband Russell Brand.
"It's a Hindu hand of peace. But they're not beads, they are black diamonds. He gave me black diamonds on our very first date."

Rumours also sparking that Katy Perry is set to be the new face of GHD, starting with campaigns next month and becoming a second-tier sponsor of the upcoming ‘I kissed a girl’ tour that is set to start in March!

Clarks Originals Launches First Music Campaign

Clarks is launching the first campaign for its Originals brand to emphasise its connection to music and pop culture.

The brand has long been the shoe of choice for indie rock bands such as Oasis and The Verve, but Clarks says it is the first time it is communicating its connection to the music scene. It aims to “encourage a sense of community, loyalty and engagement”.

The brand is also launching what it calls a “pop-up store” within the Clarks store in London’s Piccadilly. An entire floor will be dedicated to the Clarks Original brand from 7 to 20 February, and it will host a week of “guerrilla activities” including live music events.

Clarks Originals has partnered with The Strummerville Foundation – the charity set up in memory of Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash.

The brand will make a £2 donation to the charity for every pair of Festival Classics Desert Boot, Natalie, and Wallabee shoes sold.

Gemma Green, Clarks Originals marketing manager, says: “This opens an exciting new chapter for Originals. Our shoes have been on the feet of musicians (and music fans) for decades and it is time we communicate the passion we have for music. There are many parallels between musical expression and the values we hold dear; authenticity, individuality, craft, creativity.”

The online and in-store campaign was developed by retail brand agency Yellowdoor.

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project

The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project was a unique global experience aimed at discovering and celebrating the best nightlife from around the world.

The campaign used Facebook to call upon people across the globe to suggest what makes the nightlife in their city the best in the world. In addition to this, video booths housed in shipping crates popped up at street level, gathering further insight into local nightlife. The ideas were then whittled down to create a set of unique nights in each country.




A total of 14 cities paired up to exchange nights out, taking the best of their local artists, events and clubs and exporting them to their partner city.
The London event included a set from Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, live set from Example and Jaguar skills and offered lucky partygoers a taste of Miami’s vibrant and varied nightlife. There was also a virtual interactive pool floor and a beach dance floor complete with sand and palm trees.

The projects finale happened on November 27 2010, More than 100,000 people were part of the event, either in person or watching online and this is still rippling out on social networks with Photos and tweets on the event.

Find out more about the London event @ www.facebook.com/SmirnoffGB.

Malibu Soundclash

Soundclash was a Malibu sponsered music event that used music as an enticement tool to spur consumers to try various Malibu cocktails.

The event included 2 sound systems and some of the freshest DJ & MC talent in the UK, battling it out live! so consumers who attended got to enjoy the live entertianment and pick up their free music download redemption voucher.

Once they returned home from the event the consumer could then log onto the Malibu Soundclash website where they could choose from the top 10 soundclash mash-ups featuring well known artists from Dandy Warhole to Mylo, or if any of these didn't tickle their fancy they could go to http://www.tunetribe.com/home;jsessionid=18rdlna63sf27.morrisonone music download store.

After they had chosen their track all they had to do was click through to the checkout page and enter their details and unique redemption voucher code and voilla!

Nokia N Series team up with Groove Armada

Nokia has teamed up with Groove Armada to offer all customers a free download when they buy a new Nseries model.

For customers to get this free download all they have to do is create an account on tunetribe.com and enter their unique pincode and activate their tracks. Then download to their PC and using their Nseries USB cable to send it to their phone.

Aswell as getting the free download of Groove Armada's 'Soundboy rock' they also get a whole budle of pre release tunes!

Happy days!

Skins Tour 2011

WATCH OUT WORLD! The Skins Tour is back for 2011



Skins the tour headed to the eight home towns of their new SKINS generation – and the public were invited too. Kicking off in BRISTOL on January 19th, the tour hit the city with live performances from rising stars MORNING PARADE plus a very special guest DJ.

Then heading onto Swansea, Hereford, Ashford, Edinburgh, London, Brighton & Oxford.

Performances throughout the rest of the tour were from such acts as KATY B, NERO, KISSY SELLOUT, DEVLIN, FLUX DJs, KID ADRIFT, BEARDY MAN, THE WOMBATS and a list of DJs including CHARM DJs, YASMIN, JIGSAW, JAYMO & ANDY GEORGE and many more!



For more information on the Skins tour please follow this link:

Aussie singer to appear in UK Lexus CT200h ads

AUSTRALIAN superstar Kylie Minogue has linked up with Japanese luxury car brand Lexus to promote the CT200h hybrid hatch ahead of its impending UK launch.

The diminutive singer will take part in a British publicity and marketing campaign dubbed Quiet Revolution, including appearances in television and print advertisements for the smallest Lexus.

As part of the deal, she will receive her own “personally specified” CT200h.

Lexus will also be lead sponsor of Kylie’s 2011 Aphrodite – Les Folies UK tour, which it claims is “destined to be one of the most visually spectacular and technically complex shows ever staged in the UK”.

In a statement, Ms Minogue said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Lexus on the launch of their new full hybrid CT 200h. I’ve been lucky enough to have a preview of the car which is both stylish and elegant and will definitely create a Quiet Revolution.”

Interactive Cab at the Orange RockCorps Concert!

An interactive black cab graced the Orange Rockcorps concert at the Manchester Apollo!!! The concert was Orange RockCorps way of thanking all of their volunteers that had volunteered along the way, so guest performances were made by Lady Gaga, N-Dubz, VV Brown and The Enemy.

As Volunteers queued up for the concert they were able to pop into the interactive cab and record a short message outlining what project they volunteered at as well as how they were feeling!

Most volunteers couldn't wait to get into the cab as it had visited all of the projects on the tour and had built up a rapport with the volunteers.........so look out for the notorious cab during Orange RockCorps London which is due to commence next month.

Becks - Beer + Music = popular combination

Ladyhawke and Hard-Fi redesigned labels for bottles of Becks.
The musicians worked with their favourite artists to design labels that appeared on 16million bottles.

Sarah Larnach, whose retro watercolours are a key part of Ladyhawke's visual identity, produced a label that is in keeping with her previous work for the singer/songwriter (as shown above). Meanwhile, the bold, blocky type that characterizes David Smith's album art for Hard-Fi will once again be in evidence on Hard-Fi's bottles.

Ken Valledy, brand director for Beck’s at InBev UK, said: "The new limited edition bottle labels will also have significant benefits for retailers because the highly visual designs will appeal to consumers and attract interest in the brand, thereby driving repeat purchase.”

Monkeys spotted in Oxfam

Sheffield toe tappers and head boppers The Arctic Monkeys released their single 'Crying Lightning' on 7" vinyl through Oxfam's chain of charity shops across the UK. As you would expect all proceeds went towards funding the charity's numerous projects around the world.

The vinyl sold for £2.99 and included a code to download the MP3 version of the release which includes a cover of Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand'.

As well as giving the profits to the charity, the band and record label Domino encouraged fans to bring in old records, clothing and other unwanted goods when they pick up their copies of the single to further raise funds.

Find out more about Oxfam and the single release at - http://www.oxfam.org.uk/arcticmonkeys

Orange Monkey - Rock & Roll Stars

We at Made tried out life on the road as rock and roll stars for five weeks as we toured the UK promoting the new Orange Monkey pay as you go plan and their world's first Hologram gigs. It was the first multi-artist hologram tour and featured the virtual skills of hot new stars Pixie Lott, N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder.

The fun kicked off on Saturday 19th September at Lakeside shopping centre - gigs ran every 15 minutes and with no ticket required, anyone could come along and enjoy some Top of the Pops style musical entertainment.

Weaving their way amongst the crowd were clued-up Orange folk who could tell you more about the Orange Monkey plan, give you a demo of how it works and most importantly, show you how to sign up if you fancy some of that mobile musical goodness for yourself.

The Orange Monkey Hologram gig tour headed to the Bullring in Birmingham, Meadowhall in Sheffield, Cabots Circus in Bristol and finally, the Arndale Centre in Manchester.

For more info on the tour go to orange.co.uk

American Express - My Live Story

American Express is at it also.....they have created an interactive campaign - "My Live Story" aimed at uncovering the UK's best music experiences – the memorable stories behind the shows, to celebrate their involvement in live music and its award-winning 'Preferred Seating' programme launched last year".

The interactive campaign was hosted at www.channel4.com/mylivestory, and encouraged consumers to celebrate their most memorable live music moments by submitting photos or videos of their favourite gig online.

Twenty-one winners had their experiences turned into a short firm, to be aired on national TV. The overall winner was rewarded with a VIP trip to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Volvo Snowbombing

Have you been reading the blogs from The Mission - hilarious, Snowbombing driven by Volvo are attempting to take over all of the European Ski Resorts. Wise up play better tunes...Urban Knights are leading the charge.....

Snowbombing looks good this year...watch out for the Eristoff Forest Party.....and the 6000 person street bash...