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Charlie Moran

Stephen Colbert: Black Eyed Peas Missed Many 'Advertunities' in Latest Video

Turns Out 'I Gotta Feeling' Probably Has Four Product Placements

In last night's episode of "The Colbert Report," Stephen examined this year's summer jamz, and in the process took issue with the video for the Black Eyed Peas' latest hit, "I Gotta Feeling." He lamented: "Peas, please! You guys are the masters of the mass-market sell-out. You missed so many advertunities!

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Charlie Moran

Taco Bell Steps Up to the Mic ... Again

Once Again, Fast-Feeder Tries to Comment on Hip-Hop. Why?

What to say about this Taco Bell "music video" for its song "It's All About The Roosevelts"?

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Charlie Moran

A Taylor-Made Complaint for United Airlines

Country Musician Dave Carroll Takes Year-Long Customer-Service Quest Viral

Halifax musician Dave Carroll has created a viral hit with a video decrying the behavior of United Airlines and its treatment of his Taylor guitar.

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Jeff Daniel

Build Your Band and the Brands Will Come

To Get Coca-Cola's Attention, Focus on Your Music Career, Not Marketers

There is no music-branding silver bullet that will skyrocket a developing artist to stardom and riches. Take your time and focus on your own career and we will find you. It's often not the answer these artists want to hear, but it's the truth.

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Ko Kawashima

Brands Should Be Wired Into Music Discovery

An Understanding of Customer Affinities Can Provide a Valuable Service

Music fans care about discovery. Connecting people with what they want and what they don't even know they want yet is the name of the game.

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Charlie Moran

Thank You for Killing Auto-Tune, Wendy's!

Jay-Z Says Fast Feeder's 'Frosty Posse' Ad Killed Pitch-Correction Technology

Somehow it took a fast-food restaurant to do for hip-hop what Jay-Z couldn't: kill Auto-Tune. He recently told a Chicago radio station that his latest song, "Death of Auto-Tune," was, in part, a reaction to a Wendy's spot that parodied the ubiquitous pitch-correction technology.

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Charlie Moran

Spin the Red Circle

Pearl Jam to Appear in Target Ad, Retail Deal to Follow

That retracted fan account of a Pearl Jam show shot by director Cameron Crowe for a Target ad? Confirmed.

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Charlie Moran

The Green Label Singles Club

Mountain Dew's Branded Label Announces Slate of Bands, Goes Monthly

You won't find the word "singles club" anywhere in Mountain Dew's press materials, but that's the best way to describe the current direction of Green Label Sound. Beginning this month, the cola brand's free digital music outlet is shifting to a monthly schedule, starting with a release by Inglewood rap duo U-N-I that drops today.

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Charlie Moran

ReverbNation to Offer DIY Song Sponsorships

Band Website Announces Pilot Program for 1,000 Indie Artists

With its new Sponsored Song program, ReverbNation is aiming to give some of its member bands marketing dollars that would normally be unavailable to them.

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Dawn Sutter Madell

Only You Can Prevent Music-Licensing Disasters

Be Prepared! What to Look Out for When Picking That Perfect Song

Sometimes I feel like a Boy Scout, always shouting "Be prepared!" But, honestly, it's the best way to get what you want in the end, and music licensing for advertising is no exception. Be prepared!

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Charlie Moran

Branded Records Come Full Circle

A Look at the Glory Days When Dry Cleaner Chains Made Music

It's been a busy this week, but we're taking a break to bring you an important piece of news: some of the most mundane products in the world once had their own branded records.

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Charlie Moran

Miller Chill's Summer Serenade

New Spot Featuring Track by The Dodos Makes Appeal for Lime in Your Brew

Not only does this Miller Chill spot actually make me want to drink this light beer even though I've had it before and can't handle fruit in my pint, but the track from The Dodos in it is a perfect mix of lush natural sounds and electric urgency that syncs flawlessly with the visuals.

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Charlie Moran

Dwele Sipping McD's 'Liquid Love'

Neo-Soul Singer, Conya Doss Sex Up Affordable Lattes at Fast Feeder

What, did you think that McNuggets were the only fast-food product with a rightful place in the bedroom? After "nuggnut" Keith Sweat boldly fetishized the deep-fried chicken bits last year, smooth-singing R&B singer Dwele is now trying to do the same for the big McCafe push.

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Charlie Moran

'Celebrity Apprentice' Tackles Jingles

Trump's Reality Show Pits Country Star Against Poker Star in Songwriting Contest

On this week's episode, 'Celebrity Apprentice' judges -- execs from Chicken of the Sea -- decided that country music was too limiting for their brand, which is questionable given the age and income range of its fans, and they were also worried that Black's jingle didn't pack in a message of convenience.

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Charlie Moran

'Rap Chop' Is Worth the Wait

Watch the Best Vince Shlomi Infomercial Remix You'll See All Day

Sure, maybe you're totally over the ShamWow guy and his infamous alleged scuffle with a painted lady. But truly superb funny video remixes take time and patience, people. Case in point: Steve Porter's epic remix of Vince Shlomi's Slap Chop infomercial, which will live among the apex of its genre for a long time.

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Rob Stone

What Brands Can Learn From Jadakiss

How the Hip-Hop Artist Connected With Fans and Didn't Succumb to Radio Pressure

There are numerous differences between an album launch and a product launch, but extracting and highlighting what insights and lessons can be learned from Jadakiss' latest release and his initiatives are not as obvious.

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Charlie Moran

De La Soul Hints at Independent Release

Jolicoeur, Mason Tell Ad Age 'We Can Do It on Our Own'

After putting out their last album, "The Grind Date," with Universal's Sanctuary imprint, the guys in De La Soul suggested their next could be fully independent, perhaps even a digital-only release

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Charlie Moran

An Artifact From MTV's Product Placement Stone Age

Hair Metallers Autograph Set the Bar With 1984 Paper Mate-Sponsored Video

In a blog post yesterday, Businessweek's Jon Fine -- who's also a former Ad Ager -- dredged up the forgotten history of hair metal band Autograph and its pioneering product placement during MTV's wee years.

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Charlie Moran

With Shelf Space Receding, EMI Eyes Grocery Stores

British Label Strikes Deals for Branded Pre-Paid Cards, Instant-Win Lotto Tickets

EMI is integrating its artists into branded impulse buys like pre-paid debit cards and lotto tickets.

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Charlie Moran

Courtyard's Sync Seems Out-of-Sync

New Spot With Throw Me the Statue Clip Is Charming but Feels a Little Off

Songs for Soap's little brother would like readers to know that, in an ad that began running this week, Courtyard by Marriott is featuring a bit of the song "Lolita" from indie-pop sensation Throw Me the Statue.

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