Confusion and hesitation are the vibes Alice Cooper and John Oates give off while trying to promote the AMP Awards, a competition they nothing about, in two short comic videos released by the Association of Music Producers (AMP), sponsors of the show honoring music and sound in advertising.

The spots announce the extended entry deadline for the 2024 AMP Awards, which closes on Monday, March 18. Both films use satire and deadpan comedy, thanks to the musicians’ performances.

The two spots were created and produced in partnership with Johannes Leonardo’s in-house production studio, Attic22.

In “Empty Stool,” Cooper says that he “can’t even plug an album.” The rockstar hesitates to get on screen, where a stool is propped. “You’re telling me that an award show about advertising needs advertising? That’s dumb,” Cooper expresses.

Oates appears in “PayDay,” where the musician, who rose to fame as part of the pop rock duo Hall & Oates, initially delivers a straightforward and almost professional promo. But as he is about to leave, he comes clean.

“The idea of having immediately identifiable rock stars helping promote an award show they’re totally unfamiliar with gave us an opportunity for a little ironic humor,” said Mitchell Wojcik, director and photographer at Attic22. Wojcik filmed both spots.

Al Risi, founder and head of music supervision at Groove Guild—a member of the AMP Awards Steering Committee—said landing Cooper and Oates was a complex process, but once he explained what AMP was, their managers were into it.

Risi noted that the legacy of the musicians still strikes a chord today.

“They were both great to work with and happy to play a cameo role in the advertising music ecosystem, for the greater good of the music and sound community,” he said. “For both AMP and the artists, this is a win-win.”

Founded in 1998, AMP aims to increase royalties for advertising through ASCAP, representing songwriters, composers and music publishers. The organization addresses business matters such as production guidelines, composer royalties and music rights agreements, and hosts educational seminars, fundraising events and the AMP Awards.

“As advertising’s only award show dedicated to music and sound, our goal is simple—shine the biggest possible spotlight on all the talented professionals whose work too often doesn’t get the attention it deserves,” said Leo Premutico, co-founder and creative chairman of Johannes Leonardo and chair of this year’s show. Premutico expressed gratitude to Oates and Cooper for their support of the mission.

The AMP Awards will be held on May 15 at Sony Hall in Times Square. Both artists also recorded video teasers to boost ticket sales for the gala presentation, in addition to the videos promoting entries.