Test Your Country Song Brand Recall
Wired magazine recently had a story about product placement in songs. It talks about how it's kept on the down-low when a brand approaches an artist or a songwriter with an idea. About how the music business has changed so much that bands and singers are essentially just singing advertisements. And getting paid for it. As was the case when Double Happiness Jeans had the nerve to approach the Pussycat Dolls about finding a way to fit their jeans into some lyrics.
And that may very well be how it works in other genres. But I have to think that in country, these shout-outs (or the more business-like term "brand-drop") come from a lifetime of experience with that brand. Especially since they are not all positive. So you certainly can't accuse country artists of selling out. Well, you can, I suppose. But I don't think that's the case. I mean, when was the last time you saw White Rain hairspray or Pall Mall cigarettes throw a lot of money into a big ad campaign? Yet there they are, right in the middle of they lyrics to Jason Aldean's "Hicktown," a song written by John Rich, Big Kenny and Vicky McGehee.
There is nothing new or targeted or marketing-savvy about these little bits of branding. It's been going on for years and seems to be totally coincidental. See if you can name which songs these brands are in or which artists have partnered with the brands for tour sponsorship or an advertising campaign:
Aqua Velva
Neiman Marcus
Cruzan
Mercury
Escalade
Johnson
Crown Royal
Spaghettios
Chevrolet
Old Crow
7-Up
Cherry Coke
Patron
Budweiser
Pall Mall
Jack Daniels
Buick
Rodeo
White Rain
Polo
Happy Meal
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
hotelmotel says:
I don’t know. I do suppose some artists are mentioning specific brands without compensation.
But country music is extremely commercialized. Concert venues often have ads for products all over them. I once bought a Marty Stuart album (The Pilgrim) that included in the liner notes a coupon for Southwest Airlines.
Liner notes often include “Thank You’s” to corporations. This seems a wierd practice, unless the “Thank You” was bought (probably in exchange for free merchandise — Gibson gives Chesnutt free guitars if he makes a big deal about using Gibson guitars, for instance).
Considering how commercialized country music is, the alternate seems more likely.
It seems unlikely that all of this is “totally coincidental.” Perhaps some of it, yes. But if I am, say, Alan Jackson, and I can write either “ford truck” or “chevy truck” into my song, why would I not chose to include the brand that pays me a little fee. Why would I not see if I can get some compensation.
Alison notes that product placement occurs often in other genres, but then suggests that it might be “totally coincidental” when it happens in country. If its known to occur elsewhere, wouldn’t the more likely inference be that it occurs in country, too? Especially in view of the fact that the country labels are owned by the same large corporations that own pop labels. And some of the products mentioned in pop songs (lo and behold!) get note in country songs.
Even if a particular song isn’t written so as to include product placement, I’d bet that when a brand is featured prominently, the singer’s management tries to “work out a deal” with the relevant company. If Alan Jackson records “Mercury Blues” it seems likely he’d try to angle for Ford to hire him as a pitchman or perhaps at least to sponsor a tour.
Say Alan Jackson is making out a set list for his latest tour. He has so many hits that he doesn’t have to include “Mercury Blues.” But why not approach Ford and say, “hey, I’ll feature this song prominently for a small fee?”
I’m just using A.J. as an example. Overall, I’d be shocked if product placement of various sorts isn’t a common feature of country music.
I’d think advertisers would be especially likely to want to have country singers hawk their wares because so many fans seem to think country singers are “sincere,” which might lead some fans to believe the singer actually uses or likes the advertised product even if that same fan would be skeptical that a pop star really likes the products she sells.
Steve says:
I’ll eliminate one to save them for other people….
POLO: Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood. You could have also listed Jose Cuervo and Fordo Pinto(she mentioned Cuervo and Pinto in Last Name)… another Ford (she mentioned her Daddy’s Ford in Don’t Forget to Remember Me)… Louisville Slugger (Before He Cheats)
Pam says:
Aqua Velva
Neiman Marcus Martina McBride When God Fearin Women Get the Blues
Cruzan Kenny Chesney
Mercury Alan Jackson
Escalade Big and Rich Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy
Johnson Craig Morgan Redneck Yacht Club
Crown Royal
Spaghettios Lonestar Or Martina McBride
Chevrolet Just about every country star LOL
Old Crow
7-Up
Cherry Coke Craig Morgan
Patron Joe Nichols
Budweiser
Pall Mall Jason Aldean
Jack Daniels
Buick
Rodeo
White Rain Jason Aldean
Polo Carrie Underwood
Happy Meal Rodney Atkins
Leah says:
Rascal Flatts mention Sonic in Bob That Head. They mention Ipod and Coors in Me and My Gang.
Chris N. says:
I’m pretty sure everybody who ever wrote a country song has mentioned Jack Daniels at some point.
C-natural says:
Adding to Pam’s list:
Aqua Velva
Neiman Marcus Martina McBride When God Fearin Women Get the Blues
Cruzan Kenny Chesney
Mercury Alan Jackson
Escalade Big and Rich Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy
Johnson Craig Morgan Redneck Yacht Club
Crown Royal
Spaghettios Lonestar Or Martina McBride
Chevrolet Just about every country star LOL **I’ll pick one: Phil Vassar, My Chevrolet
Old Crow
7-Up
Cherry Coke Craig Morgan **Rascal Flatts, Mayberry
Patron Joe Nichols
Budweiser
Pall Mall Jason Aldean
Jack Daniels
Buick **Jo Dee Messina, Silver Thunderbird; Sawyer Brown, Buick
Rodeo
White Rain Jason Aldean
Polo Carrie Underwood
Happy Meal Rodney Atkins
Jennifer says:
Aqua Velva- Billy Ray Cyrus, “Burn Down The Trailer Park”
Neiman Marcus- Martina McBride, “When God Fearing Women Get the Blues”
Cruzan- Kenny Chesney Tour Sponsor
Mercury- Alan Jackson, “Mercury Blues”
Escalade- Big and Rich, “Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy”
Johnson- Craig Morgan, “Redneck Yacht Club”
Crown Royal- Big and Rich, “Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy”
Spaghettios- Martina McBride, “This One’s For The Girls”
Chevrolet- Phil Vasser, “My Chevrolet”, Like Bryan, “Chevrolet”, Big and Rich,………….
Old Crow- Brad Paisley, “Out In The Parkin’ Lot”
7-Up- Brad Paisley, “Out In The Parkin’ Lot”
Cherry Coke- Rascal Flatts, “Mayberry”
Patron- Joe Nichols, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”
Budweiser- Gretchen Wilson, “One Bud Wiser”, Joe Diffie, “Cold Budweiser and A Sweet Tater”
Pall Mall- Jason Aldean, “Hicktown”
Jack Daniels, Miranda Lambert, “Jack Daniels”, David Allen Coe, “Jack Daniels If You Please”, …
Buick- Brooks and Dunn, “Goin’ Under Gettin’ Over You”, Sawyer Brown Album, “Buick”
Rodeo- Collin Raye, “Little Red Rodeo”
White Rain- Jason Aldean, “Hicktown”
Polo- Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats”
Happy Meal- Rodney Atkins, “Watching You”
And now I officially have no life!!!
Alison says:
No life? Are you kidding, Jennifer? You have a life that is obviously rich with country music. Or a really good search engine. Anyway, great job! There are a couple others that would fit the bill, like:
Aqua Velva- Darius Rucker “I Hope They Get to Me in Time”
Escalade- Gretchen Wilson “”Good Ole Boy”
Johnson- Alan Jackson “Drive”
Crown Royal- Ashton Shepherd “Not Right Now”
Buick- Alan Jackson “Buicks to the Moon”
Scarlett12 says:
Pontiac cars-Little Big Town songs of theirs that mention it are Pontiac and Firebird Fly
Kevin says:
Whether it be intentional or not, the brand dropping does happen quite a bit… but in my opinion its not really a big deal unless it gets out of hand. As long as the brands fit into the song and dont just come off as straight up advertisments then im ok with it. Even if they are getting a little extra for it. Thats really just smart business.