Several years ago I pitched Camel on the idea of starting a record label. The idea was for the brand to “discover” emerging artists and support them by producing their first album, which would then be distributed via Camel.com and the brand’s event series, as well as through traditional merchandising channels. There really ought to [...]

Earlier this year, Procter & Gamble and Walmart teamed up with NBC to produce original content in hope that viewers would buy more P&G products at Walmart. According to Ad Age, it was a good investment. P&G spent $4.5 million alone on the production of “Secrets of the Mountain,” but the packaged goods king also [...]

According to Brandfreak, Quentin Tarantino is back with this short film Lemon Drop, a 10-minute webvertainment venture by TBWA\Chiat\Day on behalf of Absolut’s lemony brand. But Brandweek jests, this branded short was actually directed by Traktor. Whoever made it and however derivative it is, will this effort sell more Absolut Lemon vodka? That’s what the [...]

Ad Age is reporting on the vanishing line between content and advertising, and using Dr. Pepper’s spot last week on NBC’s “30 Rock,” as an example. Yes, it’s true, in the early days of TV, networks were happy to mix commerce and content, with talk-show hosts also serving as pitchmen. Many of them do that [...]