Apple’s U2 silhouette spot named ‘smartest ad campaign’

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Apple’s U2 silhouette spot named ‘smartest ad campaign’

Business 2.0 has included the U2 silhouette iPod ad campaign in its 2005 Smart List, the magazine’s “annual tip of the hat to the brightest minds in business and the miraculous feats they’ve accomplished.” The Apple-U2 creation was named the “Smartest ad campaign.”

“Thanks to a smart decision to cross-promote two well-known entertainment brands—a collaboration hatched by U2 lead singer Bono and Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who are longtime friends—each side contributed an edgy dose of cool to the advertising effort, which was produced by TBWA/Chiat/Day,” writes Thomas Mucha. “The pairing scored with music fans. Following its exclusive release on Apple’s iTunes Music Store, U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb went on to top the iTunes sales charts for weeks after its late-November debut. Offline the album launched at the top of the U.S. pop charts, selling almost twice as many copies as U2’s last U.S. release did during its first week.”

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Comments

1

I remember a time when rock and roll was revolutionary, not crass commercialism.

Posted by Mike S on January 25, 2005 at 1:52 PM (PST)

2

Well when was that?

Posted by Jazzlawyer in Kelowna, BC Canada on January 25, 2005 at 2:28 PM (PST)

3

I’m not that old.

But I do agree. While U2 and Apple may be “cool”, It does kind of make my stomach churn.

Posted by purplestallion in Dallas, Texas on January 25, 2005 at 3:39 PM (PST)

4

Music is a product. As indie as you want to be unless you’re buying CDs only off bands that are playing in your local bar or the garage next door you’re buying into commercialism. Music videos are commercials. That Apple and U2 made a commercial a music video is just making that leap from the Much Music or MTV to a 30 second spot between Friends reruns.

Posted by Jazzlawyer in Kelowna, BC Canada on January 25, 2005 at 3:56 PM (PST)

5

I remember Elvis doing bad acting to rake in movie dollars, I remember the Beatles doing a movie, hmm, thats pretty early rock and roll. When exactly wasn’t there commercialism present?

Posted by graphicgeek in Utica, NY on January 26, 2005 at 6:01 AM (PST)

6

I still think the japanese ipod napkins are the cutest things ever. I want a pack

Posted by Earl in New York on January 26, 2005 at 1:12 PM (PST)

7

Anyone else notice Bono counts off in Spanish at the beginning of the song, and says “one…two…three…FOURTEEN”? You’d think someone’d tell him before it went to print.

Posted by Doctor T. on January 27, 2005 at 2:22 PM (PST)

8

video killed the radio star

Posted by apple juice in USA on February 17, 2005 at 8:30 AM (PST)

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