Product placement in music lyrics

FergieStacy Ann Ferguson has undertaken to include mentions of the brand Candie’s in her future songs as part of the deal which sees her hit Big Girls Don’t Cry being used to advertise the women’s clothing line. “With record sales in decline,” says an industry spokesman, “you must find novel ways to make money out of the music.” The deal is apparently worth £2m.

Two years ago, P Diddy was reported to have begun talks about a similar deal with Range Rover. In 2002, Sean Combs collaborated with Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams on Pass the Courvoisier, reportedly written thanks to a deal with the manufacturers of the cognac. (Sample lyric: “Give me some money/You can give me some cars/You can give me the bitch/Make sure you pass the Courvoisier.”) In the wake of its release, US magazine Business Week reported that fans of the trio had obediently developed a taste for upscale brandy, and sales had “taken off”.

In 2004, Petey Pablo inserted two lines at the behest of Seagram’s gin: “Now I got to give a shout out to Seagram’s gin/Cause I drink it, and they payin’ for it” in his Freek-A-Leek hit.

50 Cent has not only collaborated with Reebok on lines of trainers and sportswear, but dutifully included the brand in his songs.

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