Major Label Heads Beg Corporate America For Branding Help

In a move that reminds us of how just hot “corporate” the music business has become, executives from all of the major labels will meet at Caroline’s in New York City this week for a first ever group presentation of their upcoming new releases to the marketing teams of major US companies like Pepsi, Verizon, and Motorola in an effort to secure branding opportunities.

Hosted by Blue Flame ( co-owned by P. Diddy) and entertainment marketing company Alliance, the day will also feature Atlantic Records chairman Jason Flom as a was a featured speaker. Flom was instrumental in planning the event. “I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to get in touch with the people who are going to be in that room,” Flom told the New York Post. “I think it’s a big win for everyone. I think the future is going to hold enormous potential for partnerships between record companies and advertisers.”

This event is modeled after a page a yearly ritual between television networks and corporate America.
“We felt it was time for both worlds to come together and understand the language of each other, Alliance president and CEO Jarrod Moses told the Post. “Both artists and labels are more open now to seeing how branding works.”

hypebot:While we’ve never minded the pairing of the right artist with just the right brand, there is something sad about the image of the guys who choose what music gets released and promoted standing in front of a room of big biz suits begging to place their artists with anybody who has a checkbook. Music is about passion and emotion. C0-marketing opportunities that hit the same emotional chords work anything less can ruin an artist’s career. We wonder if anyone at the majors still has the guts to say no to a big check from the wrong brand. We doubt it.