Articles


Apple iPod Nano Marketing

by Kelvyn Drewstford

Whenever something new, exciting and revolutionary is introduced to the general public, it's nearly a given that other corporations, companies and interests want to hitch their branding wagon to that train. The Apple iPod Nano is no exception. The Apple iPod transformed the way the whole world thinks about where it takes it music. Soon after the Apple iPod Nanowas released, you could see many people, men & women, young and old, listening to it. It didn't take long for marketers and advertisers to realize that all those Apple iPod Nano users represent a big time target audience. Many marketers soon moved to be seen and heard with the Apple iPod Nano.

Many companies that, at first glance, would have very little to do with the Apple iPod, soon lined up to be associated with the world's most popular portable digital music player. Before you knew it, there were charities working together with Apple to create an iPod Nano with that charity's logo and colors on it. Many charities that associated themselves with the Apple iPod Nano suddenly appeared to be current, hip and worthy of time and attention.

However, even though charities recognized the power of the iPod, it was the music industry itself that has taken the greatest advantage of the reach and visibility of the iPod. We all know that the music industry doesn't really like people downloading and listening to music for free on an Apple iPod Nano. However, some people in the music universe soon deduced that there were many people who only used the iPod for their music, and nothing else. The danger was that to go against the iPod Nano was to go against your fanbase.

One of the biggest and most popular bands of all time, U2, decided to work with the iPod Nano, rather than against it. A special U2 version of the iPod was released, and selected songs from an upcoming album were only available to be heard via the iPod. Of course, innovative, expensive and exceptionally cool marketing and advertising campaigns were released. Because of this foresight, two goals were achieved. One, of course, was to work together with the Apple iPod Nano to get the music and songs released and introduced to the public. The second goal was that U2 did not appear to be anti-download and embraced the iPod and everything it can do.

Before, there were many bands who did not like the idea of downloading. This had a negative backlash against the image of the band. But, with the advent of the Apple iPod Nano, it is now imperative that if the whole world is going to be listening to this little device, then they might as well be listening to you.

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Published May 13th, 2007

Filed in Advertising, Communication