Product Stars

It is synonymous nowadays to see every celebrity imaginable endorsing either someone else’s product or a product of their own. I mean, who can blame them with the current state of the music industry selling albums just isn’t enough anymore. You have celebrities endorsing everything from water to nail polish to shoes. It’s a great way for celebrities to expand not only their brand but also their revenue. Celebrities are paid big bucks to endorse a company’s product. Nicki Minaj signed a seven-figure deal to become the face of a new Pepsi beverage called “Pop”. You can read more about that here and also watch the commercial via YouTube. You have to wear many hats within the industry today because just being an artist who just makes music just isn’t the trend anymore. It takes so much more to sustain credibility in this industry. Take for instance, Alicia Keys, she is coming out with a new album in November and she has inked a deal with Reebok. She designed several different pairs of shoes for them and starred in a commercial featuring her saying the lyrics to her new song, Girl On Fire. Peep the commercial here! That was a very strategic move by her and her team to get people interested in her upcoming project. When you turn on the television you see so many celebrities endorsing so many different products. There is serious money to be made in doing so. The companies that these celebrities endorse are so smart and really handles their product management well because they know with big time names attached to their brand people are going to buy it. It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved. Even if the product doesn’t do so well the celebrity still gets paid unless otherwise stated in their contract. Look at Jennifer Hudson; you can’t turn on the television without seeing one of her Weight Watchers commercials. I know you’re probably as sick of seeing them as I am but the girl is getting serious bread from that and Weight Watchers must be contributing from it very well because Jennifer stays on our TV screens. You can’t be mad at a sister for getting her money and looking good while doing it. Although, I believe she has undergone other procedures to get rid of the weight but that’s just between you and I. On the same note though, endorsements are a way for celebrities to make major money and the key is to strike while you’re hot. These three women I mentioned are making themselves into brands and diving into opportunities outside of music. But to be fair if it wasn’t for them being the huge music stars that they are the doors for endorsements to open probably never would have happened. So, to aspiring artists out there who want to become music superstars think outside the music and come up with a plan to turn yourself into a brand! It’s the best way to sustain longevity in this business!