Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Fergie Teams Up With Candies

In this overwhelming age of consumerism, product placement is rampant in movies and television. But now, even the music you listen to can be laden with paid promotions for products. Just ask Fergie.

The Black Eyed Peas singer is reportedly set to make $4 million by teaming up with Candies clothing and accessory line on her next album. She will be dropping their name in her songs, and working with them on their ad campaigns.

An industry insider told press, “With record sales in decline, you must find novel ways to make money out of the music. The trick is to make the brand part of the song so that it slips down easily rather than chokes the fan.”

And Fergie is cashing in on her appeal to the teen girl generation. But she’s not becoming a puppet. A rep for Fergie told press, “Candie’s will have no say over exactly what Fergie will sing, or when. Fergie does not sing jingles so it will have to work unobtrusively in the song.”

This whole consumerism angle has some fans running for the door. A Los Angeles rap website complained, “Since 1988 the Black Eyed Peas have been a socially responsible band who stood against the bling-bling materialism of rap. But since Fergie joined the group four years ago they have become more like a boy band. Fans are used to advertising banners at festivals, but making them part of the song is not cool. There is no escape.”

Any way you slice it, there’s money to be made in the music industry. It just depends on how far you (and your fans) are willing to go.

Enjoy the pictures of Fergie out on a shopping spree during Paris Fashion Week (July 3).