Product Placement in Music Videos

Ever felt like you could use an ice cold Dr. Pepper every time you watch 90210? Or maybe you've felt like you need a Macbook because that's the only way your work will turn out spectacular? There's a reasonable explanation for that and the perfect term for that is called "Product Placement"

Product placement is an advertising tool, which is used as an alternative to long, and boring commercials. This is a successful way of promoting a product because not only will the targeted audience remain seated while watching it instead of the usual case where they would get up and run away, this will also find its way into their subconscious in the form of a subliminal message. The product will therefore dwell in their materialistic frame of mind.

Here's  the Queen of Nothing aka Lady Gaga promoting Diet Coke in one of her music videos...

And a closer look...

And sure why not promote some beer for the young ones ...

I am going to focus on product placement specifically in music videos. Product placement is both subliminal and persuasive, and not necessarily in a good way. They are advocating for a consumerist society with the purchase of the latest products at the top of their to do list. Most companies would pay millions of dollars in order to push their products into any form of media outlets including social media sites or as it is also known as "Social Media Marketing" Here's a sloppy presentation of products that don't necessarily belong in the video, which makes me wonder why on earth are they there?


 Thanks to channels like Mtv which has nothing to do with music anymore I have some more examples…
 



 Pay attention to what happens in minute 3:54
 You'd think that there are various companies that would profit from this whole product placement business whereas in the end of the day there are only 1 or 2 companies who will benefit. What those videos have in common is the Sony products parade. This is not a coincidence since Sony BMG owns more than a quarter of the U.S. music market. 
My advice to you is think, think and think before you purchase a new product, do you actually need it? How is this going to add something to your life?