It took six months, but a mobile phone brand finally realized that Drake’s “Hotline Bling” is perfectly suitable for a marketing tie-in.
T-Mobile revealed its Super Bowl 50 ad this morning on Twitter starring the rapper, whose song became a massive hit bolstered by his viral music video. The 30-second spot replicates Drake recording the music video and singing the lyric “you used to call me on my cellphone,” before three executives by a rival companies drop in slamming him with strict contract rules.
Our #BigGame commercial is here…featuring @Drake! #YouGotCarriered https://t.co/ebrSFafLUe
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) February 2, 2016
Besides giving the world another opportunity to laugh at Drake’s dad dancing, T-Mobile is promoting its “Un-Carrier” shtick that let’s people upgrade their phones and stream unlimited music and video with its albeit controversial “Music Freedom” and “Binge On” programs.
T-Mobile gravitates toward using popular celebrities for the Super Bowl. Last year, the brand hired Kim Kardashian to star in a similar self-aware spot. But judging by the Internet’s reaction, Drake is more beloved than Kardashian with people openly tweeting about loving….a phone company.
I’ve never been proud of having T-Mobile until I saw this drake commercial right now.
— Mayra (@MayLovesKidiNk) February 2, 2016
When your fave carrier @TMobile puts your fave rapper @Drake in their commercial. #genius I love y’all
— Natalie. (@TheJacksonEra) February 2, 2016
t-mobile about to cash in. i just showed my cousin (drake lover) the commercial and she wants to switched to t-mobile… we live in canada.
— maya (@mayaamor) February 2, 2016
Drake has T-mobile, I have T-mobile..I’m sensing a connnnnnecccctiiiooooonnnn
— marshamarshaMARSHA (@awkwardlym) February 2, 2016
Your move, Verizon.
-
How Roblox is paving the way for a new era of branded gaming
Roblox is still in its infancy as a marketing tool. But over the last two years, the number of brands and retailers on Roblox has grown dramatically.
-
‘Email has become so cluttered’: Why DTC brands plan to use texting for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday nearing, text messaging is becoming a more common marketing channel for direct-to-consumer brands.
-
‘There’s more opportunity’: Publishers on TikTok are taking branded content into their own hands
As their audiences on the social app have grown, a flurry of publishers have turned to developing branded content campaigns to explore new commercial opportunities.
-
SponsoredPublishers will lead the charge as cookie-less advertising becomes the norm
Steve Wing, managing director, EMEA, Magnite As the advertising industry moves closer to a cookieless world — one in which browserless environments including connected TV (CTV) and mobile in-app are an increasingly large part of ad budgets — publishers will have an increasingly important role in developing the future of identity. Segment creation and identity […]
-
Member Exclusive‘A more hopeful future’: As the coronavirus surges, advertisers aren’t pressing pause
Spending has remained consistent, according to media buyers, who say that advertisers are more prepared this time around.
-
‘Time to test multiple offers’: Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday advertising is coming earlier than ever this year
The accelerated shift of consumer shopping to e-commerce and the expected surge of online holiday retail, has led to earlier Black Friday and Cyber Monday advertising.
