The release of Rihanna’s ‘Unapologetic’ CD has reached #1 in the U.S. charts this week. This is her seventh album yet the first to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 and according to Nielson SoundScan she sold a total of 238,000 copies in her first week.

After the end of a strenuous 777 promo Tour and the seemingly failed chartered jet exploit filled with disgruntled journalists having no stories to report, this is the light at the end of a “strategically placed marketing” tunnel.

She created a lot of anticipation for this album by using a different strategy. She released a “Diamonds Deluxe Edition” box for $79 and a “Diamond Executive Platinum Edition” box for $250, which contain a plethora of paraphernalia:

Among the gifts in the Diamonds Deluxe Edition box are , A t-shirt featuring a Michael Muller photo of Rihanna taken during her ‘Unapologetic’ album photo shoots, a limited-edition genuine diamond bracelet,  7 Laptop stickers featuring artwork by Mario Hugo, ‘Unapologetic’ album and “Diamonds” single artwork, the Unapologetic Deluxe CD version with a 28-page photo and art booklet featuring Michael Muller and Melissa T. Forde photography, a 20-minute DVD featuring unreleased footage and a Fan Mosaic poster featuring members of Rihanna’s Navy.

The Diamond Executive Platinum box includes the afore mentioned items above along with a special edition collectible colored “Diamonds” remixes vinyl, A Rihanna Unapologetic 2GB Credit Card style USB Flash Memory Drive, 7 Art print 12 x15 lithographs featuring Michael Muller photography, a Magnus Voll Mathiassen illustration and exclusive unreleased  Rihanna ‘Unapologetic’ images, 3 Device Adhesives featuring Rihanna’s ‘Unapologetic’ cover, logo and image, 11×17 Rihanna handwritten personal note to her Navy, A Rihanna 3D experience View-Master, A 40-page custom Rihanna notebook with handwritten notes and lyrics.

While some may consider it too expensive, it is an ingenious idea that was created for those who are affluent shoppers during this holiday season and to help her brand reach sales goals overall.

The affluent shoppers are expected to spend over 20 percent more this year and luxury retailers can expect a splurge in holiday spending according to the 2012 Q4 Annual Survey of Affluence & Wealth in America. Affluent shoppers don’t have to worry about where their money goes so they can afford the Rihanna “experience” and enjoy the commodities.

On a marketing level, people aren’t necessarily buying the music but the promotional excitement that surrounds it. The pitch for the luxury items are something for the affluent consumer and those that love Rihanna the brand want everything it entails.

Her brand is being looked at as a business and according to Ann C. Logue on entrepreneur.com “businesses prefer a larger margin in order to increase profits, so there is a natural desire to find ways to limit competition. In a healthy market, this happens by introducing better products and services, not by cutting prices.” By adding incentives and gifts to increase the value and price point more consumers are drawn in to purchase and she earns her more money.

Logue also said that, “If a product has network effects–if it becomes more valuable the more people use it–then a low price can get it into the hands of more people and help your business set the standard. On the other hand, a high price can enhance the positioning of a product as a unique or luxury item.” So those that can’t afford the luxury can just get the album for $9.99 at iTunes and Amazon while the high prices of the boxes makes her brand a luxury.

Both the “Diamonds Deluxe Edition” box and the “Diamonds Executive Platinum Edition” box will be released in limited quantities and will be available December 11 on the rihanna.fanfare.com official site.

Image Courtesy : Rihanna

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Every day we see new developments in advertising ideas to attract the viewer’s eye.  The more creative the advertising idea, the higher the price to pay.

From that, SkyDive ,the sky diving company in Dubai and Go Fast , the energy drinks manufacturer from Denver state, USA put a new billboard with flying jetpack pilot around it. The billboard is located in the base of  Burj Khalifa, the highest building in the world, located in Dubai’s downtown.  In front of the Billboard, they put some chairs for the  audience to sit while watching the show.

The price for each second of advertising on this billboard is about $500 USD . The total cost of one month of advertising on this billboard would cost about $1.3 billion USD, making it the most expensive billboard in the world.

The Jetpack is a device worn on the back that, when pushed by escaping gasses, allows a man to fly. The Jetpacks were used in 2008 for advertising the Red Bull energy drink, the Go Fast large competitor.

According to Dropzone.com, Mr. Nasser Al Neyadi of Skydive Dubai said, “this is an epic moment, and we are very proud to be part of it. This initiative is another example showcasing Dubai as a world leader in innovation and technology. The billboard came into being with a simple idea that has transformed into an exceptional event to attract a global audience. Our gratitude to our partners, Go Fast and Emaar Properties, without whose support, this would not have been possible.”

Emaar Properties is the master developer in the Emirate of Dubai. It developed Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, Dubai’s downtown, Dubai Mall and other leisure attractions.

According to marketing-interactive.com, the Go Fast chief executive, Mr. Troy Widgery said, “we are certain that the brand will be received very well here. We are grateful for the support of Skydive Dubai for our venture in this part of the world. With this billboard, we want the people to know that we will be here soon.” Additionally, according to the same website, the Go Fast energy drink is a Halal friendly product. This would allow the majority of Muslim residents of Dubai and UAE in general to drink this product without worrying of consuming a non halal drink.

Halal means permitted in Arabic which usually refers to the allowed food and drinks according to Islamic thoughts. The Halal food and drinks shouldn’t contain any pork and all it’s products; animals slaughtered not in Islamic way, alcoholic drinks, carnivorous animals, birds of prey and any food polluted with any of these products.

Image Courtesy of  Elinag / Shutterstock.com

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New York, U.S.A. – Following a triumphant, much buzzed about debut at SXSW in March and recently wrapping up her sold-out UK tour, Cher Lloyd (Syco/Epic Records) is back in support of the video premiere for her US debut single, “Want U Back.” The audacious single, is a perfect mix of sugar & spice, infused with Cher’s signature swag, creating pure ear-candy.

The video, which premieres May 1 on VEVO, exposes Cher’s inner Brat as she jealously pursues her ex-boyfriend exclaiming, “I want you back!” US fans will finally get what they have been asking for, “Want U Back” will be available for download on iTunes and other digital services on May 22nd.

Check out the video here: http://vevo.ly/IXt7dh

The press is buzzing about Cher:

Billboard names Cher Lloyd #7 most buzzed about show at SXSW!

“As British engagements with hip-hop and American pop go, it’s amusing and well-done. She’s featherlight, innocuous, and she’s the future.” – The New York Times

“‘Want U Back’ – Haven’t been able to get it out of our heads since we first heard it!” – Idolator

“…’Want U Back’ is simply sensational. In fact, it’s better than that it’s astonishing. Best song of the year so far! Hands down!” – OK! Magazine

“The British songstress, Cher Lloyd, is so badass, her ‘Want U Back’ single artwork couldn’t even begin to capture the entire essence of her swag!” – Global Grind

“Cher Lloyd is on the fast track for SUPERSTARDOM!” – Perez Hilton

The indomitable, Cher Lloyd burst onto the scene less than a year ago with her unforgettable vocals, rap skills and genre-bending X Factor UK performances garnering over a 400 million You Tube views, racking up more than 2.3 million Facebook fans and over 1.3 million Twitter followers. The 18 year-old phenom, co-wrote on her infectious UK debut garnering a #1 single with “Swagger Jagger” and a top five album for Sticks & Stones, which was released in November 2011. Cher is gearing up for her US album debut later in the year.

Image Courtesy  of   Beacon Radio

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Madonna has returned for the 8th time to the top of the Billboard’s Pop Charts with MDNA selling 359,000 albums according to Neilsen Soundscan and is  the biggest selling first week debut this year. MDNA is The Material Girl’s fifth  No. 1 studio album in a row and her first album for Interscope Records.

On the Billboard Dance Club Play Charts, Madonna remains queen of the clubs with two songs from MDNA in the Top Ten including “Girls Gone Wild” which has gone to No. 4 and is the “greatest gainer” for the last three weeks.  Her first dance hit from MDNA  “Give Me All Your Luvin” after going to No. 1 remains in the Top Ten in the No. 8 spot.

The critical response to MDNA has been equally impressive:

“Madonna has made it through the wilderness to deliver one of the best albums of her career.”  Daily News

“Her best album since “Ray of Light’”  Chicago Tribune

“Still the Queen of Pop”  The London Times

“Some of the finest musical moments we’ve heard from the pop legend in the last few years”   MTV News

“The woman is pop’s most durable alpha female”  USA TODAY

Other facts:

-MDNA debuted No. 1 on iTunes Charts in 40 countries and had the biggest one day pre sale on iTunes by any artist in history.

-Madonna’s “Girls Gone Wild” video is her most viewed video on YouTube with 32 million views.

-Barbra Streisand is the only other female to have more No. 1 albums (9) according to Billboard’s Keith Caufield.

-In the UK, the MDNA album puts Madonna in a league of her own. MDNA’s No. 1 spot gives Madonna  the most No. 1 albums of all time in the  UK  (12) by a solo artist –  surpassing Elvis Presley. The Beatles are the only artists who have had 15 No. 1 albums in the UK.

-In Japan, MDNA is her 22nd Top Ten album passing The Beatles record of l9 Top Ten albums in Japan. MDNA  entered their Oricon  international charts at No. 1 and the combined Oricon Charts at #4.

To celebrate the first week success with her millions of fans, Madonna will once again be on Twitter this Wednesday, the 4th of April at l0:00 pm

The link is:  @MadonnaMDNAday.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/madonna

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The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, the two premier entertainment media brands of Prometheus Global Media (PGM), are making their content available worldwide for use on digital platforms to customers of The Associated Press.

Starting this month, the entertainment feed of breaking news and feature stories from Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter can be purchased for online use under the content-distribution arrangement with the AP.

“We’re thrilled to be able to provide The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard material among our content offerings to customers,” said Lou Ferrara, AP’s managing editor for entertainment. “It makes for a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive package of entertainment stories every day.”Named Entertainment Publication of the Year by the LA Press Club, The Hollywood Reporter is a leading source for breaking news and in-depth reporting on the entertainment industry.

Providing exclusive, all-access features on Hollywood and scooping stories that range from the History channel’s decision to drop The Kennedys miniseries amid political pressure from the Kennedy family to CBS’ decision to replace Charlie Sheen with Ashton Kutcher on Two and a Half Men, THR has garnered more than 55 billion media impressions during the past year.

Its website, which draws 10.4 million unique monthly visitors, now receives more web traffic than its three biggest competitors combined. ”Being part of AP’s massive distribution network will open THR to huge new audiences from around the world,” said The Hollywood Reporter editorial director Janice Min.

THR’s co-partner in the AP content-distribution deal, Billboard, is widely considered to be one of the most authoritative voices in music. The multiplatform, trend-setting brand has been responsible for breaking some of the music industry’s biggest headlines, including putting a then-largely unknown Adele on itsJanuary 2011 cover, breaking news of Mattel’s plans to create a Nicki Minaj Barbie doll and scooping the story of Enrique Iglesias’ decision to pull out of Britney Spears’ North American tour last year.

With 11.6 million unique monthly visitors, Billboard.com is one of the premier online music destinations worldwide. ”Billboard is already synonymous with ‘music’ all around the globe, but the reach of the brand’s content will now be increased exponentially thanks to the AP,” said Billboard editorial director Bill Werde. “AP is truly the top news agency in the world when it comes to distributing entertainment stories, and we’re pleased and excited to contribute to that effort.”

Said Michael Dutton, global director of AP entertainment products: ”In-depth coverage from two leading entertainment media brands offers AP’s distribution partners a whole new layer of vibrant and rich content for their readers.”

The AP has covered the entertainment industry since the early days of Broadway, the London stage and Hollywood. Today, it covers entertainment worldwide in video, photos, text and audio for all platforms and devices and is one of the top outlets for breaking entertainment news. It was the first outlet to report the divorces of Katy Perry and Demi Moore as well as the Feb. 11 death of Whitney Houston.

Image Courtesy of   Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

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International Shoe charity Soles4Souls has announced a partnership with multi-platinum selling GRAMMY nominee Billy Gilman, with the goal of sponsoring 500,000 shoes for children and adults in need worldwide.

Gilman, who has sold more than 6 million albums worldwide and garnered awards and nods from the ACMs, CMAs, Billboard, and AMAs, has spent the past couple of years writing material for a new CD, working with some of Nashville’s top songwriters. He is currently in the studio recording, with anticipated new music from the artist expected in 2012.

Gilman has always been a voice for those less fortunate than himself.  After seeing a video clip of Soles4Souls’ Founder Wayne Elsey talking about the organization, Gilman was “really blown away at what they do for so many” and decided that he wanted to join Soles4Souls in their mission to help kids around the world in need of shoes.

“I am proud to be partnering with Soles4Souls and am excited about what’s to come in the very near future with our partnership,” added Gilman.

Formed as a relief effort following the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami, Soles4Souls has donated more than 16 million pairs of shoes across 129 countries.  The charity’s mission includes distributing shoes to the children and adults around the world who live in adverse poverty and have no access to appropriate footwear.

A pair of shoes can protect a child in developing nations from soil-based diseases like hookworm and keeps them in compliance with the uniform code at school.

“Billy is an extraordinary young man who has experienced more success in his teenage years than most artists only hope to experience in a lifetime,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.  “We are beyond thrilled that he continues to use his voice and his platform as a way to help others.  He is a role model for so many and we are honored he has chosen to partner with our cause,” he said.

More details about the project and Billy’s involvement with the charity will be announced later in February.  Individuals can visit www.giveshoes.org to hear the latest news on the project.

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Once again Twitter becomes the official source of legitimate information about our favorite celebrities. Hunted by rumors, Rihanna took it to her Twitter account to confirm, much to everyone’s surprise, that she is in fact working on a new album that will drop sometime this fall.

Rihanna’s words have caught everybody by storm, given that her latest album was released less than a year ago. ‘Loud’, which is also the name of her international tour, came out last November to immediate chart success, topping the music lists with singles like ‘Only Girl’, ’What’s My Name?’ and the controversial ‘S&M’.

After 44 weeks on the charts, ‘Loud’ is still way ahead of records released around the same time last year, selling strong and delivering new singles while Rihanna’s hectic tour schedule keeps her busy. But some people are wondering, why rush a new album out when the current one is doing so well?

After a not-so-successful record, some artist put out new music to prevent fans from ditching them for fresher musical options, especially in the era of internet where record sales are declining and Youtube is the best promotional window. But this doesn’t seem like a problem for RiRi, as their fans lovingly refer to her, whose songs keep going through the roof.

Concerts, merchandising products and endorsements have replaced album sales as the main chunk of a popstar’s salary. The more hits you score, the more entertaining the repertoire, the bigger venues and pricier tickets. Artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry or Rihanna herself played to small venues and opened for bigger acts until they had cooked up enough hits to build up an arena set-list.

On the other hand other performers take long breaks in between records to focus on other not-less-profitable adventures such as Gwen Stefani, whose 150$ million clothing empire has become a fashion reference, or Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez who re-engaged audiences as the diva-in-the-room on The Voice and American Idol.

Rihanna’s many business ventures include the creation of her first perfume, an endorsement with Nivea and a role in the upcoming science fiction naval war movie where a fiercer side of the Barbadian songstress will be shown. In 2010, the artist and her manager parted ways and a new company ,Rihanna Entertainment, was founded to also represent side projects.

It has been six years since Rihanna rose to fame and her hectic career has so far been full of controversy. While she is the youngest performer to ever place 10 songs at number one in the US charts, her performances have been labeled as raunchy and her videos always stir up criticism, making the most conservative audiences steer away from her sexy moves.

But it was her rocky relationship with fellow R&B musician Chris Brown that put Rihanna in a very vulnerable place. After it was made public that Chris beat up his famous girlfriend, headlines stalked the Umbrella singer to the extreme. It was one of her toughest moments, as she later revealed, but she overcame the traumatic incident and unleashed her most heartfelt and personal emotions through her music.

When asked about the album’s style by one of her fans on Twitter, Jay-Z’s protégé responded that the record would be gangster so we’ll probably enjoy some hot collaborations with her peers Kanye West and Eminem, or even a long-awaited duet with BFF Katy Perry. Whether she goes gangster or stays dance-hall queen, there’s one thing clear about Rihanna, she’ll be taking no breaks.

Her new single ‘We Found Love’  is supposed to hit radio stations soon.

 
Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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According to Beyoncé’s debut single Girls Run The World from her latest album 4: “My persuasion can build a nation. Endless power our love we can devour. You’ll do anything for me” – the album hit stores June 28.

This anthem was the lead single from Beyoncé’s latest solo album 4. The song samples “Pon De Floor” by Major Lazer and has been met with mixed feelings. The radio doesn’t seem to be picking it up as a summer hit. Some feel this song is controversial because it sends messages of false hope; this song has a nice beat and interesting dance pieces in the music video.

“It’s definitely riskier than something a bit more…simple,” Beyoncé told Billboard.com of the single. “I just heard the track and loved that it was so different: it felt a bit African, a bit electronic and futuristic. It reminded me of what I love, which is mixing different cultures and eras — things that typically don’t go together — to create a new sound.”

Despite ridicule, 4 is doing well, it debuted at #1 last week on the Billboard albums chart, and most likely will remain there a 2nd week.

“You’ve got to remember that Beyoncé, being typical Beyoncé, her albums generally are anchored by really big hits; this album doesn’t have those hits yet,” Us Weekly senior music editor Ian Drew told MTV News. “It’s not to say that it won’t. There are some very strong songs on the album, but they have not been released yet. There are those songs on it, but they have not come out yet and they haven’t struck yet. Beyoncé is coming out at a time when radio is very crowded.”

4 is definitely different from Beyoncé’s first solo albums. This album focuses more on her vocals and shows she is growing and experiencing life, like any newly married 29-year-old woman. You can hear this in the lyrics of some songs, “When I think of the time I almost loved you/ You showed your ass and I saw the real you,” Best Thing I Never Had the second single off the album 4.

4 is an inspired title, Beyoncé gave her fans the credit with coming up with it. In addition to it being her favorite number. “It’s the day I was born. My mother’s birthday, and a lot of my friends’ birthdays are on the fourth . . . April 4th (or 4/4) is my wedding date,” Beyoncé explained.
More than 60 songs were recorded for this album.

This past year Beyoncé ditched her father as her manger and is currently managing herself. “I’ve only parted ways with my father on a business level. He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me.” Beyoncé said in a statement.

Her father, Matthew Knowles oversaw all aspects of Beyoncé career, from music to movies to fashion and more, he was there from the beginning, Destiny’s Child to her solo career, Beyoncé’s publicist stated.

“At this point, I really know who I am, and don’t feel like I have to put myself in a box. I’m not afraid of taking risks – no one can define me,” Beyoncé said.

4 is a deep, soulful album, some of the tracks are very romantic, dealing with being in love, to getting your heartbroken.

Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

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