In a completely random maneuver, Cadbury Schweppes America Beverages is offering a deal to embattled Guns N’ Roses frontman, Axl Rose. If Axl can finish the oft delayed new GNR album, Chinese Democracy, anytime in 2008, the company will give everyone in the US (except for Slash and Buckethead – well played Dr. Pepper) a can of Dr. Pepper.
Axl has already responded to the press release on the Guns N’ Roses website:
If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr Pepper with him.
You know, I may be a jaded music industry expatriate, but of things I first thought of when I saw the press release, contrived label promotion did not cross my mind. Maybe I’m getting naive, or maybe i just want to believe in how awesome Dr. Pepper is because it’s my favorite soda.
Regardless, a high-five to the marketing dude at Dr. Pepper for thinking up these shenanigans. It’s unique and random in a way that’ll get people talking without being trite. It’s a helluva lot cheaper than buying TV ads too.
Minus points, though, for not ponying up the $10 for a domain to host the blog. Was the budget that low?
Read the press release [money.cnn.com]