Brief History of Music for Adverting
Music in TV advertising have reflected many of the trends for television and music in general. Music in commercials operates extradiegetically, intradiegetically and diegetically (this is explained in a later article).
In the early years of music for advertising the popular form was the jingle. Short and catchy compositions that included lyrics promoting the product and including the name of it.
Ajax Cleanser commercial (1947).
Classic commercial jingles from the 50s and 60s.
As every form of composition for media, advertising scores evolved and started using popular music while displaying on screen the product. This industry’s music once more expanded and started using celebrities for their campaigns. From 1984 onward Michael Jackson (among other artists) signed deals with advertising companies to use their music and image in commercials.
"The Choice of a New Generation" by Pepsi used Michael Jackson's Billy Jean song...
... the campaign also included Jackson's "Bad" (1984).
Multinational companies such as Chevrolet, created commercials featuring popular music to increase their popularity with successful results.
Chevrolet's truck commercial "Like A Rock". Song by Bob Seger (1992).
Jingles suffered a decrease as the core of the advertising music after the 90s and ended up fading away.
Today's ads include all kinds of styles but with special emphasis in underscores and popular music.
Schneider Beer: Maturation features underscore music (2013)
Apple's iPod 2004 commercial. Song: Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl? is considered one of the most famous ads that included popular music.
We'll see if jingles take over the advertising world again, though it seems unlikely.
Would you like me to write a specific music article? Let me know in the comments below :)
