Definition Of Product Placement

Wikipedia defines product placement by the following:

Product placement advertisements are promotional ads placed by marketers using real commercial products and services in media, where the presence of a particular brand is the result of an economic exchange. Product placement appears in plays, film, television series, music videos, video games and books. It became more common starting in the 1980s, but can be traced back to at least 1949. Product placement occurs with the inclusion of a brand’s logo in shot, or a favorable mention or appearance of a product in shot. This is done without disclosure, and under the premise that it is a natural part of the work. Most major movie releases today contain product placements.

Product placement works, mainly because consumers see recognizable and respected people using products naturally. Probably the most famous example of product placement was when E.T. ate Reeces Pieces in the blockbuster movie; sales of Reeces Pieces skyrocketed immediately following the film’s release.

E.T probably singlehandedly brought product placement into the mainstream and it has grown ever since. Now, you can find it everywhere, in all media, including in pop music.