Cross Promoting Tableware Brands with Food and Beverage Brands
This article below from the New York Post shares that Facebook is looking to promote music to its customer base. Why? Facebook, like MySpace, knows that people that use its service are young and probably listen to and buy a lot of music. Facebook is anticipating a customer desire, and trying to offer one more way to satisfy him or her-and make money in the process.
I wonder if there is some room for the tableware industry to learn from this. It's not rocket science to realize that people are going to cook or server food on the plates bought at 41 Madison or 7 West. But, have you ever seen a food or beverage company (Godiva? Omaha Steaks? Veuve Clicquot?) sponsor an event at one of these buyer meccas? Also, have you we seen a tableware company recently reach out to a food or beverage company and offer to do a cross-promotion? If you know of an example, please let us know by leaving your comment here.
Also, what other cross-promotions could exist?
Thanks, J .................
FRIENDS OF THE BAND By BRIAN GARRITY New York Post
October 17, 2008 -- Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg is plotting a possible push into the digital-music business in the wake of MySpace's launch of MySpace Music last month.
The surging social-networking giant is talking to a number of song-streaming services and music community sites, including Rhapsody.com, iMeem.com, iLike.com, and Lala.com, about an outsourcing deal that would more deeply integrate their music experience into Facebook, sources familiar with the situation said.
Zuckerberg and other Facebook executives also have been busy taking meetings with the major record companies about the strategy.
The company has a checkered past with the recording industry. In August 2007 it was forced to pull the plug on Audio, a popular third-party application that allowed users to upload and stream music, in the face of label complaints of copyright violation. Record execs protested that Facebook was engaging in "massive infringement."
That history may impact current talks, especially as record companies seek leverage for participation in the upside of any new Facebook music offering, sources said.
But a formal Facebook foray into digital music would be decidedly different than MySpace Music, which is a joint venture between the online powerhouse (which, like The Post, is owned by News Corp.) and the world's four biggest record companies - Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI.
Unlike MySpace, which traded equity in its music venture in exchange for licenses to stream ad-supported songs, Facebook doesn't want to bog itself down in securing their own licenses to distribute music, or building a proprietary service from scratch, sources said.
Insiders familiar with the talks further cautioned that nothing is imminent, and Facebook may ultimately walk away from the plan altogether.
The company has been toying with the concept off and on for the better part of the year, but Zuckerberg's interest in the concept is believed to have peaked now that MySpace is live with its service.
Facebook declined comment on the situation specifically, but a company spokesman said in a statement that "music sharing plays a part" in the site's mission and that it is "always talking with potential partners."
Facebook already permits a number of digital music services - including Rhapsody, iMeem, iLike, and Lala - to have a presence inside the site, allowing users to download applications to their profiles that can stream music to other users.