The Most Shameless Product Placements in Music Videos
#10: “Papi” (2011) Jennifer Lopez
After eating a magic cookie, legions of suitors are suddenly driven to win Jennifer Lopez’s heart. The only thing more ridiculous than the suggestion that she’d need any magic to attract attention was how much product placement was present. There are multiple shots of the then top-of-the-line Blackberry phone throughout the video. During her walk, she just so happens to pass a Tous Jewelry store. At one point, we get a lingering shot on a bottle of Crown Royal before a man desperately tries to offer it to her. And did we mention that she dodges suitors in her Fiat? While we came into this video hoping for a silly romp, our excitement got lost among the product placement.
#9: “I'm the One” (2017) DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Wayne
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When the camera in this music video isn’t squarely aimed at one of the many models that feature within, it’s 100 percent focused on trying to sell you stuff. It all starts with the beats earphone Khaled puts in his ear at the beginning of the video. From there, it’s an absolute free-for-all. Lil Wayne uses a Bumbu Rum like a cellphone. Additionally, nearly everyone gets a bottle of Luc Belaire Rare Luxe champagne. And if you feel like buying clothes from Supreme or another major company, it’s probably because the featured artists are walking advertisements. It’s hard to go more than 30 seconds without someone in “I’m the One” trying to sell you something.
#8: “Hands to Myself” (2015) Selena Gomez
In the music video for “Hands to Myself”, Selena Gomez plays a stalker who can’t keep her hands off of the stuff belonging to the object of her desires. She breaks into his house, puts on his clothes, and of course, listens to music through his Beats Pill speaker. It’s admittedly pretty common to see the audio device advertised in a music video. However, “Hands to Myself” is strangely obnoxious about it. Multiple bedroom shots make sure to squeeze the device in. It’s even pretty visible when Gomez’s character is getting arrested! Oh, and speaking of visible, there’s a beyond-obvious cut to the BMW logo that is impossible to ignore. The video clearly couldn’t keep its advertisements to itself.
#7: “Ciroc Star” (2010) Chester French & Clinton Sparks feat. Diddy & Jadakiss
Just in case the title didn’t make it clear enough, the short makes it one million percent clear that it’s here to promote Ciroc vodka right when the song begins. The titles tell you right away that the liquor company is presenting the video. From that point on, we get way too many shots of Ciroc bottle placements. And the absolutely shameless lyrics take time to declare this vodka as one of the best drinks on the planet. Maybe we should’ve known what we were getting into when we saw the title of the song. However, Ciroc star’s lack of restraint ensured we were hit with a tidal wave of product placement.
#6: “Laugh Now Cry Later” (2020) Drake feat. Lil Durk
We’re not sure about crying later, but you’ll be laughing now while watching the ridiculous advertising in this Drake video. Actually, this isn’t so much product placement as it is full on company placement. Drake didn’t just wear Nike clothing and flash the logo a few times. Instead, he went down to Beaverton, Oregon and filmed the video at the actual Nike headquarters. He teamed up with Lil Durk, internet celebs and athletes to play on the company’s campus. Drake also has a shopping spree in the Nike store. Oh, and did we mention that a skit at the 3 and ½ minute mark features clothing from the brand? Honestly, this short feels less like a music video and more like an extended Nike commercial.
#5: “We R Who We R” (2010) Kesha
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You’ll definitely be in the mood to go out and dance after you see this video’s great makeup, happy partygoers and…the Plenty of Fish dating website? For some reason, a DJ duo in the video spend time at work selecting songs and their next dating partners. We thought we were imagining this product plug until the video cut back to it a second time. And a third time! Admittedly, the four cut away shots to bottles of Revolucion Tequila weren’t subtle either. But at least we can say advertising a drink fits with the theme of the party themed video. We’re still trying to figure out who thought a Plenty of Fish plug would be anything but laughable here.
#4: “We Can't Stop” (2013) Miley Cyrus
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Viewers see lots of strange things during Miley Cyrus’ video for “We Can’t Stop”. But the french fry skull and hot dog piñata couldn’t distract us from all the products that were shoved in our faces. Before we even see Cyrus on screen, we get a shot of a Beats Pill speaker. Less than 30 seconds later, we get a tight close up on an EOS lip balm before the singer applies some. Cyrus’ sunglasses and Dope bodysuit were also for sale. The advertisements here might not seem that bad on paper. But the fact that we saw a product before the singer suggested what the filmmakers really wanted to focus on when they made this video.
#3: “Telephone” (2010) Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
Why is this music video almost 10 minutes long? It’s probably because they had to fit in all the products. The song itself doesn’t start until almost the three minute mark. By then, we’ve gotten a shot of a Virgin Mobile cell phone and diet coke cans in Lady Gaga’s hair. We also see “Plenty of Fish “return to music videos on a “Beats Limited Edition” HP Envy laptop around 4 ½ minutes in. And during the “Let’s Make a Sandwich” scene, Gaga breaks out the Miracle Whip and Wonder Bread. The product placement person should get a “featuring” credit along with Beyoncé on this one.
#2: “Focus” (2015) Ariana Grande
PaperFace Focus
At the beginning of the music video for Ariana Grande’s “Focus”, Grande can be seen writing on a phone the words “focus on me”. The question then becomes, is she talking about herself? Or do the makers of the video want us to focus on the phone—which happens to be a Samsung Galaxy device? While the camera’s attention is focused on Grande most of the time, the phone once again takes center stage later as she and her dancers all take selfies. This is followed by choreography featuring Grande and her dancers clothed in outfits covered with stars. Hey, are their outfits another reference to Samsung Galaxy? Or has this product placement warped our minds? We’ll leave it to you to decide.
#1: “Rock n Roll” (2013) Avril Lavigne
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“Rock n Roll” arguably features the most shameless and fun example of product placement. This is mainly because the singer seems fully self aware of what she’s shilling and has fun with it. The video begins with Lavigne’s phone ringing while in a glass of water. Not only does this show the durability of the phone, but the singer’s line here is absolutely hilarious. (insert broll for: “my sony phone is ringing”) But she’s not done. After we see the logo, Lavigne takes another quick dig at the product placement. (insert broll for: “how obvious can I make it”) And if that doesn’t make you laugh, seeing the singer defeat a bearshark before Billy Zane rides a Segway to space will. The self aware way the video tackled shameless product placement made it a lot more…bearable.
