NAMM Presents Excellence Award for Music In Advertising at the 2014 NAMM Show

Spotlighting the use of musical instruments and music-making products and technology in television commercials, NAMM awards United Airlines’ ad “Orchestra” created by McGarryBowen with the NAMM Excellence Award for Music in Advertising. The awards are presented in front of an audience of music product industry leaders on January 26, 2014 at the NAMM Show.

United Airlines’ ad, titled “Orchestra," features musicians in a symphony orchestra on a plane performing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” as the flight prepares for takeoff.  

Ad agency Deutsch Inc. received an award of merit for Go Daddy’s “The Baker." The advertisement for internet hosting service Go Daddy, features Jean-Claude Van Damme doing splits while playing a variety of instruments – bongos, maracas, and pan pipes. Wells Fargo’s ad, “Sydney,” created by ad agency DDB Worldwide, claimed an award of merit as well. “Sydney” features guitarist Andy Allo who has toured with Prince, in a narrative about a guitarist making her musical dreams come true.

The winners were chosen from among advertisements around the world that featured musical instruments and music making over the last year. The finalist ads used music to promote products ranging from supermarkets and department stores to beer and snack foods, and featuring everything from guitar-centered rock combos to symphony orchestras.

This year, the trophies presented to the winning agencies are actual instruments from NAMM-member companies. DDB Worldwide and Deutsch took home beautiful, one-of-a-kind Spalted Maple Series ukuleles generously donated by Kala Brand Music Company. First-place winner McGarryBowen was presented with a Taylor Baby guitar.

The NAMM Excellence Award for Music in Advertising recognizes other industries’ use of musical instruments to create a mood or evoke a lifestyle in promoting their own product. Music making in advertising is often used to convey personal passion, a high quality of life, a richer childhood, a full retirement, and fellowship among a community of people. 

The NAMM Show gathers 95,000 members of the music product industry from around the world to preview new product debuts from thousands of brands across every category of the music instrument, product and pro-light and sound industries. Learn more about the 2014 NAMM Show at https://ww1.namm.org/thenammshow/2014.

Photo credit: United Airlines "Orchestra"