Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 460,592 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,086 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,086 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,210 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 460,592 cutting edge ideas.

Marketing to Rockstars

PUMA Rockstar Hotel and the Much Music Video Awards (REVIEW)

— June 20, 2008 — Pop Culture
This week, the Much Music Video awards swept Toronto, and Trend Hunter had a chance to rock it up at some of the star-studded festivities and promotional trends at the heavily sponsored pre/post party events.

The red carpet was made beautiful by stars like Girlicious, and made humorous by rappers like Flo Rida and Offishall/Akon. Flo Rida entertained by thanking 'MTV' at a 'Much Music' event. Offishall and Akon entertained by driving up in a city bus. Don't worry about humility, though: the two rappers were accompanied by a couple dozen groupies.

Although the celebrities remain the lure, the excitement for a Trend Hunter like me actually comes from the unique promotional activities, especially in the private parties which cater to celebrities. (Context: I was the kid that collected his favorite advertisements.) Obviously celebrity endorsement has a massive impact on product infection, so innovative companies go to great lengths to infect their products into the limelight.

The evening before the event, we attended the PUMA Rockstar Hotel, which featured an invite only cast of celebrities and socialites. Thanks to our friend Debra at Rock-It Promotions for the party. I found myself most entertained (for different reasons) by Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the Office), Jayde Nicole (2008 Playmate of the Year - Picture 6) and New Kids on the Block. (Random Fact: On the red carpet, Sum 41 wore New Kids on the Block t-shirts.)

The PUMA Rockstar Hotel was hosted on several floors of the Gladstone Hotel, a boutique 1889 hotel with 37 artist designed rooms (Featured on Trend Hunter HERE.)

This night, the hotel was decorated with the promotional art of the events sponsors. Notably, Microsoft Zune, PUMA, Pioneer and FIDO stood out.

Microsoft Zune (Picture 2) seized the Gladstone opportunity the commission an artist. While celebs checked out the art, they had the opportunity to interact with the artist has he transformed bare walls into art (pictured). At the same time, guests had the opportunity to work with tattoo artist to custom design their own (removable) tattoo.

Microsoft also had a full stage and party room set-up for people to play Rockstar on XBOX. Nice. Picture 9 shows the Playmate of the Year playing Rockstar guitar. Photo courtesy of Jeff Roach)

The main (promotional) attraction was the exclusive PUMA room (Picture 3). This balloon filled room featured edgy new puma shoes suspended from the ceiling. PUMA was also giving away free shoes to its VVIP guests. The PUMA concierge outfitted me with a pair of silver PUMA golf shoes which would no doubt you some attract attention, unless you golf with Flo Rida. More importantly, PUMA shoes adorned the feed of several rockstars by the end of the night.

For a music enthusiast like me, the Pioneer room (Picture 4) was a unique opportunity to play around with digital turntables. The added functionality of digital tables make them a worthy upgrade from the Technics SL-1200s that have dominated the dj landscape since 1972.

The FIDO room (Picture 5) lacked working artists, turntables, and free shoes. However, it did have two things the other rooms lacked: dogs with wigs and free martinis. You know how much we like Dogs With Wigs, so that was a welcomed attraction:

Then it was the next day.

Then my head hurt.

Then it was later in that day and time for the after-party.

The after-party, was hosted by Perez Hilton (Picture 7) with Simple Plan playing in the background. FOUR Trend Hunters were in attendance, as shown in Picture 8... But two of them are elusive, do you know who they are? You will.

There were also a number of Canadian bands rocking it up, and a couple nostalgic legends like Melanie C. The party was held at Revival, another Toronto hotspot with some history. Revival, now a nightclub, was formerly a church; an interesting place to close the almost religious celebration of music.
Trend Themes
1. Celebrity Endorsement - Opportunity for innovative companies to strategically infect their products into the limelight through celebrity endorsement.
2. Unique Promotional Activities - Opportunity for companies to create memorable and engaging promotional activities at private parties catered to celebrities.
3. Digital Turntables - Opportunity for DJ equipment manufacturers to capitalize on the growing demand for digital turntables with added functionality.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Opportunity for fashion brands to collaborate with celebrities for endorsement and promotional activities.
2. Entertainment - Opportunity for entertainment companies to organize exclusive events and after-parties for celebrities and influencers.
3. Music - Opportunity for DJ equipment manufacturers to innovate and offer upgraded digital turntables to the music industry.
2.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness