U.S. auto sales had their best month in three years in August, but you don’t necessarily have to put out any cold, hard cash if you want some new wheels. It might help, though, if you can dance and know how to operate a video camera.

Korea’s Kia Motors is offering up a brand spanking new $14,400 2013 Kia Soul for whoever can come up with a 90-second music video that judges and consumers fall for — and raises the question of whether Kia has accepted the mantle of "hamster brand" after its CMO told Ad Age he wanted to avoid that nickname.

The contest ties in with its latest Hamsterrific ad campaign, the "Bringing Down the House" commercial that debuted during the MTV Video Music Awards telecast last week, that features those shuffling hamsters again — only this time around they go back in time to win over a snooty crowd of pompadoured, poufy opera fans.Continue reading...

With its newest campaign, "The Ex," Citi is extolling its Private Pass cardmember perks program by tapping into the buzz around the MTV Video Music Awards this week.

Debuting the first national campaign for the program during Thursday night's VMAs telecast, the goal is to associate Citi-enabled insider access with acquired cool by rubbing shoulders with more celebrities than ever before: the intimacy of attending exclusive events, such as a foodie event with chefs Giada DiLaurentiis and Daniel Boulud, or a private concert for Citi customers by VMAs performer Alicia Keys, the opportunity to play basketball with Dwyane Wade and John Calipari, or a Sunday football viewing party with John Madden.

It's also hoping, of course, to distinguish its member perks program from what American Express offers.Continue reading...

The London Olympics have been over for nearly a month and most Americans have pretty much forgotten – if they ever even knew – the names of such competitors as wrestler Jacob Varner, diver David Boudis, and boxer Claressa Shields.

Sure, they all won gold medals, but in sports that Americans watch by the millions. Gymnast Gabby Douglas and swimmer Ryan Lochte, who were two of the biggest American brands coming out of the Games, are lucky enough to have selected sports that more U.S. residents care about. So these two, along with the marketing geniuses assigned to them, are doing everything they can to help Americans stick their names into the permanent memory book that already features such folks as Bruce Jenner, Mary Lou Retton, and Eric Heiden.Continue reading...

Apple seeks to create web radio Pandora rival as TV talks bog down with content companies.

Beyonce-backed House of Dereon fashion label sags.

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics reveals Katie Holmes campaign.

Cablevision refreshes Optimum brand.

Elizabeth Arden launches Nicki Minaj's perfume debut, Pink Friday.

Emporio Armani becomes first brand to partner with Spotify.

Fashion's Night Out brings out global fashionistas.

Ford expands offerings for Europe.

Grand Marnier launches experiential rooftop bubble bar in London.

IHOP partners with PepsiCo's Quaker Oats brand.Continue reading...

Talk about a show-stopper. No, not Lady Gaga's cross-dressing performance as Jo Calderone. It was Beyoncé's surprise revelation at the MTV Video Music Awards that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting a baby that shocked observers, prompting 8,868 tweets per second as the news spread on Aug. 28, setting a record for the site.

Now, as Beyoncé prepares to add "mom" to her list of credits, fans are wondering what this is going to do to her career. Will it delay the filming of her next movie? Will it cost her the love of young male hip hoppers?

Forbes suggests that this new chapter in the lives of hop hop’s king and queen doesn’t have to be a bad thing brandwise. Instead, this may open up a lot of doors for the pair, who placed second in Forbes’ annual list of top-earning celebrity couples. They brought in $72 million, behind only the whopping $76 million pulled in by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen.Continue reading...

Unilever’s Dove brand is spinning its commitment to “real beauty” and “real women” with three female DJ’s in a marketing effort to draw a younger demo to Rebalance deodorant and body spray.

“These 20-something D.J.’s are arbiters of what’s cool and fresh in music, fashion and pop culture. They are sharing personal stories, style secrets and music insights they have gathered by having the pulse of all that is cool,” said Kathy O’Brien, VP for Unilever’s U.S. personal care division.

The first event in the multiplatform “Fresh Spin” campaign was last night's Video Music Awards on MTV, that last year drew 11.4 million viewers, about 50% of whom were young women, ages 12 to 34.Continue reading...

On August 1st, 1981, at 12:01 a.m., MTV: Music Television launched and changed the face of television, music and branding. That means the brand that once typified youth rebellion is (gasp!) old enough to be the age of its target demographic — and you know what they say about trusting anyone over 30...Continue reading...

Taco Bell is extending its marketing partnership with MTV with a co-branded campaign to promote the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) to Taco Bell fans with a sweet deal: a Big Box Remixed special featuring four classic Taco Bell menu items with a side order of exclusive music content. 

The co-branding partnership is also something of a special deal for the leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain, as it marks Taco Bell's foray into the social media space of QR code packaging via a free mobile app.Continue reading...