Marketing the dead

Marketing the dead is actually a billion dollar industry. A dead product….uh  a dead celebrity! has all attributes that are required to form a hot brand. They have a fan following, they are idols, they are memorable, they are likable, they are valuable and above all, as they are no more present to pamper their fans with their performance, their very names are cash cows for smart entrepreneurs.

Recently, MJ’s death has given the way for a fresh lease of life to the dying Hollywood economy. Anyone who is associated with him, may be too remotely, is trying to encash the opportunity. Everyone is busy buying his name to build up their respective bank balance. Just a couple of hours after his death, music industry re-launched jackson’s album and overnight a few of his songs booked the top slot of the chart. Using death of celebrity as a short term marketing policy is not a new trend, but the same phenomenon was observed with Princess Diana’s funeral event.

Memorial event are too a part of this strategy of marketing and branding. Fans are ready to pay $50 for a photo shoot with a cutout of king of pop. A tribute magazine with 132 glossy pages is also in the line which will be available for around 3 pounds. A sale of 2 lakh copies is expected within next month. Street market is full of Jackson merchandise, which is full of T-shirt, coffee mugs, caps and other things with his photo.

Media and IT are also in the fray to join the mammoth race of money collection. Jackson cremation was witnessed by around 750 million people, which was telecasted live and was full of endorsements.  Social networking sites were in no mood to let-go the opportunity and have done everything possible to update their users in real time.  They are in rivalry for the copyrights of the promotional images, videos and other materials to boost up the TRP or hits.

True! Dead celebs make for hot brands, hotter than even the living ones. May their soul rest in peace.