Beyonce x Heat. It’s no secret why every celebrity around wants to get into the fragrance business…it’s big money IF it works. What you don’t hear about are the countless failed celeb fragrances though. In this case, Beyonce is no failure. According to Women’s World Daily, Beyonce’s Heat perfume (see TV ad) has already sold over $3 million worth of the stuff in just one month.

72,000 bottles alone were sold in a single hour during an in-person N.Y.C. appearance by the star once again proving her long-standing celebrity appeal. Beyonce continues to be one of the most successful and prominent product endorsers in music history. Some call it selling out…we call it MAKING THAT MONEY!

• VIDEO: Beyonce gets naked in new 1 min. “Heat” perfume ad
• VIDEO: Beyonce’s “Heat” fragrance ad
• Shwayze signs Nike workout video deal
• MUSIC VIDEO: Mos Def & Talib Kweli – “History”
• VIDEO: Eminem featured in “Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2″ TV ad

Diddy x Crystal Palace Eagles.

“Diddy was in London meeting football fixers a couple of weeks ago. The finance is in place, he’s just deciding who he thinks he’ll make a bid for.” stated an unnamed source. “He could cover their debt and bankroll a return to the Premier League. He liked the name as well.”

No doubt if this happens, The Crystal Palace Eagles will quickly turn into either the Crystal Palace Cirocs or the Crystal Palace Bad Boys. Either way, he just might be the guy to try and help make soccer..ahem…football…actually cool in the U.S. If Beckham couldn’t do it…Diddy can. Via: RR

• First look of Diddy in “CSI: Miami” role as lawyer
• VIDEO: Preview of Diddy’s “Making His Band” finale
• New Sean John ads with super hot Cassie and Lauren London
• Bow Wow in “Entourage” sex scene w/ pornstar
• WORD ON THE STREET: Common still IS NOT Green Lantern

Both perfumes come in a very unique handcuff bottle…which really doesn’t make much sense but goes along with the whole Konvict theme. “What’s that smell on you?….Oh just a Konvict.” Check the trailer for the fragrance line here with pics after the jump. Woooha!

• Akon to launch Konvict fragrance line
• Fergie launches fragrance line with Avon Beauty Products
• EXCLUSIVE PICS: Rejected “Power by 50″ cologne bottle designs
• PICS: Brand new pics of “The A-Team” movie
• 50 Cent teams with Kim Kardashian to launch new fragrance

Pharrell x Kiehl’s. Just when you thought you had seen every hip-hop collaboration possible. Pharrell takes the partnership game to a whole new level as Kiehl’s, the high-priced lotion company, has announced an actual bottle designed by the famed producer-fashion designer-chair maker using the Billionaire Boys Club logo.

The limited edition Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist designed by Pharrell is scheduled for a release in April of this year, in honor of “Earth Day 2010.” Get it for a cool $26. What’s next? Diddy designing Vaseline bottles? Oh…we won’t go there. Via: HypeBeast

• Official Pharrell “Tank Chair” exhibit photos
• Pharrell’s Billionaire Boys Club gets own art exhibit
• Jay-Z, Pharrell, others release limited Barack Obama tees
• PICS: Pharrell drops fashion line for The GAP
• PICS: Pharrell’s Moncler Fall/Winter 2010 collection is here

According to various sources, future projects may also include a video game, a DVD compilation of videos and a re-release of “Off the Wall,” Jackson’s fifth studio album. While the deal seems like an astronomical amount of money, Michael was over $400 million in debt when he passed away. Of course it has been after his death where the money and popularity of the King of Pop has had a resurgence. Records indicate his estate made over $100 million from the movie project This Is It.

• Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” underperforms box office projections
• Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” projected for $250 million opening weekend
• Cinemax & hip-hop labels form debut music video partnership
• The future of hip-hop? More artists looking for consumer brand support, not label support
• Mos Def’s “Next Day Air” finally coming to theaters

• Jay-Z to take part in New Jersey Nets new arena groundbreaking
• Jay-Z still set to bring the Nets to Brooklyn in 2011-2012
• Details on Def Jam’s expansion into movie theater advertising
• VIDEO: The Mary J. Blige Center For Women
• VIDEO: Pill freestyles for new Def Jam Rapstar ad

Jay-Z x New Jersey Nets.

The Nets will begin playing at the new Barclay’s Center in 2012 so hopefully by then John Wall will be putting up some major numbers for them. Anything is better than the NBA worst 7-57 record they have going now.

• VIDEO: Jay-Z’s speech during Nets new Brooklyn arena ceremony
• Jay-Z still set to bring the Nets to Brooklyn in 2011-2012
• EXCLUSIVE: First look at Diddy’s new Sean John collection
• MOVIE TRAILER: “Brooklyn’s Finest”
• Diddy officially buys Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne

Jermaine Dupri x Nu Pop Movement Watches.

• VIDEO: Jermaine Dupri launches “Nu Pop Movement” watch collection
• Jermaine Dupri launches Pop Watch collection
• PICS: Jermaine Dupri’s Nu Pop Movement watches get Nelly & Bow Wow on board
• Jermaine Dupri Talk So So Def & Nu Pop Movement
• MTV changes logo to emphasize THEY DON’T PLAY MUSIC VIDEOS!

Ryan Leslie x Adidas. Ryan Leslie partners with Adidas to help promote their online experience, the adidas Originals AR Game Pack. Using AR (augmented reality) technology combined with your computer, the adidas Neighborhood will come to life, unlocking the streets where originality lives. R&B singers Ryan Leslie and Ciara will lead the way where exciting challenges, content and fun surprises await you at every corner of the gaming experience. Check out the Adidas site to learn how to play.

• VIDEO: Ryan Leslie x Lexus Present “The Rushers”
• VIDEO: Snoop Dogg & Ciara in new adidas originals commercial
• Ciara shows off the body in new Adidas ad campaign
• VIDEO: Ryan Leslie on Fox Business
• RZA’s Hip-Hop Chess Federation challenges Obama Administration

T.I. x Ford.

“Sometimes, you could be just a couple of hits away from redemption,” says Camille Hackney, Atlantic’s senior VP brand partnerships and commercial licensing. “Success makes people forget.”

Things look good for T.I. on the future endorsement front though. He has served his due time, done community service, has another movie coming up and has vowed to be more of an example to the youth out there. If he does what he says, the companies will come running back to him as he is one of the few artists out there that maintains true cross over appeal.

• Lupe Fiasco not in music business for the money
• Are Hip-Hop and Liquor marketing promotions over?
• Vanilla Ice does internet ad for Virgin Mobile
• PICS: Ludacris’ Straits Restaurant welcome message
• VIDEO: Queen Latifah’s “Fast Car” video is a Ford Mustang ad

Beyonce x Phoenix House. Phoenix House in Brooklyn, New York opens a new cosmetology school named in Beyonce’s honor. The school allows recovering addicts to rebuild their lives and embark on careers in the cosmetics industry. The R&B singer spent her time there while researching her role as she played former heroine addict Etta James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records. She later donated her salary she received from the film and developed an idea to add a cosmetology program for the women and men in treatment. Via: Concrete Loop

Could this be the new trend of artists developing their own schools?

• Beyonce gains 20 lbs for movie role in “Cadillac Records”
• Video: Clip of Beyonce as a diva in “Cadillac Records”
• Beyonce with early critical reviews for her role in “Cadillac Records”
• Album cover to “Cadillac Records” movie w/ Beyonce
• First official photos of Mos Def & Beyonce in “Cadillac Records”

T-Pain x Nappy Boy Digital.

“Nappy Boy Digital is a digital company, basically based on the Internet, it’s on iTunes and not really a physical company, you know what I’m saying?” stated T-Pain in a recent interview. ”A lot of people are pressing up all these CDs and pressing up all these extra jewel cases and the inserts and and all that stuff and then everybody’s buying the stuff on the Internet so it’s not making them any money, they losing money, so, Nappy Boy Digital is my digital company, it’s all Internet and that’s just how we go.”

For the number of units that a smaller label like Nappy Boy would press per year it actually does make sense to go digital and avoiding not only the physical product fees but also the sales and placeholder fees for getting your album placed in stores to begin with. It’s only a matter of time before all labels go digital…it’s not like you really buy CDs at Best Buy or Wal-Mart anymore do you? You can check T-Pain and his Nappy Boy crew over at NappyBoyOnline.com.

• VIDEO: The Nappy Headz call out T-Pain in new documentary
• T-Pain’s “I Am T-Pain” iPhone app downloaded over 300,000 times
• T-Pain is new Hyundai spokesperson
• AdAge selects Auto-Tune as hottest brand of 2009
• L.A. Times Disclose Drake’s Record Deal

written by Edwin St. Fort

Objective: To relaunch Google’s Nexus One by revamping online promotions and using a celebrity endorser to uplift sales.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Google’s Nexus One sold an overall of 80,000 phones in its first month of sales, pushing 20,000 units in its first week. Other Android phones had better success in first week results, T-Mobile’s myTouch made with Google sold 60,000 and Verizon’s Droid sold 250,000 in there debut according to Flurry, an analytics company. Google choose to sell and market the Nexus One device to consumers directly through its website with an option as T-Mobile being a carrier or without a cell phone company contract. Current promotions have been through online marketing via: YouTube and Adsense.

Comparing how the other Google phones performed in the market place and the marketing efforts behind it, Nexus One attempts weren’t comparable; Verizon’s launch of Google’s Droid, spent a record-breaking $100 million on marketing, including aggressive TV advertisements. T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G launch didn’t provide the same co-marketing support for the Nexus One. T-Mobile chose celebrity endorsers such as Phil Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Wyclef Jean, Avril Lavigne, and others to promote the myTouch 3G device in their TV ads.

Viewing Google’s Nexus One marketing campaign the results should have forecast an incorrect strategy. Timing, price, and strategic partnerships were lacking in their efforts, but here is an idea that could revamp sales.

Solution: Create strategic partnerships with Jay-Z, Diddy and 50 Cent to promote “Nexus One” to the urban demographic.

Jay-Z x Google Nexus One Proposal

The idea is to develop a strategic partnership with Jay-Z to promote Google’s “Nexus One” by using him as a celebrity endorser.

This helps Google promote the product to the urban demographic and creates music licensing opportunities for Jay-Z leaving this partnership beneficial to both parties.

A concept commercial can be created where Jay-Z’s latest single “On To The Next One” can be featured in a advertisement to promote the new device and its features. The single can be sort of a theme song for the product.

Also Jay-Z can have a customize phone labeling it the “all black everything” edition to boost sales for the new promotion. Verizon is rumored to add the Nexus One to their line up of products, if Verizon and Google establish a partnership this can also lead to in store promotions for Jay-Z and more if they choose him as the celebrity endorser.

Sean “Diddy” Combs x Google Nexus One Proposal

Diddy has 2 million plus followers on Twitter and interacts with them through Diddy Blogs. To promote the product allow Diddy to record a Diddy Blog using the Nexus One phone informing potential buyers that one of the special features on the phone is recording videos and uploading them directly to YouTube from the device. Everyone uses Apple’s Mac notebooks to video blog but if your on the go you can easily pull out your phone and broadcast.

50 Cent x Google Nexus One Proposal

50 Cent could promote the device through his blog ThisIs50.com, users can upload content through the phone and post footage’s of concerts and interviewers all on the Nexus One.

Conclusion: This proposal was created in hopes that when Google decides to launch the Nexus One on a larger carrier such as AT&T, Verizon or Sprint that some of these ideas could be used to promote the product to the urban demographic. Though this is just a short overview of ideas I would appreciate your response towards this proposal.

Send an email to Edwin St.Fort , the author of this post, at esfmarketing@gmail.com

• Hip-hop can’t save Micorosoft Zune; sales drop 54%
• VIDEO: Cell phone carriers partner up with hip-hop to wage smart phone “wars”
• Diddy partners w/ Mastercard for New Years promotion
• VIDEO: Diddy makes $400K in 40 minutes on Home Shopping Network
• Diddy extends business role with Ciroc Vodka

Birdman x Bronald Oil & Gas. If you remember a couple weeks back, WoooHa brought up the issue that many reputable news sources were questioning the legitimacy of Birdman’s Bronald Oil & Gas company. You can read the full article here. Birdman and his publicist declined to comment but it looks like a picture says a thousand words.

Check Birdman’s new tattoos. Yea the big star on the top of his head is old but he added a couple of new ones…one which strategically covers his Bronald tattoo complete with picture of an oil pump. If Bronald Oil is legit well then Birdman’s new tats send a terrible message. Regardless, it’s clear there is a cover up going on…on his head and possibly in real life.

• News reports question if Birdman’s Bronald Oil & Gas Co. is legit
• Cash Money’s Bryan “Birdman” & Ronald Williams form Bronald Oil & Gas Co.
• VIDEO: Birdman gives Lil Wayne $1 million Chopard watch for B-day
• Lil Wayne and Birdman in self-funded movie together
• VIDEO: Birdman drops $50K at Paris Louis Vuitton store

Ludacris x Conjure Cognac. Ludacris officially launched his Conjure Cognac line this past year with a fair amount of publicity and nightlife marketing efforts. In branding his new company and Cognac line, Luda has been going the “luxury” route pushing Conjure as a high-end cognac comparable to Hennessey. To take things further as he sets to expand Conjure into Los Angeles and New York, Ludacris has brought on some fellow heavy hitters to support his cognac and go directly after the Henny. Check the vid where Rick Ross pledges his undying love to the Conjure.

• VIDEO: Ludacris’ Conjure Cognac intro video
• Ludacris releases “A Hustler’s Spirit” mixtape to promote Conjure Cognac
• PICS: Ludacris introduces own Cognac line
• Rick Ross wants to launch “Big & Tall” clothing line
• The Rick Ross “Teflon Don” movie poster