The “Cult of Celebrity” has gained real power in the US for many reasons Accessibility, reality TV, information available on the web, and the need to escape everyday life
Corbis, a digital imaging company founded by Bill Gates, owns the rights to images of: Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein Steve McQueen CMG Worldwide owns the images of: Marilyn Monroe Babe Ruth Jean Harlow Rosa Parks
The estates of celebrities on the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list collectively earned $247 million in 2006 A star needed to make at least $7 million to be on this list Kurt Cobain Elvis Presley Charles M. Schulz John Lennon Albert Einstein Andy Warhol Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) Ray Charles Marilyn Monroe Johnny Cash J.R.R. Tolkien George Harrison Bob Marley
Pepsi changed current marketing to tie to Michael’s death Fellow artists trying to capitalize on Michael’s death Other Businesses Tried to Benefit Directly Rhapsody and Amazon both set up sites where customers can buy tracks and albums of all of Michael’s music RhapsodyAmazon Bing Travel Team established a travel guide called ”Remembering a Thriller: Places to Pay Tribute to the King of Pop” encouraging people to travel to these locations”Remembering a Thriller: Places to Pay Tribute to the King of Pop”
News of Michael Jackson’s death caused severe internet traffic Servers and systems on some sites pushed to their limits causing multiple sites to go offline Google describes the traffic as "volcanic.“ Contrary to some reports the internet did not reach the highest traffic levels ever The total load on the internet was about half that of Obama’s election win
Britney Spears World Wrestling Entertainment Barak Obama Miley Cyrus RuneScape Jessica Alba Naruto Lindsay Lohan Angelina Jolie American Idol
report.com/datamonitor/DMCM4607.htm report.com/datamonitor/DMCM4607.htm branded-wines-thrive-in-us-market-3747/ branded-wines-thrive-in-us-market-3747/ ebrities_brand_endorsements_brand_leadership.asp ebrities_brand_endorsements_brand_leadership.asp o_ o_ rity%20Media_%20White%20Paper%203_09%20-- %20by%20Ken%20Sonenclar.pdf rity%20Media_%20White%20Paper%203_09%20-- %20by%20Ken%20Sonenclar.pdf