Start your week by catching up on all the latest marketing and advertising news. Our Weekly Must Reads will give you a quick rundown on all the stories you need to know.

Harry Styles Brings Back Apple’s Classic Silhouette Ads

The iPod may now be permanently retired, but their iconic ads have been given new life. To promote their AirPods’ new spatial audio feature, Apple has recreated the classic “Silhouettes” ads with none other than Harry Styles. The original campaign debuted in 2003, featuring brightly-colored backgrounds against stark white iPods and headphones. Back then, the brand also partnered with popular artists to include their hit songs in the commercials. In this recreation, Apple highlights new dancing silhouettes as Styles sings his new song, “Music for a Sushi Restaurant.”

This is the second iteration of the “Silhouettes” comeback, as Apple launched a similar ad in October 2021 featuring music producer Lex Junior. You can check out the new spot and dig into more campaign details here: https://www.adweek.com/agencies/harry-styles-stars-in-revival-of-apples-iconic-silhouettes-ads/

Brands Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Last week, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking a record 70 years on the throne. Brands across the UK are celebrating appropriately, creating merchandise, packaging, and ads for the occasion. For example, McDonald’s launched limited edition royal-themed food containers, and briefly turned their classic “I’m lovin’ it” jingle into the more formal “One’s lovin’ it.” Meanwhile, Coca-Cola launched a Jubilee-inspired ad campaign for their brand Schwepps, encouraging the British to celebrate their long weekend with the classic drink.

Some companies were hesitant to insert themselves into the festivities, given recent controversies involving the royal family. However, others took the opportunity to capitalize on an occasion that is important to their target audience. See more examples of Jubilee advertising here: https://adage.com/article/creativity-news/queens-platinum-jubilee-brands-celebrate-queen-elizabeth-ii/2418746

Get Hitched by the High Life

Start the wedding march – it’s time to get hitched by the High Life. Miller High Life recently partnered with Universal Life Church to create an order of officiants that are appropriately named Officiants of the High Life. Anyone over age 18 can apply to become ordained in minutes by visiting hitchedbyhighlife.com and creating an account. All Officiants of the High Life will receive a package with an official membership card, business cards, wedding script, and chance to win limited-edition High Life formalwear.

Those who don’t join the Officiants of the High Life can still sport the High Life at their next event. Consumers can purchase their own branded formalwear through the official Tie Bar x High Life collection. Find out more about Miller High Life’s recent partnerships here: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/miller-high-life-wants-ordain-150024611.html

Heineken’s New Bottle Opener Can End Your Work Day

Cracking open a beer to end of the work day has never been so easy. Heineken recently announced their new tech-enabled bottle opener dubbed “The Closer” that can sync with consumers’ work applications to automatically close them when the bottle opener is used. The brand launched the product with a presentation led by comedian Billy Eichner as part of their larger “For a Fresher World” campaign. This initiative is designed to take on new challenges and stereotypes in a world transformed by the pandemic.

The Closer, which uses Bluetooth to put laptops on sleep mode, addresses employees’ recent struggles to regain work/life balance while working from home. Consumers can enter to win the new bottle opener on Wednesday from 10 – 11 am ET. Learn more campaign details here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/heineken-bottle-opener-remote-work-apps/624680/