Quantcast

APPLE MUSIC IN CHESNEY COUNTRY

During last night's CMA Awards, Apple Music revealed a charismatic new commercial that featured, for the first time, a country music artist—and it's Kenny Chesney with a heartfelt testimony about the importance of music. Looks like Chesney's No Shoes Nation extends all the way to Cupertino.

One of the biggest stars in the format whose audience has been least involved in streaming now presents the service—on the same night Eric Church offers the first Country "sneak attack" as an Apple exclusive. CMA night is D-Day in the digital campaign to win over people who have been slower to discover streaming. The ad touts the service's "human touch" as well as its "reverence for music."

Click here for a recap of last night's show with a full list of winners.

In the ad, Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville megastar and tour warrior explains, "Somewhere along the way, we forgot how much music could matter, so we need a place where music is treated with real reverence, and respect—a place that's got a human element, a human touch."

The camera then follows him as he delves into the basics of Apple Music's wide palate of offerings, like curated playlists, in a way not previously shown, while certainly holding to the tradition of being an interesting mini-bio piece with a visually stunning aesthetic.

The 60-second clip, featuring sweeping views of Gillette Stadium from backstage to beyond, was directed by music video heavyweight Anthony Mandler (Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Jay Z).

Chesney recently made history on his Big Revival Tour, attracting a whopping 120,206 fans across two nights and shattering attendance records at the Foxborough, MA venue.

Apple Music's marketing campaign kicked off during the MTV VMAs with two commercials featuring freshly-minted star The Weeknd, who was hanging in cool club scenes and inside a limo with "driver" John Travolta photo-bombing him.

That was followed by the Ava DuVernay-directed and Oprah-inspired commercial starring Keri Washington, Taraji P. Henson and Mary J. Blige making a "mixtape" during the Emmy Awards this past September.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)