I’ve been meaning to write about this for the last couple of weeks since I saw it, but finally got around to it. Have you seen the new Sam Jackson spot for Capital One and Spotify?
If you haven’t, it’s just a fun little piece where Sam puts the moves to Al Green’s classic song, “Let’s Stay Together.” As Jackson croons, Capital One announces that with the Quicksilver Card clients can receive 1.5 percent cashback on every purchase and 50 percent back on Spotify Premium.
Created by AOR DDB Chicago the spot isn’t as great as Jackson singing The Pina Colada Song with DDB partner Spike Lee and Charles Barkley, but it sure is fun.
“We aim to provide our listeners with an exceptional music experience that connects them to the music and artists they love,” said Nick Mehra, Head of Spotify’s Direct Subscriber and Regional Partnerships website. “With great partners like Capital One, we can create unique ways to give the millions of Capital One customers in the US the chance to curate the soundtrack to their lives with Spotify Premium.”
Take that Tidal.
Bears offer Redbox at games
Can two struggling teams create a winner?
Da’ 3-13 Bears signed once-hot (they do have a habit of doing that. Looking at you Jay Cutler) movie and video game retailer Redbox to a sponsorship that will give fans free rentals by attending home games.
According to Sports Business Daily, home-game attendees will be able to take home a promo code for a free one-night rental when they follow instructions on more than 800 TVs that make up Soldier Field’s in-stadium TV network.
Redbox also will receive two signage positions on the east side of the stadium bowl inside Soldier Field.
In recognition of the Bears deal, Redbox released its picks for the Top 10 football movies of all time: Brian’s Song, Rudy, North Dallas Forty, Remember the Titans, Heaven Can Wait, Jerry Maguire, Draft Day, Invincible, The Blind Side and We Are Marshall.
Redbox has operated independently since March and has around 1,400 employees. Its largest office is in Oakbrook Terrace, but top executives work in Bellevue, Washington. The company has a third office in Los Angeles.
Redbox closed 1,800 under-performing movie, TV and video game kiosks in 2015, the year before Outerwall’s acquisition. Now, the company plans to add 1,500 kiosks to reach around 41,500. Redbox also has a sponsorship with the Seattle Seahawks, its only other one in sports.
Jim Kirk leaves Sun-Times for tronc
Hearing Jim Kirk’s name used in conjunction with tronc really does sound like a storyline from Star Trek no?
At any rate, according to Robert Feder, Jim Kirk, the veteran journalist and media executive who led the Chicago Sun-Times through five of its most challenging years, resigned Friday as publisher and editor-in-chief to join Chicago Tribune parent company tronc. Kirk was named senior vice president of strategic initiatives for troncX, the digital content and commerce division of tronc.
He will report to Tim Knight, president of troncX and former CEO of Wrapports LLC, previous owner of the Sun-Times.
In a tweet from the tronc, “We are excited to welcome @kirkjim12 to tronc!”
In a statement published by the Sun-Times, Edwin Eisendrath said, “Jim Kirk has been a critical part of everything good that has happened at the Sun-Times. His stellar journalistic values and judgment; his incredible work ethic, and his leadership through very difficult times — these things set him apart as a newsman and as a person.
The Sun-Times will continue to build on the progress Jim helped bring about… We will continue to deliver great journalism that resonates with the hardworking people of Chicago.” Managing editor Chris Fusco will lead the newsroom on an interim basis, the paper said.
Shonda Rhimes leaves Disney for Netflix
Chicago-born Shonda Rhimes, one of the best-known producers in television, is making the leap from ABC to Netflix. And the timing could not be more significant. According to multiple sources, Rhimes’ existing hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder will keep airing on ABC. But she will develop new shows exclusively for the streaming service.
Rhimes said in a statement that she was looking for an “opportunity to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation.” She said “the future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities.”
Netflix is no doubt paying a huge sum of money to poach Shondaland from Disney-owned ABC. One has to wonder if it is a little payback for Disney pulling its programming in 2019. Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
Happy Birthdays!
To Filmmaker Erin Dooley (Wander on Purpose) and Escape Pod’s Adina Hilton.
Follow Colin Costello on Twitter @colincostello10.
