Want One! SOLO2 Beats by Dr. Dre - "The Game before The Game"

Finally!!! A beautiful form of elevated content and viral marketing in the form of Beats by Dr. Dre  - 6.8m youtube hits already and well deserved.

The Brand is the ritual, and the ritual is the brand, and the game is beautiful.

photo copyright Beats by Dr.Dre

One of a few truly inspirational and aspirational brands and for me the hijack brand of London 2012...watching the swimmers, boxers, athletes come out for their 2012 lineups wearing Beats headphones for the world to see was masterly genius...and I bet it spiked sales massively. "Four are sold every minute" Beats president Luke Wood said prior to a New York screening of the film a short while ago. Watch them sell again with this epic video and then look at the ROI vs what it actually cost.

Marketing is ultimately about driving sales by creating amazing brands. Beats by Dr. Dre does this with an amazing array of the beautiful games uber stars going about their pre-game rituals all led by Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr in a call with his dad Neymar Snr.

Cesc Fabregas kisses the ring his girlfriend gave him four times; Luis Suarez kisses the tattoo of his children's names on his wrist for love and good luck; Chicharito begins every game by praying on his knees. Chuck in various other World Cup athletes: Bacary Sagna, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Blaise Matuidi, Cesc Fàbregas, Daniel Sturridge, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Jozy Altidore, Luis Suárez, Mario Götze, Thierry Henri, Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie.

Then there's Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, LeBron James and Serena Williams all serving up cameos. The brand is the ritual, and the ritual is the brand.

Let's all forget that Apple bought the brand for $3bn, how much a pair of Beats headphones cost, and just focus on the great marketing; and while we are at it, let's forget about FIFA and the 2022 Qatar Wolrd Cup and just watch and enjoy the beautiful game.