This Rnb flavoured episode of the "Hard Rhymes and Soft Drinks" podcast examines the article https://www.seolondonsurrey.co.uk/blog/beyonce-and-the-diamond-marketing-machine which outlines the links between the diamond industry's marketing and popular culture. It details how the De Beers cartel revolutionised the market by associating gemstones with engagements / eternal romance through cinema and high-profile celebrity endorsements. It also examines Beyoncé’s influence, suggesting that the song "Single Ladies" reinforces these commercial "memes" despite her occasionally conflicting public statements before the song came out. It addresses the diamond industry's response to the "blood diamond" controversy, highlighting how figures like Russell Simmons helped rebrand the trade through charitable initiatives. It is possible that the song "Single Ladies," was designed to function as a sophisticated tool for product placement and psychological branding.
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Related articles: https://www.seolondonsurrey.co.uk/blog/asampleofmyjournalismcreativewritingportfolio . A pod about the use of urban / hip hop culture in marketing and advertising (recorded in 2005).