WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SunFest, Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, will be held April 29-May 3, along one of the most scenic sections of Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. National headline entertainment scheduled to perform include 311, James Taylor, David Cook, Classic Albums Live, UB40, G Love & Special Sauce, Spyro Gyra and Jack's Mannequin. Additional entertainment announcements will be made as they are confirmed.

David Cook will perform on Saturday evening, May 2. David Cook is an Alternative rock singer and songwriter from Houston, Texas. Known for winning the seventh season of American Idol, Cook released his first post-Idol album last November. Some of Cook's hits include "Dream Big," "Declaration," "Permanent," "Come Back to Me," "The Time of My Life," and "Light On."

Axe Hair Attracts Attention


By Jean Luo

Unilever has enticed Walmart and other retailers to support the launch of hair-care products from its Axe men's grooming brand. Dubbed Axe Hair, the line extension comprises six shampoo and conditioner SKUs and four types of styling product designed to help men achieve such looks as "Spiked-Up" and "Laid Back." The line rolled out in early December to supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchants, with support from sidekicks, floorstands and other secondary displays.

Axe leveraged Unilever's ties with Walmart's Soundcheck music microsite by sponsoring behind-the-scenes content from rock artists Nickelback, All-American Rejects, Gym Class Heroes and David Cook. Albums from those artists are merchandised on a half-pallet in Walmart's electronics department that introduces Axe Hair and directs shoppers to the Soundcheck site. Axe and sister brands Dove, Suave and Caress regularly sponsor content on Soundcheck. (See Related Articles.)

Walmart teased the line's launch this fall with power wings merchandising "Sneak-a-Peek" packs of Axe shampoo, conditioner and styling product. Axe Hair samples were also featured in an exclusive variety pack from the brand that received endcap placement earlier this year.

Sidekicks holding "Sneak-a-Peek" packs also appeared at such retailers as Walgreens in November, along with sidekicks holding trial-sized bottles of Axe shampoo and conditioner that proclaimed, "Be the first to try it." The launch campaign also includes TV spots developed by JWT, New York.

While Axe's marketing strategy primarily targets males, Unilever has launched an interactive blog entitled "Axe Hair Crisis Relief" that invites women to "solve guys' bad hair. And save your social lives in the process."

Published: December 2008

Source: In-Store Marketing Institute

Wal-Mart signs on for Axe Hair promotion
FMI dailyLead | 12/29/2008

Wal-Mart and other retailers are supporting Unilever's launch of the Axe Hair line of products. The six shampoos and conditioners will be promoted on Wal-Mart's Soundcheck music microsite and introduced in stores alongside albums from artists including Nickelback and David Cook. In-Store Marketing Institute (12/2008)

Fellow Blend Television writer Steve West and I were discussing some of our favorite reality competition shows and we came to realize that 2008 offered a number of truly satisfying seasons, thanks to the right man, woman or team actually winning.

*****
For me, David Cook winning American Idol almost made up for Chris Daughtry’s early departure in his season. The David vs. David battle that closed out the season made this year’s Idol stand out among some of the other seasons. And for the first time since the series’ debut, the rocker actually made it to the end and thanks to Cook’s amazing vocals, not to mention good looks and great presence on camera, America came through and voted him the winner.