The following is a list of most frequently mentioned brands in the Top 20 songs from the Billboard Hot 100. This list was produced by Lucian James , a brand management consultant, as part of his American Brandstand project [1]. James started compiling the list in 2003.

Some critics have speculated that it will be revealed that artists were paid to include certain brands in their songs.

2003

Of the 111 songs in the Billboard Top 20 for 2003, 43 (38.7%) had brands in the lyrics. Only one of those, Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, was not connected to hip hop or R&B.

2004

In 2004, Kanye West led the pack in brand-name-dropping, citing 19 different brands in his four hits for the year. As in 2003, brands remained heavily connected to hip-hop. Only one brand was mentioned in a Top 20 non hip-hop song (Levi Strauss in "With You" by Jessica Simpson.

Of the 105 songs in the Billboard Top 20 for 2004, 42 (40%) had brands in the lyrics.

See also

• Bling bling, consumerism, luxury good
• Top 40, Hit parade
• trademark

External links

• American Brand Stand
• Billboard Hot 100
• Big Mac Pimpin'? McDonald's Enlisting MCs To Rap About Burgers - from mtv.com (March 28, 2005)