Adele is one of the most popular and successful musical artists in the world. Since releasing her first album in 2008, the British singer has become a global phenomenon with record-breaking album sales and numerous accolades, including an Oscar and 15 Grammy Awards.
Adele’s powerful vocals and emotional songwriting have earned her a massive fanbase spanning different demographics. This has made her an attractive choice for brands wanting to use her music or likeness in commercials and advertising campaigns. Here is an overview of some of the major commercials that Adele has starred in over her career so far.
What Brands and Products Has Adele Done Commercials For?
Adele has appeared in commercials for major brands across different industries including entertainment, fashion, technology, and consumer goods. Some of the most notable campaigns she has participated in include:
Entertainment – Skyfall, XL Recordings
- Skyfall – Adele co-wrote and performed the theme song for the 23rd James Bond film Skyfall, released in 2012. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, with Adele becoming the first Bond theme performer to win this award. Clips of the Skyfall song appeared in commercials and trailers promoting the film’s release.
- XL Recordings – Adele’s record label XL Recordings used clips and music from her albums 19, 21, and 25 to promote her music in various ads. This included commercials for the album 25 release in 2015.
Fashion and Beauty – Rimmel London, Burberry
- Rimmel London – In 2011, Adele became a brand ambassador for British cosmetics brand Rimmel London. She appeared in multiple print and TV ads for Rimmel products including mascara, lipstick, nail polish and more.
- Burberry – In 2012, Adele performed at a flagship Burberry fashion show in London which was live-streamed globally. This generated publicity for Burberry’s brand and collections.
Technology – Apple, Beats by Dre
- Apple – Apple used Adele’s song “Hello” in their commercial promoting the iPhone 6S in 2015/2016. The ad showcased the phone’s video capabilities and Adele’s lyrics “Hello from the other side”.
- Beats by Dre – In 2019, Adele partnered with Beats by Dre headphones to help promote her comeback to music. She appeared in promotional photos and social media ads for Beats’ wireless earbuds.
Consumer Goods – Target, Ikea
- Target – In 2015, Target launched a campaign with a remake of Adele’s “Hello” to promote new home collection items with the lyrics “Hello, it’s home”. Adele gave approval for the ad parody.
- Ikea – Ikea used Adele’s song “Hometown Glory” in a 2016 commercial promoting their products as solutions for small spaces.
What TV Shows Has Adele Done Commercials For?
Adele’s music has also been featured in commercials for major television shows across networks like ABC, NBC, BBC, and more. Some examples include:
- Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – Her songs “Chasing Pavements” and “Make You Feel My Love” were used in commercials for different seasons of this popular medical drama.
- Saturday Night Live (NBC) – Adele’s appearance as musical guest on SNL generated commercials featuring her songs “Hello” and “When We Were Young”.
- Brit Awards (BBC) – Promotional ads for the Brit Awards which Adele has won featured her songs like “Someone Like You” and “Rolling In The Deep”.
- The Bachelor (ABC) – The reality show used Adele’s “Hello” in commercials for its 20th season in 2016, playing on the lyrics.
- 60 Minutes (CBS) – In 2021, 60 Minutes used Adele’s song “Easy On Me” in their advertisement for an upcoming story featuring Adele.
What Entertainment and Sporting Events Has Adele Done Ads For?
Award Shows
Adele’s music is regularly used by major award shows like the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and others to promote nominations and performances. Some examples:
- Grammy Awards – Her songs were featured in commercials for the Grammys in 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2022 when she was nominated.
- Billboard Music Awards – Promos for BBMAs where Adele won or performed used songs like “Hello” and “Chasing Pavements”.
- American Music Awards – Commercials announcing her nominations and appearances used hits like “Someone Like You” and “Set Fire To The Rain”.
Television Events
- The Voice (NBC) – In 2015, clips of Adele’s “Hello” were used to promote a special live performance of the song on The Voice finale.
- Saturday Night Live (NBC) – Ads previewing Adele’s multiple SNL hosting and musical appearances included songs like “Rolling In The Deep”.
- iTunes Festival (Apple) – Apple’s advertisements for their iTunes Festival concerts headlined by Adele featured her popular songs.
Sports
- UEFA Euro 2016 – The song “Hello” was used in commercials promoting this popular European soccer championship tournament.
- 2022 Winter Olympics – Previews of figure skating events used Adele’s songs like “Rolling In The Deep” and “Set Fire to the Rain”.
- Wimbledon – NBC’s ads previewing Wimbledon tennis championships incorporated Adele’s hit “Hello” and its lyrics “from the other side”.
What Charity/Social Cause Campaigns Has Adele Done Commercials For?
In addition to commercial brand partnerships, Adele has also lent her music and star power to promote various social cause campaigns over the years.
World Hunger Relief
- Coca-Cola – In 2013, Coca-Cola used Adele’s song “Lovesong” in a commercial titled “Let’s Take An Extra Second To Help End World Hunger!” as part of their food donation initiative with the World Food Programme.
Poverty Relief
- Product (RED) – Adele appeared in a 2012 Product (RED) commercial promoting goods to help fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. Her song “I’ll Be Waiting” played in the background.
Natural Disasters
- MusiCares Hurricane Relief – Clips of Adele performing “Make You Feel My Love” appeared in commercials promoting MusiCares’ Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in 2017.
- Robin Hood Relief Benefit – Adele’s image and music was used in ads for the annual Robin Hood Benefit concert for poverty relief she performed at in 2016.
- BBC Children in Need – The BBC charity used Adele’s song “Hometown Glory” in commercials advertising their annual Children In Need telethon.
What Unique or Funny Commercials Has Adele Been Involved In?
Beyond straightforward promotions, some brands have put an interesting spin on Adele’s music and public persona in their ads:
The Bachelor SNL Parody
- Adele starred in a 2016 Saturday Night Live sketch parodying The Bachelor and lampooning her “heartbreak” songs, like “Hello” and “Someone Like You”. This generated promotional SNL ads featuring the spoof.
Target’s “Hello” Parody
- Target’s home collection ad campaign creatively changed “Hello” lyrics to sing lines like “Hello, it’s home” showcasing their products, with Adele’s approval.
Adele Carpool Karaoke
- Apple Music aired commercials in 2016 featuring hilarious clips of Adele’s popular Carpool Karaoke sketch on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Tourism Advertisements
- Destinations like Quebec, Canada and Melbourne, Australia used Adele’s songs in clever tourism ads playing on the lyrics – like “hello from the other side” (of the world).
Saturday Night Live Promos
- NBC’s ads for Adele hosting SNL in 2020 featured funny segments of her greeting fans and giving concert tickets to those who correctly guess song lyrics.
What Impact Have These Commercials Had On Adele’s Brand and Exposure?
Boosted Record Sales
- Commercials incorporating Adele’s new music just before album releases contributed to massive sales – e.g. Apple using “Hello” boosted 25’s record-breaking debut week.
Higher Concert Ticket Demand
- Adele’s musical appearances on TV shows led to more concert tour publicity and greater ticket demand on the secondary market.
Led to Awards Recognition
- Increased exposure from commercials during key voting periods helped Adele win major awards like the Oscar for Skyfall.
Enhanced Brand Associations
- Partnerships with aspirational brands like Apple and Burberry expanded Adele’s profile beyond just music into fashion, technology and luxury.
Global Reach Expansion
- Commercials for international events like the Olympics and Euro soccer tournament widened Adele’s brand familiarity in markets outside the US and UK.
Conclusion
As her record-breaking album and ticket sales indicate, Adele is one of the most influential and recognizable musical artists in the world. Given her broad appeal across demographics and geographies, it is not surprising that brands have leveraged Adele’s songs, voice, and likeness in advertising across entertainment, fashion, consumer goods, and events.
Key partnerships with major brands like Apple, Target, Beats by Dre, Rimmel London and corporations like Coca-Cola have helped boost Adele’s sales and recognition during new releases. Appearances in commercials tied to awards shows, TV events and global sporting competitions have also expanded her brand familiarity worldwide.
While careful about over-commercialization, Adele has strategically used commercials and advertising campaigns to promote specific projects and initiatives at key points in her career. This has ultimately heightened the public profile and exposure of her music and fame to an unprecedented level for a singer-songwriter in the modern era.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was Adele’s first major national commercial?
Adele’s first big national commercial was for Target in 2015, where they used a version of her song “Hello” to promote new home collection items. This helped introduce her music to the US market prior to the launch of her album 25.
Which Adele song has been used the most in ads and commercials?
The Adele track used most prolifically in advertising and promotions is her mega-hit “Hello”. Its lyrics about “calling from the other side” have proven very adaptable for different campaigns.
What consumer product did Adele have a long-term endorsement deal with?
Adele signed a multi-year endorsement deal with British cosmetics brand Rimmel London starting in 2011. She appeared in print and TV ads for several Rimmel makeup products over many years.
Which tech company used Adele’s music prominently in a product launch ad?
Apple used Adele’s comeback single “Hello” in their major commercial campaign unveiling the iPhone 6S in 2015. This provided key exposure prior to her album release.
What Olympics included multiple Adele songs in its promotional advertisements?
Several of Adele’s tracks could be heard in commercials hyping up the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London. Her homeland connection made her music a natural fit.
Did Adele ever allow her songs to be used for charity and social cause ads?
Yes, Adele permitted her music to be used in commercials for various charity initiatives – like World Hunger Relief, poverty programs, and natural disaster funds. This included songs like “Lovesong” and “I’ll Be Waiting”.
What parody skit involving Adele became the subject of SNL commercials?
Saturday Night Live heavily promoted a 2016 sketch in which Adele spoofed The Bachelor franchise by participating in humorous – and tear-filled – dates with male contestants.
Which tourism destinations used Adele’s songs in clever ad campaigns?
Places like Quebec, Canada and Melbourne, Australia incorporated Adele hits in innovative ads playing on lyrics about calling from “the other side” of the world.
Did Adele ever host SNL and also be the subject of its commercials?
Yes, when Adele took on hosting duties on Saturday Night Live in 2020, NBC aired many promos featuring the singer engaging with fans in silly segments to hype up the episode.
How did Adele’s appearance in commercials boost sales of her albums?
The strategic use of new Adele songs in major ad campaigns – like Apple’s iPhone 6S spot using “Hello” – helped drive massive album launch sales, including record-breaking debut weeks.