Have you noticed how many dance acts
name-check themselves in their songs. I’ve got a
Fatboy Slim CD here. He actually says his name in every tune. It’s quite common in
Hip-Hop and
Rap as well.
It’s a clever marketing tactic. By including the name of the artist in the songs lyrics, people who are listening on the radio are more likely to remember that artist’s name. The artist’s name is sung or spoken rhythmically: it’s more likely to be remembered than a regular spoken radio announcement. That increase in “brand awareness” helps people recognise CDs they like in music shops.
This example of viral marketing is a great way of boosting record sales without any costly advertising. Effectively each song becomes a better advert for the album.