Britney Chooses Pepsi : Rolling Stone

Britney Spears inked a global sponsorship and advertising agreement with Pepsi on February 6th. Though the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, it is reported to be worth tens of millions of dollars.

Spears has agreed to star in a series of television commercials for Pepsi, the first of which will debut on March 27th during the broadcasting of the Academy Awards. The deal will also include point-of-purchase promotions and Internet ties between Spears' and Pepsi's respective Web sites. Pepsi also threw in a Pepsi vending machine for Spears' game room in her new home. Spears' television spots will continue the "Joy of Cola" theme which debuted last year and continued at this year's Super Bowl, with ads featuring former Senator Bob Dole and world chess champion Gary Kasparov.

Spears traveled to the Pepsi headquarters in Purchase, New York, on Tuesday and spoke to employees and their families, while cradling a Pepsi can in her hand. "I'm so happy to be here today with all off you. It's such an honor," she said.

The agreement was struck despite the fact that the nineteen-year-old pop sensation appears to be a Coke drinker. According to the singer's contract rider for her recently completed 2000 tour, as posted on The Smoking Gun Web site (www.smokinggun.com), Spears requested a six pack of Coke as her backstage cola of choice.

JAAN UHELSZKI
(February 8, 2001)