Poor Taste: Microsoft Cashes in on Winehouse’s Death
- Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:51pm by
Becket Adams
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Microsoft received some poor press last Saturday after a small PR account for Xbox encouraged followers to purchase an Amy Winehouse’s album through their entertainment marketplace, Zune. This may not strike many as odd except for the fact that they encouraged their twitter followers to do it to honor the dead singer’s memory.
The tweet read: “Remember Amy Winehouse by downloading the ground-breaking ‘Back to Black’ album over at Zune…”
Okay. That’s tacky.
After about an hour of responses from twitter followers that included comments such as“classy,” “crass much?” and “Microsoft – failing at social media,” the Microsoft account was forced to respond.
“Apologies to everyone if our earlier Amy Winehouse ‘download’ tweet seemed purely commercially motivated,” it said. “Far from the case, we assure you.”
Oh. Of course, our mistake.
However, despite the distaste caused by the tweet, Microsoft isn’t the only company that has been cashing in on the star’s death.
For example, Apple posted an image of Winehouse on the front of the iTunes store with the caption “remembering Amy Winehouse.” Not surprisingly, “Back to Black” is currently the number one selling album in the store. Amazon did likewise and published an obituary that linked to the Amazon page where her music can be purchased.
Sales of Back to Black increased 37 times immediately after Winehouse’s death. This tells us that perhaps these marketing tactics, though not entirely popular, work and that it might be safe to assume that this sort of behavior will only intensify in the future.
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Comments (43)
mossbrain
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 1:02amTo tell the truth if someone wanted to cash in by making up some Knights Templar T-shirts I’d order a couple of em.
Microsoft is in the video gaming business, they should make an action game of what went down in Norway.
Report Post »someofurpathetic
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 12:22amReally, is this what we’ve come to? Whether or not you know of this woman, or her music…does it matter?
She had talent, and demons. As everyone reading this does. Obviously she had no one who cared. Her voice was a proven talent, the extent of her potential will never be known. Very Sad.
For all of you morons with nothing good to say, I only hope your lives are so perfect that… should you die tomorrow….no one can say a bad word about you. Because you are PERFECT … right?
God Bless….
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 7:04pmWho cares? The only half decent thing she offered the world was some of her music which I wouldn’t know from the last best rapper. She would love them doing it when she was alive so what’s the difference?
Should they stop selling Elvis and Morrison and all the other dead drug addicts works?
Report Post »CommonSenseis Missing
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 1:49pmyou had me at “Who cares?”
Report Post »Balthazor
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 5:39pmWho cares? She obviously had no respect whatsoever for herself, for her life, for the people around her. I’m tired of crying crocodile tears for losers. If Microsoft can make a buck off her, then that’s a buck more than I see her life being worth right now.
Report Post »JustTheFactsPlease
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 5:05pmCan‘t believe the blaze is saying it’s poor taste to profit of her death. It’s CAPITALISM BABY! What was poor taste was all those who profited of her “life” because the girl SHOULD HAVE GONE TO REHAB!
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:04amJust the facts: so what you are saying that Capitalism is a predatory game with NO INTEGRITY/No Dignity/NO Class?
Report Post »You are what CORRUPTs Capitalism. You are what gives capitalism a bad name. Capitalism is a tool and it is how you use that tool and how you play the game that counts.
It is disgusting to capitalise on a tragic lost soul like Amy Winehouse. Amy Winehouses parents divorced when she was nine. Children are destroyed by divorce. She was destroyed after the divorce she was a constant problem child. The pain of loss/abandonment was too much to bear and she lost herself in “medications.” The real losers are ADULTS that are so damned selfish they tear their childrens soul to pieces because they can’t work through their differences with civility.
AMY RIP. Your talent was amazing. You are a loss to the world.
nocomment
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:45pmREAD THE SECOND LINE…
of her ‘Back to Black’ lyrics and you will have all you need to know about this chick’s talent.
(ps: otherwise, sincere condolences to her family)
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 11:05amFor a long time I thought this gal and lady gay-gay were the same person.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:58amSo what? They made a movie of outtakes from MJ’s half rehearsed concert so his creditors could at least recoup some of their investment.
Report Post »She was a commodity for those around her to make a buck and is now even more so after death.
datrip
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:32amWho again is this Winehouse girl and how did she POSITIVELY impact the world/make a difference/leave a legacy? Just wondering…
Report Post »DarkFire
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:07amoncomming riders please step into the vehicle and strap yourself in…………. ( a voice rings out) “ where we going ” (station master replies ) ” well Amy your going to hell have a nice ride, we will profit off of you while you are there, say hi to Uncle Adolf for us. “
Report Post »Blight14
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:53amSee what happens when the heroin isn’t kosher!!!!
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:51amWho cares about a person who was bucking for death to begin with. Cry me a river. Her soul has been dammed from the moment she even thought about killing herself. Good riddance.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 4:09pmFinally, a story showing a positive side to drug use.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:47amI’m shocked! Not really, who cares? Everyone has made money off Elvis and Hendrix since their deaths, why should this one hit wonder get more reverance?
Report Post »Seabee79
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:20amI wonder how winehouse’s first few days in hell went?
Report Post »HD Veteran
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 6:52pmI thought it was only me for a while….
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:19amI would like to congratulate Amy Winehouse for her amazing 72 hours of sobriety since Saturday……
Report Post »HD Veteran
Posted on July 27, 2011 at 6:53pmIt’s good to reinforce progress …
Report Post »Marcia
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 8:57amFreakin’ A – - – who cares???
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 8:24amAfter Micheal Jackson died, millions downloaded his music.
Obviously, Amy Winehouse wasn‘t as popular and her music wasn’t being downloaded quick enough so Microsoft helped it along by reminding people to download.
Tacky? Maybe.
But I bet the same people complaining about Microsoft doing this will line up to watch and buy Casey Anthony interviews, books and movies. No one will admit to it but then no one admitted to watching Jerry Springer who had huge ratings. I didn‘t buy and won’t buy from any of them. Two caused their own deaths despite repeated warnings and one is a baby killer. I don’t give my hard earned money to idiots and killers.
T
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 7:17amI would guess that apple did the same.
Report Post »BenWinterman
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 10:57amYes they did. All day on iTunes Apple Store they had as their huge banner “Remember Amy Winehouse” that linked to all of her music. They did the same stuff with Michael Jackson… who. cares.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 4:16pmIf I invest in drug induced singers that have a high probability of dying, the sales of worthless albums should increase my returns. Lets see. Whitney Houston?
Report Post »slvrserfr
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 3:17amDid Microsoft hire Casey Anthony as their marketing director? They seem to be taking an unethical and immoral approach to the aftermath of this incident for their own personal gain.
Report Post »Saveouramerica
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 2:23amWhy Iam no Longer a test proctor for them and switched to linux. Bad taste ……Phewy.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 7:01amUbuntu 11.04 here in x64 trim on my main workstation. Still on Windows 7 on my laptop, because driver support just isn’t available for it under Ubuntu.
Report Post »PatrioticTechnogeek
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 9:49amFedora 13 here, and never returning to any MS products ever again.
Report Post »LambdaCore
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 2:17amYeah, nothing like someone’s passing to keep things classy. It’s things like this that give capitalism a bad rap.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 1:46amIt’s a shame that she is dead but other than that who cares? I can point out a number of people that have also died and where is the stories for them? Even some of the people that has died are soldiers that were killed by the enemy. When I start seeing just as many if not more stories about our brave soldiers that are fighting everyday and some being killed then I might give a rats tail about stories like this.
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 8:28amIt’s a shame that she is dead but other than that who cares?
Report Post »____________
Its not even a shame. She KNEW EXACTLY what she was doing. For it to be a shame would mean she accidentally got hit by a bus or something. She did this to herself. In a few months, no one will know she existed or care except her family.
4blackhorses
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 6:21pmI agree but while the Boy KIng wanna be prez is still in the Brown House you’re not going to have to have to wait until a Republican president takes the office before the liberal MSM blames and keeps day to day tabs on the deaths of our warriors. GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!
Report Post »MNM in California
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:25amIt’s stupid to cash in on Amy Winehouse, but then again, remember how when Michael Jackson died he was at #1 on iTunes? Just saying….
Report Post »red1
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:24amThis story was in worst taste than Microsoft’s tweet.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on July 26, 2011 at 12:15amwhat should they do then?
Report Post »