Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Ever wondered what the biggest rockstars in history demand before a show? Private jets, white tigers, or M&Ms of every color except brown? Turns out, no matter how wild the requests get, there’s always one thing in common, err Budweiser.
Mariana Santos, Marketing Director of Budweiser said “Budweiser’s presence in major moments of music history has helped build its legacy with fans. Now, revealing that the brand has also been backstage, accompanying artists aroundthe world, strengthens this connection even further. The Beer Behind Backstage is a creative way to showcase this authentic and lasting bond, inviting the public to celebrate this story with us. We want everyone to have fun guessing which bands are behind these iconic requests”
The iconic global beer is celebrating its authentic connection to the industry with its latest campaign, The Beer Behind Backstage, created by Africa Creative. The initiative highlights a little-known fact: over the decades, Budweiser has been a staple on the backstage riders of major artists.
To prove that the world’s most demanding bands have one request in common, the brand delved into historical documents revealing Budweiser is an essential item on the tour riders of legendary musicians.
At Lollapalooza Brazil, The Beer Behind Backstage campaign launched an activation based on fans’ demands, the fan who made the most bizarre demand of all was awarded a prize. Budweiser was the festival’s sponsor.
To make the connection even more powerful, the campaign kicked off with billboards placed near the iconic venues where the original demands were made—like Madison Square Garden in New York, Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo, Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit, and the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Through these billboards, Budweiser showcases authentic excerpts from real backstage riders—but with a twist. The names of the bands are replaced with nicknames and clues, challenging fans to guess which artists made the requests. After launching near these historic venues, the campaign expanded to traditional out-of-home media and print placements across the globe, inviting music lovers everywhere to dive into history, interact with the mystery, and rediscover Budweiser’s lasting bond with the world of music.
Heloisa Pupim, co-COO of Africa Creative told us “Budweiser has always been behind the scenes of the music industry, present during legendary moments for both artists and fans. With this campaign, we aim not only to celebrate this historic connection but also to create an interactive experience that challenges and engages the audience. In a way, we can say that this campaign was written by the biggest artists in the world”.
Africa Creative is one of the largest and most awarded advertising agencies in Brazil and Latin America, responsible for successful campaigns for some of the country’s most prestigious brands. Africa was founded in 2002 and is part of Omnicom Group’s DDB Worldwide.
Credits/Technical Sheet
Title: The Beer Behind Backstage
Agency: Africa Creative
Client: Budweiser
CCO: Sergio Gordilho
Co-CCO: Nicholas Bergantin
Creative Directors: Hélio Maffia, Yllo Pedra
Copywriters: Thomas Ejnisman, Suzana Bulhões
Art Directors: Douglas Dimitrov, Luiz Almeida
Content Leads: Gustavo Stevanato, Victória Freitas
Content: Catarina Carvalho
Co-COO: Heloisa Pupim
Account Management: Ana Carolina Andrade, Cindy Fujii Matsu, Carlos Barnabé, Vitória Silano.
VP of Media: Pedro Eustachio
Media: Thiago Martinez, Renan Soares, Bruna Morales, Ana Beatriz de Carvalho, Caio Freitas, Giovana Barreto
CSO: Ana Paula Kuroki
Planning: Pedro Fernandes, Wes Gagliano
Production/RTV: Rodrigo Ferrari, Tais Olhiara
VP of Special Projects: Juliana Leite
Special Projects Director: Lica de Souza
Project Manager: Lais Cattena
Creative Producers: Giovanna Lima, Theo Etlin, Raquel Martins
Production Assistant: Valentina de Luca
Intern: Marina Rabello
Motion Editing: Diego Oliveira, Chico Beraldo, Francisco Andrade
Approved By: Daniel Wakswaser, Mariana Santos, Natalia Capelini, Theodora Farran, Nicole Prudente, Gabrielle Matsunaga, Marcos Madeira
Follow DailyDOOH